Motorsport eNews Issue 179 - November 2-8, 2010

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Issue No. 179 Nov 02 - Nov 08 2010

BUNDY RED RACING IN 2011:

ONE CAR, TWO CARS, OR NO CARS? PLUS

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WHICH V8 SUPERCAR STAR WILL BE RACING THIS SPRINTCAR OVER SUMMER?

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This fabulous annual hard-cover book is a collector’s prized possession, and a great gift idea.

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Issue No. 179 | Nov 02-08 2010

news 4

Bearing their Soul Changes at Bundy Red 6 ... and batting at number six Luff signs for LDR 9 No Frequent Flyer Points Aussies lots: Internationals 0 10 Escorts + RWD = Fun! ARC’s low-cost, new class 12 F1 engine puzzle explained Who has miles up their sleeve

chat 24 Five Minutes With ...

Warren Luff

comment 26 Branagan: Dates and fate van Leeuwen: Winton, not WA

race 28 WSID ANDRA Pro Series 32 NASCAR Talladega 36 DTM, WTCC and Vee Nats

trade 38 Classifieds

WHAT WAY WILL BUNDY GO IN ‘11?

motorsport news

news V8 SUPERCARS

T

HE immediate future of Bundaberg Red Racing appears less than definite, with a number of possibilities under consideration for 2011.

It does appear that the current makeup of the team, with two Bundy Redsponsored Holden Commodores raced from its base in Clayton, is unlikely to continue. One scenario is to maintain the current makeup of the team but run two cars in separate liveries.

Walkinshaw Racing boss Craig Wilson said on Monday that there were a number of options available to the team.

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“We are working on one [Bundy Red] car and we are talking to a number of people,” he said.

“We want to run one Bundy Red car and, if we can do that commercially, then we will do that. There are people coming out of the woodwork about us running a car for them. We would do it if we can make the numbers work, and do it competitively, but we would not do something like that just to go out there and make up the numbers.” eNews believe that over recent weeks, there have been a number of discussions about whether the team would place one of its two RECs on the market.

“The plan moving forward would be, we

need to focus on what is the right thing to do for the team,” said Wilson.

“Otherwise, we will restructure into a three-car team [the Holden Racing Team entries and one BRR] and go from there.”

Should either or both of the team’s RECs become available, there could also be the opportunity for V8 Supercars Australia to purchase the licence. There has been a long-stated preference by V8SA to reduce the size of the grid in the premier series to less than its current 29 and, should BRR make a change and place either of its RECs on the market, that is one scenario that may play out for 2011.

– PHIL BRANAGAN

Dirk Klynsmith

LET’S SET A DATE V8 SUPERCARS

V8 SUPERCARS will have less international races next year, after announcing a 14-round championship last week.

The 2011 calendar, released last Friday, will see two flyaway events rather than the expected four, with Bahrain losing its round and the expected Singapore round of the series postponed until 2012, at the earliest. Despite extensive negotiations with the promoters of the Singapore Grand Prix, V8SA will now focus on holding a stand-alone round at the new circuit being built near Singapore’s international airport at Changi.

Rd 1 Rd 2 NC Rd 3 Rd 4 Rd 5 Rd 6 Rd 7 Rd 8 Rd 9 Rd 10 Rd 11 Rd 12 Rd 13 Rd 14

Yas Marina Clipsal 500 Albert Park Hamilton 400 Barbagallo Winton Hidden Valley Townsville 400 Qld Raceway L&H 500 Bathurst 1000 Gold Coast 600 Symmons Plains Sandown Sydney 500

“We came to the decision, due to commercial and logistical reasons, to concentrate on the new permanent circuit at Changi which opens in early 2012 rather than the Grand Prix event in September,” said Martin Whitaker, Chief Executive Officer of V8 Supercars Australia.

“The close proximity to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and our objective of trying to accommodate Singapore as a full Championship round made it very difficult for all parties, particularly our teams, to come to an agreement. We look forward to including Singapore in the March/April

Abu Dhabi Adelaide SA Melbourne Vic Hamilton NZ Perth WA Benalla Vic Darwin NT Townsville Qld Ipswich Qld Phillip Island Vic Mt Panorama NSW Surfers Paradise Qld Launceston Tas Springvale Vic Homebush NSW

Feb 10-12 Mar 17-20 (FV8) Mar 24-27 April 15-17 May 6-8 (FV8) May 20-22 June 17-19 July 8-10 (FV8) Aug 19-21 (FV8) Sep 16-18 Oct 6-9 (FV8) Oct 21-23 Nov 11-13 Nov 18-20 (FV8) Dec 2-4 (FV8)

period of 2012.”

Abu Dhabi will now play host to the sole V8 round in the Middle East. It will open the season on February 10-12, and will share the Yas Marina circuit with the opening round of the GP2 Asia Series. That series will move to Bahrain for Round 2 the following weekend, February 18-19, while the Formula 1 World Championship will start its season at the Sakhir circuit on March 13.

However the news is good for domestic rounds. As expected, Barbagallo regains its round, but not at the expense of any of the other local events. The Perth circuit, which is in the midst of a $5m upgrade, returns to a May date, and will also feature the Fujitsu V8 Series for the first time.

The mid-season break, instigated this year to give teams a hiatus during the winter months, has also been cut. There will however be a number of significant breaks, with five weeks between Abu Dhabi’s opening round and the Clipsal 500, four weeks between Winton and Hidden Valley, six between Townsville and QR, and another four before Phillip Island.

V8 Supercar Driver required  Jay JayMotorsport Motorsportis is seeking a Driver to race in Townsville QLD in seeking a driver to race our HRT-49 Walkinshaw Power VZ V8 SupercarPower at Sandown (Nov 19-21) V8 Supercar ourCommodore HRT-49 Walkinshaw VZ Commodore  This opportunity is for the remainder of this year’s Fujitsu DVS Series & beyond.

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PERTH UNWANTED ON FV8 SCHEDULE V8 SUPERCARS THE 2011 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series schedule will feature a trip to Western Australia, a first for the second-tier series.

As part of V8 Supercar’s return to Barbagallo Raceway near Perth, the Fujitsu Series will be tagging along for Round 2 of their championship.

The western swing comes at the expense of a round at Winton, which has left some competitors miffed.

“It’s just a terrible idea,” said FV8 regular Taz Douglas, who runs his own team.

“Most of the teams are either based in Melbourne or Queensland, so the two test tracks are Winton and Queensland Raceway. Now, the Queensland teams get to race at their test track, and we don’t. We have to make do with Sandown.

“Then there is the money.

It takes four days to get to Perth and four days to get back to Melbourne, and it costs $800 every time you fill the truck with fuel.

Then there’s over $1000 in flights, plus the days off work you have to take. It will significantly add to our budget for next season.”

Other than Barbagallo replacing Winton, little is changing on the FV8 schedule for 2011. The series will once again kick off at the Clipsal 500, then head to Perth, then Townsville, Ipswich, Bathurst, Sandown and the Telstra 500 at Homebush in December.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN motorsport news

news

ENDLESS LUFF AT LDM V8 SUPERCARS

Peter Bury

WARREN Luff will drive for Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport for the remainder of 2010, and the entire 2011 season.

As previously reported by eNews, Luff was on top of LDM’s wishlist for its new driver. And late last week, the deal went through to put the Dick Johnson Racing enduro driver back into a full-time seat.

“Our goal is to be the best one-car team out there, and to try and shake up a few of the more established two-car operations,” Luff told eNews.

“I think our real goal is to try and finish the championship in the top half of the field, and if we can make some qualifying Shootouts, and try and finish in the 10, then we’ll be punching above our weight, and we’ll make people take notice.

“Lucas has done a great job in getting all the essential ingredients in place – all the fundamentals are there – it’s just up to us as a team now to put it all together and get the right results.”

Luff will be the sixth driver to suit up for LDM in the team’s debut year. The others are Daniel Gaunt, Cameron McConville, Nathan Pretty, Mark Noske and Scott Pruett.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN For more with Warren Luff, see ‘Five Minutes With’ on page 24.

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7/14/10 9:15:11 AM

THE LAST POST

Peter Bury

V8 SUPERCARS

BOARD GAMES V8 SUPERCARS

V8 SUPERCARS Australia has elected its new board, and Brad Jones is its newest member.

The former driver and co-owner of Brad Jones Racing was elected to the position last week. He replaces Paul Morris, who will now fill the role of alternate.

Roland Dane was also re-elected to his seat on the Board, while the seats filled by Ross Stone and Time Edwards are both due for election in 12 months’ time. Todd Kelly of Kelly Racing is the other alternate Board member.

THE split between Brad Jones Racing and sponsor Trading Post has been made official.

Last week, the brand’s parent Telstra confirmed in a statement that it was parting ways with the team, which it joined as sponsor of Jason Bright’s #14 Commodore at the start of the season.

“Trading Post announces that after a review of its sponsorship program, it has decided to conclude its agreement with Brad Jones Racing at the end of this year,” read the statement.

“Head of Telstra Classifieds, Michael Padden, said that Trading Post would like to congratulate Brad Jones

Racing on their performance this year and their work with the Trading Post Racing team, and that Trading Post was looking forward to seeing the team flying the Trading Post colours for the three remaining races in 2010, including the Sydney Telstra 500.”

However, Telstra has left the door open; “Trading Post confirmed it remains committed to ongoing support of the sport, and hopes to announce its V8 Supercars program for next year, ahead of the Sydney Telstra 500 in December.” eNews expects that the company will back a Will Davison-driven Falcon for Ford Performance Racing, starting in 2011.

The V8 Supercar Championship series moves to Tasmania next week and, in conjunction with the 12th round of the series, Falken Tyres, V8 Supercars Australia and Motorsport eNews are giving Motorsport eNews readers the opportunity to WIN a set of Falken tyres* for their car, or one of a pair of V8 Supercar merchandise packs.

Untitled-1 1

motorsport news

news

WHAT’S THE POINT? V8 SUPERCARS AN irony of the recently-completed Gold Coast 600 was that, despite its race format, designed to give the whole weekend an international profile, it was not actually an international event.

A quick scan of the V8 Supercar Championship points table shows that some international drivers who participated in the Bathurst 1000 – like David Brabham

of Stone Brothers Racing – scored points on the Mountain but did not on the streets of the GC. This is because Bathurst is run under an international permit, issued by CAMS, but that the GC race (and for that matter, Phillip Island’s 500) is not.

Under a National permit, international licence holders are permitted to compete but they do so without being eligible for V8SCS points.

– DAVID GREENHALGH

Dirk Klynsmith

Entry is free and simple – just CLICK on the button on the right, which will open up an email to our competition line, type in your NAME and the ANSWER to the question “Who is the naming-rights sponsor of the 12th round of the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series” and SEND. It’s that simple. Entries close on Friday November 12 … and three lucky entrants will win a prize! *up to $600 in value www.mnews.com.au

WIN

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

1/11/10 3:49:55 PM

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Now, this could be fun ...

AUSTRALIAN RALLY THE Australian Rally Championship will launch a new class in 2011 – the Australian Super R2 Rally Championship.

The idea of the ‘Supercars’

class is that, based on club rally rules, competitors will be able to take old rally cars and fit them with cheaper, more reliable modern equipment.

One of the only regulations is that the car must be rear-wheel-drive.

In a statement from the ARC, the example of a Mark II Ford Escort was used; instead of using a Cosworth BDG engine, a 2.3l Duratec could be fitted, which costs about a third as much of the Cosworth, and offers better performance and

reliability. A Quaife sequential gearbox could also be fitted, which at just $7500, would require next to no maintenance.

The championship will run over four rounds, with $1000 prize money for the winner of each event.

FORMULA 3 PLANS SCHOLARSHIP FORMULA 3 NEXT year’s Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship could include a scholarship aimed at enticing more young drivers into the category.

Planning is underway for a prize program focused on young drivers competing in the National Class for older, F304-model Dallaras. Should the

efforts come to fruition, the National Class winner – or the highest placed under a to-be-determined age limit – will receive funding to be used for an outright championship campaign in 2012. eNews understands $50,000 is the likely value of the scholarship prize. Australian Formula 3 featured prize money in 2008, with $80,000 awarded to the outright champion and $40,000 for National Class.

“We have several concepts, at various stages of completion, designed to attract young drivers to Formula 3 next year, and especially give them an opportunity to enter the series affordably and then build up to a full championship campaign,” F3’s PR Manager Richard Craill told eNews.

“However, at this stage, nothing has been confirmed.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

JUNIOR MECHANIC Radical Sportscars Australia is seeking a full time Junior Mechanic, the following qualifications preferable: v Apprentice Mechanic / Mechanical Experience v Experience working on race cars v Must be able to take instructions v Work from job lists and complete time sheets v Must be well presented at all times v Willing to learn and have a good attitude v Open Drivers Licence is required

For all enquiries please send resumes to garth@radicalaustralia.com.au or info@radicalaustralia.com.au or call 0420 574 128 10

motorsport news

“I hope you get as much enjoyment from this publication as I have in bringing it to you” John Morris

The unsung international star of Australian sport

MARK WEBBER: TWO STEPS FORWARD A pictorial history of Mark Webber’s involvement in Formula 1 racing from early days to the present.

Superbly photographed and edited by John Morris, this book captures outstanding real life photographs of Mark Webber’s motor racing journey.

Author and photographer, John Morris, has been a leading photo-journalist for Australasian Motorsport News magazine for well over a decade and his images of all forms of motorsport have been one of the important elements of that publication over that time. John is an unashamed Mark Webber fan, and this book is a brilliant tribute to this down to earth star of Australian Motor Sport. “...determination, willingness and enthusiasm, it’s that sort of commitment to succeed that has seen him come through to the top” Alan Jones, F1 Champion, MBE

“...one of the ‘unsung’ international stars of Australian sport. To get to the very top level of world motorsport without family wealth or substantial corporate support or contacts is a massive achievement.”

Chris Lambden, Australasian Motorsport News Mark Webber: Two

2003 Jagu

M

lines car. The smooth Pages 60-61: design than the 2005 to was less angular look didn’t equate 11, The 2006 Williams looking cars on the grid, though the nicest made it one of the speed.

(below) Mark Webber (right) Mark Webber

tried cutting corners heads off on the

to make up time,

ar: A step

though to no avail.

driver’s parade.

page 63: at work. of Mark Webber A close up study

IN BOOKSTORES NOW: RRP $39.95 MARK WEBBER: TWO STEPS FORWARD

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ahead

ark Webber practice ’s Jaguar career started rather session for culminated in disappo 14th with Mark the Australian Grand place at the conclus intingly. A difficult lasting just Prix. The time in suspens 14 laps, race itself ion of the official ion failure. before being qualifying continued in theForward forced to same trend retire Two Steps The followin Mark Webber: on lap 15 with a g race in rear began reversin Malaysia fire extingu g towards Webberwas even more dramatic, woes struckisher unexpectedly ’s Jaguar on the as Giancar starting discharged grid. Next,io Fisichella oil related once more and he was forced onto Mark’s problem the inboard face. s. to retire the numberThe mechanical Mark took 14 Jaguar with Brazilian a remarkable provisio Grand Prix. grid, which He continu nal pole position in Friday ed this history The was the best-ev Qualifyi er qualifyi form to start the tyres cool race was run in ng result race from ng for the heavy rain they lost for third on pit straight grip in a the and whilst Jaguar in their large four year Mark was barriers. The resultin puddle, causing trying to keep his F1 eventually wet weathe March to g debris crash classifie r triggered heavily d in 9th a second place.

More retirem crash and into the a red flag. mechanical ents followed as excellen problem reliability t qualifyi s. Howeve and r the team ng results were moving him Mark was able thwarte eventually to score into the found some d through points in Jenson Button top ten degree of for the honour.in the world driver’sfive of the six mid championship season events, Mark Webber and battling with from Autocar ’s efforts were rewarded magazin with the e.

2003 “Driver of the Year” award

Steps Forward

Mark Webber, is the leading international Australian Motorsport personality and our most successful F1 driver for the past 28 years.

He is an inspiration to a legion of motor sport fans across the globe. However, there has been precious little available in a published book that documented his F1 journey, until now.

• Beautiful full colour photographs on every page • Coffee table format to emphasise the images • Concise synopsis of Mark’s years in Formula 1 • 170 x pages of brilliant colour • Soft bound • 1st Edition by John Morris

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IN AUTOMOTIVE AND REGULAR BOOKSTORES NOW Mark Webber:

63

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(left) A fresh faced Mark Webber ready for his first race in Formula One.

20

Two Steps

62 Mark Webber: Two

Mark Webber: Two Steps Forward

Steps Forward

email: info@renniks.com

(right) You could almost see Mark’s smile through his helmet as he guides the Minardi on its first laps of the circuit.

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THE ENGINE EQUATION FORMULA 1

IRONICALLY, Mark Webber’s crash in Korea may win him the World Drivers’ Championship.

Webber used his last new engine in the race, in which he spun and crashed while running second behind teammate Sebastian Vettel. While Vettel’s Renault engine blew up and Fernando Alonso won, to take the lead in the Championship, Webber’s chances of performing in Brazil and Abu Dhabi could depend on engines – and he is in good shape in that department.

On the face of it, Webber has had a bad run with two engine failures (in Practice in Australia and Turkey). That leaves him with three two-race engines in his allocation of eight for the season.

But he may not need them. At Yeongam, Webber’s fresh motor completed 13 laps in Practice 3, 21 in Qualifying and crashed on lap 19. After 43 laps (many behind the Safety Car, and a number of them wet, which reduces strain on the engines) 12

Webber’s motor has done about 242km.

As the Renault RS27 has a 2000km life, he still effectively has a new V8 for either of the last two GPs and could, potentially, use the engine for both races.

Vettel’s explosion in Korea was his only engine failure of the year, and he has four two-race engines and one one-race engine (from Bahrain, but that motor has been used in free practice since).

In theory, Fernando Alonso is in the worst position. His two engine failures this year, in Practice in China and during the Malaysian GP, have left him ‘on the bubble’. His engine bank consists of three motors that have done two races each.

That should be okay; the 19-race season means that at least one engine has to do more than two races. The problem would be if either of Fernando’s available engines have already done one of the tough races, like Belgium or Italy, that really strain an engine, and that, we do not know.

Of course, the wildcard is that Alonso might choose to take a new, ninth engine for Brazil, qualify well and start

somewhere between 13th and 16th and make his way through the field, as Jenson Button did last year. But with two onerace old motors available to him, that does not look likely.

On the other side of the Ferrari garage, Felipe Massa has already taken his ninth motor, but he did 10-spot grid penalty in Singapore, because he had already been forced to the back of the grid by changing gearboxes. He had two engines with only one race on them, and one with two races. Ferrari made a precautionary engine change for both drivers after the qualifying in Bahrain. Under the regulations, these units may now only be used for free practice sessions and for the Abu Dhabi GP. Those pesky McLarens have been very reliable. Jenson Button has had the team’s only engine failure, from the blankleft-in-the-intake debacle at Monaco, and he and Lewis Hamilton have exactly the same engine menu for Sao Paulo and Abu Dhabi; three two-race engines and two one-race engines. motorsport news

news

BUTTON STILL BULLISH FORMULA 1

JENSON Button is refusing to give up on his chances of defending his World Championship crown.

Button is currently 42 points behind Fernando Alonso in the fight for the championship, with only 50 points on offer. But as unlikely as it sounds, Button says he will keep on fighting until it’s mathematically impossible.

“I’ve always said that I will fight until it’s mathematically impossible,” he said. ‘”Sure, looking at it written down on paper, you’ve got to admit it’s a long-shot – but I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I chose not to go for it, and then circumstances transpired to give me a full run at the title.

“So, for me, the situation’s the same; I’ll be fighting until it’s no longer possible. In Formula 1, you just never know – it’s totally possible that I could win at Interlagos, take home maximum points and have none of the other title contenders finish. If it’s another wet race that could easily happen.

“Basically, you learn early on in this sport that it’s not over until it’s over.”

BIRD SET TO FLY FORMULA 1 SAM Bird is the latest young driver to be confirmed as a starter for the post-season test at Abu Dhabi.

The Briton, 23, will test for Mercedes GP at the young driver test, which Aussie Daniel Ricciardo will also be part of with Red Bull Racing.

For Bird, it won’t technically be his first drive of a Formula 1 car. Back in 2007 he drove a Williams in an aero test at Kemble Airfield in the UK. He is currently fifth in the GP2 series, and the link with Mercedes GP has come through Bird’s GP2 team ART, which has an engine partnership with Mercedes in Formula 3.

“Sam has done an impressive job in the GP2 Series during his first season,” said team boss Ross Brawn.

“We are very pleased that Sam will be joining Mercedes for the Young Driver test next month and are confident that he will provide the team with the essential consistency and feedback we require.” www.mnews.com.au

13

Ambrose’s White Xmas Marcos backs RPM but is staying put in the USA over off-season NASCAR SPRINT CUP

Toyota Motorsport

RUMOURS continue to swirl about the future of Richard Petty Motorsports and its financial issues.

Team sources insist they will field four cars for the remainder of the season, however whether they field two cars next season for Marcos Ambrose and AJ Allmendinger looks to be in some doubt.

Majority owner George Gillett has financial issues and apparently needs a substantial sum to keep the team afloat.

Gillett reportedly owns about 70 percent of the team, while Richard Petty a mere four percent.

There are also suggestions that Budweiser will not make its final payment to the team this year, as the contract with

RPM specifically names Kasey Kahne as the driver of the #9 Ford.

Ambrose is not returning to Tasmania during the off-season and will instead stay in North Carolina to keep abreast of his plans for 2011 and beyond.

“It’s all getting pretty hot and heavy, so I’ve got to stay here and really get ready for 2011,” he told NASCAR.com.

“They’re in a tight situation, no doubt about it. All I can do is voice my commitment to them and try to help them through it, if I can. And just keep the optimism up. Racing is a difficult business and you go through cycles. They’re having to restructure and rethink about how they’re going about the business side of the sport. I wish them the best of luck.”

– MARTIN D CLARK

Hendricks is Hungry RHR secu for new sponsor INDYCARS

NASCAR SPRINT CUP JEFF Gordon will have a new look in 2011 after Hendrick Motorsport announced an innovative sponsorship program last week.

The four-time Sprint Cup champion will carry the colours of Drive to End Hunger, an AARP charitable foundation campaign, as primary sponsor in 22 races a season in a new three-year deal. DuPont, Gordon’s primary sponsor since he ran his first race in Atlanta in November 1992, will sponsor the Hendrick Chevrolet in the other 14 points races a season over the next three years.

14

The sponsor of the car in Bud Shoot Out and Sprint All Star race non-points races will be decided nearer the time of the events but long-time Gordon sponsor Pepsi, whose colours the car has carried in two events in past seasons, may return in that role.

There has been considerable speculation about the primary sponsorship of the #24, with Wal-Mart and Pepsi rumoured to be involved, until last week’s surprise announcement. One has to wonder if the sponsorship of a charity is a tax write-off for owner Rick Hendrick, or was it really that tough to find a backer to replace DuPont?

RYAN Hunter-Reay has signed a two-year deal with Andretti Autosport.

Hunter-Reay is one of the few winning American drivers in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Andretti Autosport recognized his marketability by agreeing to terms in the new contract the night before this year’s Indianapolis 500. Sponsors still had to be confirmed, which will be announced at a later date.

Hunter-Reay has had a mixed couple of seasons, driving for Tony George’s

motorsport news

Ladies rule fan Award INDYCARS

Honda Racing

Kanaan, AA split

No sponsor, so Andretti pays out TK’s deal INDYCARS TONY Kanaan has split with Andretti Autosport.

Just weeks after announcing the loss of title sponsor 7Eleven, Michael Andretti’s team reached an agreement to terminate its multi-year driving contract with the Brazilian.

Andretti initially allowed Kanaan to investigate other opportunities. But after only a month of trying to find a new sponsor to cover the three remaining years on his contract (which is believed to be worth US$3m a year), Andretti bought Kanaan out.

“It is difficult to believe that

ures full-time ride

Honda Racing

Vision Racing and AJ Foyt Racing last year. He started the 2010 season with a shortterm contract for only five races with Andretti Autosport. www.mnews.com.au

Winning the Grand Prix of Long Beach solidified his support, including IZOD stepping up as his initial car sponsor.

“Ryan proved this year that he was the perfect choice to join our team,” Andretti said.

“Not only did he substantially contribute to our engineering and set-up capabilities, he is a threat to win at every circuit we race on. We recognized early on that Ryan is that ‘total package’ both on and off the track and that is why we all worked so hard to keep Ryan for the full season this year.

– MARY MENDEZ

Andretti Autosport and Tony Kanaan will no longer be competing together, but that is now a reality, said Andretti without revealing any details of the contract termination. “I want to thank Tony for all the effort and passion he shared with our race team and the fans during our eight seasons together and I am proud of what we accomplished.”

Kanaan, who joined Andretti in 2003 while he was both co-driver and co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, brought the team their first IndyCar championship in 2004 and earned 14 victories in 131 starts.

“I know some people might think they can’t afford me but I’m not looking for money right now,” Kanaan told SpeedTV, earning only one victory in the last 34 IndyCar events with Andretti Autosport. “I’m looking for a competitive team where I can go and win races. You know it sounds crazy but if I get a good sponsor, bringing it back to Michael is my best option.”

– MARY MENDEZ

HAVE you ever wondered why there are so many female drivers in IndyCar racing?

Well, the people have spoken. The 2010 Most Popular Driver award determined by fan vote on the www.indycar.com website has gone to the ladies. Danica Patrick won the IndyCar Series vote for her sixth consecutive award. She finished 10th overall in the title chase, including two runnerups finishes at Texas and Homestead.

“I’m very flattered that I’ve received this award once, let alone six times,” said Patrick, who managed to lead one of the 2408 racing laps in IndyCar races this season.

“Every person has the ability to pick their favorite driver. It can change so it’s a real honor to receive an award from the fans.”

The Firestone Indy Lights Series Most Popular Driver went to Pippa Mann, who won her first race at Kentucky’s 1.5-mile oval by leading all 67 laps in her sophomore season. Mann also captured the pole at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Mann said she was very flattered and it was a “fantastic feeling” to be honored. The Brit ranked fifth overall, in spite of missing one race for hand surgery following a broken hand in a Toronto accident where she still managed a top 10 finish.

– MARY MENDEZ 15

MOTOGP

DON’T go booking your tickets for a trip to Phillip Island for a March MotoGP. The notion of moving the race to early autumn was raised in Portugal over the weekend, with a number of riders commenting that the spring weather that afflicts the Island might be a cause

to move the event to another season. But AGP Corporation Group Manager, Motorsport Craig Fletcher told eNews that he did not expect that there would be a change in the immediate future.

“We do not foresee that there could be any MotoGP in 2011,” said Fletcher.

“The officials will have just done World Superbikes and

then they front up again for MotoGP? Not likely. There are also plenty of other things to consider, like marquees, grandstands and so on.

“It [a race in March] has been raised. We have been asked to look at it, and we will.”

Ironically, on the weekend that the call was made by some of the sport’s riders, it was bucketing down in Portugal ...

sutton-images.com

March MotoGP?

Loris home MOTOGP

sutton-images.com

LORIS Capirossi will race his 21st season of Grand Prix racing on a Ducati.

The Italian veteran has signed to ride for Pramac Racing, and will race an 800cc Ducati GP11.

“This return on a Ducati bike makes me feel like a child,” said Capirossi. “I do not feel my 37 years! I have a great desire to start this new adventure, I’m enormously pleased about this new agreement that was reached with the Pramac Racing Team.”

Capirossi is a former 125cc and 250cc World champion.

He has won 29 Grands Prix in 314 starts, and scored 99 podiums.

TIM GOES SLADEWAYS SPRINTCARS TIM Slade will extend his racing CV over summer.

The Wilson Security Racing

driver Slade will buckle into a 360cc Sprintcar, having recently signed with the Ray Bartlett Racing Team to pilot the SA67 Sprintcar at

Paris Charles

16

Adelaide’s Speedway City and the Murray Bridge Speedway venues this summer in a limited campaign.

Although the schedule is limited to fit in around Slade’s Stone Brothers Racing V8 Supercars commitments, the South Australian believes that this exercise will be of strong benefit to his racing career.

“I love to watch Sprintcars on clay, they’re pretty awesome machines and I love to race so keeping in a racecar, be it on bitumen or dirt, will be a good thing,” he said.

“Driving on the dirt will help sharpen my skills. I just have to remember that opposite lock with the foot to the floor

will not be the quickest way around the track when I hop back into the Wilson Security Falcon!”

Ray Bartlett Racing have also secured Adelaide Ford Dealer, Adrian Brien Ford, as the naming rights sponsor for Slade’s campaign.

“Being a local Adelaide based race team, to be given the chance to promote a V8 Supercar driver and Adelaide business Adrian Brien Ford to the greater Speedway public, is truly an honour,” Bartlett said.

All going to plan the team are scheduled to launch Slade’s Sprintcar career at Speedway City in December.

– PARIS CHARLES motorsport news

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17

NZV8S TWO V8 Supercar drivers will make their debut in the BNT V8s Championship at Pukekohe Park Raceway this weekend, and they promise to give the NZ V8 regulars something to go on with.

Fujitsu V8 regular Scott McLaughlin will have his first race on ‘home’ soil in the Fujitsu 200, having been born in NZ, raised in Hamilton and living much of his formative year on the Gold Coast. This

weekend, the 17-year-old will join Kayne Scott in Nigel Barclay’s new Racing Projects team, but will swap the Ford badge on his Stone Brothers Racing V8 Supercar for a Holden badge.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said McLaughlin. “I’ve been wearing my simulator out practising all of the New Zealand tracks and it will be great to race back home again. The BNT Championship is always closely fought and I’m looking to learn from the

closeness of the racing, but feel I can be quite competitive once I get my head around driving the cars. They don’t have as much power as a V8 Supercar, but they are the same size so the program will certainly assist my 2011 plans, although it will be a bit strange driving a Holden!”

The other notable series debutant has a bit more form. Jason Bargwanna will make his first appearance in the series, and the driver for the Rock Racing Ford is

looking forward to mixing it with some of the regular competitors.

“It’s all good racing,” said Bargwanna. “I don’t know much about the cars, but I will try to learn quickly!”

Defending Champion Craig Baird leads the list of locals, which include fellow Ford men Angus Fogg, John McIntyre, Tim Edgell and Scott.

The Holden troops are likely to feature Andy Booth, Paul Manuell Andrew Anderson and John Penny.

Supercar drivers for NZV8s

Dollansky for Sydney SPEEDWAY CRAIG Dollansky is the latest big-name American driver confirmed for Tyrepower Sydney Speedway’s Christmas and New Year period.

Dollansky, who is seventh in the current World of Outlaws season with four wins, will contest four events at the NSW venue; the Sydney Sprintcar International on December 29, the Scott Darley Sprintcar Classic on January 2-3 and the International Sprintcars event on January 15.

Tasmanian businessman 18

Darren Goodyer will oversee the operation with two of Dollansky’s WoO machines among a fleet of machinery Goodyer has purchased from America. Goodyer has also enlisted former Titan Racing and World of Outlaws crew chief Glenno Inglis to run Dollansky’s Maxim chassis.

The Minnesota native joins Donny Schatz, Joey Saldana, Cody Darrah and Brian Montieth on the list of confirmed Americans to race at Tyrepower Sydney Speedway this December and January.

“We are not bringing Craig out for a holiday – we are coming to get that $50,000 – no matter what,” Goodyer said of the Scott Darley Classic.

“I have eight cars arriving in Australia including Craig’s own American Sprintcars. I didn’t buy all of this gear to turn up and run second. Mark my words – we are coming to beat Schatz, “Schatz won’t be easy to beat, especially as he will be back on his favourite Hoosier tyres, but Craig won’t have any excuses, he will be surrounded by all of his familiar racing equipment.” motorsport news

news

John Morris / Mpix

A bigger challenge for GT3 Cup drivers?

GT3 CUP CHALLENGE THE Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Mission Foods will remain a six round series in 2011 – but the competitors could end up doing more racing than in 2010.

A six-round calendar with the Shannons Nationals has been finalised, which will see the all-Porsche category make its debut at Wakefield Park and return to Phillip Island, however race formats are still to be locked in.

An opportunity exists for the series to secure additional track-time at Wakefield Park, Mallala and Morgan Park, to hold 90 minutes of racing across each weekend.

Category Manager Jodi Zylstra is currently tabling documentation with format options and the costs of additional track-time to put to competitors, who will ultimately decide whether to take up the additional race time.

Among the options, a pair of 15-minute races followed by a one-hour final is a likely contender, along with two 20minute races followed by a 40minute race, with the longer rounds to ultimately combine as a ‘series within the series’.

“We surveyed our competitors in the mid-season break and asked for their input with regards to whether they were happy with race formats, and 50 percent of the guys

came back and said they’d be happy to have longer distance races,” Zylstra said.

“What I’m looking at proposing to them is that we run an Endurance Trophy within the championship and the endurance rounds will have a standalone point-score, so we can crown an Endurance Champion at the end of the year.”

Meanwhile, the GT3 Cup Challenge’s current eligibility list will remain unchanged until 2014, when the returning Carrera Cup Australia is scheduled to make their first model upgrade.

“Given that Carrera Cup is coming back next year, Model Year 11 is what they’ll run, and they’ll switch to Model Year 14

in 2014,” Zylstra said.

“The Model Year 11 will then become eligible for the GT3 Cup Challenge. That works for the guys making an investment currently in the GT3 Cup Challenge, they know they’ve got somewhere to run without having new cars added to the field too quickly.”

– MITCHELL ADAM 2011 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Calendar: 1. Wakefield Park, April 2-3 2. Mallala Motorsport Park, April 30-May 1 3. Eastern Creek, July 16-17 4. Sandown Raceway, August 13-14 5. Morgan Park, September 24-25 6. Phillip Island, November 5-6

RSVP’ING YES TO V8 INVITE V8 SUPPORTS THE Targa Invitationals class will race at Symmons Plains’ V8 Supercar round later this month with a full 32-car field.

Organised by Glenn Ridge’s Q-Media Group, the concept first appeared at last year’s Symmons event, followed by a run at the second Phillip Island V8 Supercar round.

The field for November 12www.mnews.com.au

14 contains a diverse crop of primarily tarmac rally cars, running on road-legal tyres.

Tasmanian Ray Hislop, who won the Symmons round last year in his Improved Production Falcon, headlines the entries.

“Last year when the Targa Invitationals debuted at Symmons Plains it was a blast, the competitors, the crowd, everyone enjoyed the

spectacle,” Ridge said.

“We’re very proud to be asked back, and I’m certain the capacity field will be one of the on-track highlights of the V8 Supercar weekend.

“A total of seven different marques will be represented in the field, with there truly being something for anyone who has an interest in motoring.

“From latest German sports cars to Japanese rotaries and

turbo charged four-wheeldrive weapons, to home grown Aussie muscle cars, we’ve arranged a very diverse field.”

The field will race for the Rodney Howell Memorial Trophy, in memory of the former chairman of the Tasmanian Automobile Chamber of Commerce who lost his life in a road accident earlier in he year.

19

GREADY WINNER KARTING

Coopers Photography

BRINLEY Gread bounced back from a virtual exile to take out the DD2 category at Newcastle’s Rotax Pro Tour event at the weekend.

The Campbelltown-based racer looked untouchable throughout the race weekend, as he took the chequered flag by nearly six seconds.

“We brought a new approach this weekend,” he said.

“We’ve had small problems all year but decided this weekend we’d look at as the first race meeting of the new Rotax Rankings year and see what we could get out of it. To walk away with a dominant victory against this opposition is more than we could have hoped for.”

Gread was joined on the podium by DD2 debutantes,

Canberra racer Jackson Delamont and Newcastle local Jack Lindgren, who is aiming to complete the full 2011 season aboard a DD2 equipped machine.

The other big winners included Tyler Greenbury in Rotax Light who was pushed all the way by Joshua DeMaio and Joseph Mawson who won an epic battle with rival, Pierce Lehane to take out Junior Max. Greenbury and DeMaio were followed home by Macauley Jones – son of V8 Supercar board member – Brad Jones in his first ever Senior event and another debutante in Trent Grubel who was super impressive throughout the weekend.

Dale Corbett won the Junior Max Heavy event, Bruce Otter the Super Heavy Max

category, whilst Queenslander Brendan Nelson won the Rotax Heavy division. Local Danny Woodland was dominant in Rotax Over-35s.

The event completes the

season for Rotax Pro Tour events in 2010, with the first 2011 event to be held at the end of January at Melbourne’s Todd Road circuit.

– MATT PAYNE

KARTING

AUSTRALIAN Pro Junior Champion Pierce Lehane will be used to the sight of Italy’s La Conca Raceway by the end of this month, after he jets across for two events on consecutive weekends.

The youngster, who kept his record of finishing on every Rotax Pro Tour podium alive on Sunday, will represent Australia in both the Junior category at the Rotax MAX World Challenge and the WSK Nations Cup the following weekend in KF3.

“I haven’t done too much preparation for it to be honest,” he said. “The Rotax MAX 20

Challenge is the second time I’ve had the opportunity to represent Australia at the World Championships and once again I’m looking forward to it.”

Walking into the Rotax World Challenge, Lehane knows what to expect after last year representing Australia at Ghibli in Egypt. He hopes Australia might challenge for the international trophy this time.

“Team Australia looks very strong on paper and I think that we can probably look towards taking out the best nation trophy this time,” he continued. “I’ll be doing my best to help my team mates in that pursuit.”

Coopers Photography

LEHANE LOOKS TO LA CONCA

As for the WSK Nations Cup event, Lehane is looking towards it being a challenge against the best junior racers in the world.

“The WSK Nations Cup came as a result of winning the Australian CIK Stars of Karting Series and it will be great to gauge myself against the best in the world.”

He hasn’t cut any laps of La Conca – yet.

“There’s an rFactor simulation of the circuit, I’ve downloaded it but haven’t played it yet. The next couple of weeks I’ll be busy on that preparing myself for the two events!”

– MATT PAYNE motorsport news

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Luke Nieuwhof

Carter gets new ride, grunt DRAG RACING WA DRAG Racer Greg Carter has some plans to stun his opposition this season with a new car hitting the track at Perth Motorplex’s Grand Opening event.

Carter, 54, is a former champion in the Super Sedan category and is hopeful the Chevy Cobalt he has just imported from the USA will be the equipment he needs to do the job. The Jerry Bickelbuilt Cobalt has a massive 667 cube, V8 race engine put

together by Steve Schmidt underneath the bonnet producing 1435 horsepower.

The top end charge will prove hard to pick for most drivers in Super Sedan.

Already he has run a 7.001s pass, way under the national record.

“It’s quick, but the problem with quick is when it goes wrong that happens quick as well,” he said.

“I’m not a bad driver, but it will be a whole new deal.”

Carter, a home builder by trade, said he has always been

interested in cars and when he was asked if he would like to drive a Super Street Drag Car in 1997 he became hooked.

“I think it was the adrenaline rush that got me, but it is also the camaraderie that exists among all the people at the track,” he said.

Winning the state championship in 2002/03 was a highlight in the Drag Racing career of Carter, which he describes as his only hobby.

“Outside of my work and family, Drag Racing is all there

is,” he said.

Looking at his new racecar for the first time, Carter said it was an emotional experience, having placed a lot of trust in the car and engine builder.

“It was a deal that was all done on trust over the internet and via email,” he said.

“I’d only ever seen pictures of the car and motor. When we opened the container and pulled it out I knew it was going to be a great car but it was even better than what I expected.”

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

ANDRA Pro Series news i

22

motorsport news

news

ANDRA clarifies Melbourne position DRAG RACING ANDRA has issued a statement saying it continues to support a new, independent drag racing venue in Melbourne.

Recent talks of Calder Park and Heathcote receiving funding have muddied the waters on where the future of

drag racing lies in Victoria.

The statement said: “ANDRA has always been committed to encourage and assist any organiser in the progressive promotion of ANDRA Drag Racing.

“In the absence of opportunities to do that in Melbourne between 2001 and 2006, in light of unsuccessful

attempts to reach agreement with existing organisers through that period and in the interests of the sport and its members in Victoria and nationally, ANDRA took the initiative” to work to achieve a new, government-funded facility.

“The ANDRA target remains the delivery of a reliable and

sustainable drag racing venue to Melbourne.”

The Motorvate Melbourne campaign has been the vehicle for this support so far. Among the concerns cited with Calder Park are noise restrictions, safety and proposed frequency and prize money of events.

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

Sidchrome joins ANDRA DRAG RACING AFTER signing a major sponsorship deal with Australian Drag Racing outfit Team Bray earlier this month, Sidchrome has been unveiled as the new Official Hand Tool Supplier of the ANDRA Pro Series.

The sponsorship deal will see the tool giant become heavily involved in the ANDRA Pro Series’ TV show on OneHD

through naming rights of the Tech Talk segment. Sidchrome will also have signage at each of the three national venues (Sydney Dragway, Perth Motorplex and Willowbank Raceway).

ANDRA and Sidchrome will also be monitoring the best elapsed times throughout each of the six pro categories for the entire season. The six top competitors at the end of the season will win a Sidchrome

is proudly presented by:

toolbox full of tools.

“Sidchrome has decided to jump in boots and all with the ANDRA Pro Series. Our brand has enjoyed a full makeover in the past 18 months, with new branding, a massive surge in new product development and a real focus on engaging the general public,” said Sidchrome brand manager Ben Hall.

“We see the ANDRA Pro Series as a perfect vehicle to get our message across.

Not only will you see strong branding of our ‘Canna Hand A Man A Grander Spanner’ on the Team Bray racecars but it will be exposed right through the entire series.

“We also know the ANDRA Pro Series is a great fit for our Truck Load of Tools promotion, where we have $62,000 worth of tools and a burnout in a Top Doorslammer with legend Victor Bray to be won.”

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

Next ANDRA Pro Series Round:

Goldenstate Titles Perth Motorplex, December 3-4 ANDRA Pro Series on TV:

Top Fuel, Sydney Dragway Saturday November 13, 8:30pm www.mnews.com.au

23

Five Minutes with ...

WARREN LUFF

‘Luffy’ is back with Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport, for the rest of 2010 and all of next season. He spoke to ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN about his new opportunity MOTORSPORT NEWS: You’ve got the security of not only knowing what you’re doing for the rest of this year, but next year as well. Have you even been in that situation with motor racing before?

WARREN LUFF: No. I’ve been racing for 17 years, and this is like ‘wow, what a weird feeling!’

So it will be a nice relaxing Christmas this year, then.

Exactly!

You’ve mostly driven Fords in the past. Is it weird to be jumping into a Holden this time around?

Yeah, it is. I’m really excited about the prospect of getting into a Holden. My first enduro campaign was with Cam McConville in 2002, and that was in a Holden, but ever since I’ve been in Fords.

That hasn’t been by design, it’s just be the way its worked out.

Obviously, the Holdens are pretty strong at the moment, so I’m looking forward to seeing what they are like. The car we’ve got has a great pedigree; it’s [Garth] Tander’s championship winner from ’07, with all the new updates from 24

John Morris/Mpix

The team has a good tyre bank after some less fortunate weekends this year.

How important will that be heading into the last three rounds of this season, as a prelude to 2011?

For us, these next three races really serve as test days for next year. But in saying that, obviously we’re still going to go out and do our very best. We want to try and finish the season off with some strong results, because there is no better way to show what you’re capable of than getting some strong results.

The last part of this year is a learning process for all of us; for me to learn the team, the team to learn me, and for me and my engineer Benny Crawford to learn each others traits, and how we can get the best out of the car. It’s about learning to make the whole package gel together ahead of 2011.

Walkinshaw Racing.

So, all the essential ingredients are in place. Given how late the team came about, I think Lucas has done a great job to get it to where it is, and I’m looking forward to being part of the journey to take it to the next level.

Steven [Johnson], [Marcos] Ambrose, and now James. I’ve had the benefit of that, and James is truly world class, so driving with him is a huge learning opportunity.

Hopefully the things I’ve learned being partnered with James I can put to good use in my own campaign.

Speaking of enduro campaigns, how important has the last few years with Dick Johnson Racing been in terms of reinventing yourself as a V8 Supercar driver?

Look, it’s been really important. To be with a strong team like DJR, particularly this year and last year with the FG Falcon and the link with Triple Eight, makes a big difference. They’ve made some big steps forward, and its allowed me to make some big steps forward as well, and show what I can do in a competitive car.

Teaming up with James [Courtney] this year was a great opportunity, a great learning opportunity. I’ve been pretty lucky over the years that I’ve been with some good drivers in the enduros, like

Finally, what are the expectations for 2011. Give the big teams a few scares here and there?

That’s what we’re going out there for! Our goal is to be the best one-car team out there, and to try and shake up a few of the more established two-car operations.

I think our real goal is to try and finish the championship in the top half of the field, and if we can make some qualifying Shootouts, and try and finish in the 10, then we’ll be punching above our weight, and we’ll make people take notice.

Look, Lucas has done a great job in getting all the essential ingredients in place – all the fundamentals are there – it’s just up to us as a team now to put it all together and get the right results. motorsport news

chat

Dirk Klynsmith

www.mnews.com.au

25

WHY CALENDARS ARE SO TOUGH

T

OUGH things, calendars.

There are always going to be complaints about almost Phil Branagan – any V8 Supercar calendar.

Executive Editor There are any number of alligators that need to be full of Arabian loot. Also, like Shanghai, with wrestled in the process of its Formula 1-inspired camera angles, Sakhir putting together a list of dates that constitute looked like a Great Big Racetrack that makes any given year’s schedule; weather, football, the cars look small, and there were only ever TV, other major happenings, like Jazz Festivals, a few fans in the stands. Really, if I want to public holidays and all that stuff. Over the see that, I can; that’s why we have the World years, I have heard plenty of people say that Touring Car Championship. they could do a better job of lots of things Singapore is another matter. No matter what than the people who actually do it, but putting you think of V8 racing overseas, most would together a calendar is not one of those things. admit that getting a race, under lights, at the Let me say this; I did not much like this year’s Singapore GP would have been a coup for the calendar. My problem was that the fans would category. For whatever reason – money, TV, too not see it for what it was; when there is a long close to Bathurst, all of the above – that is not break in the middle of the season, it can look going to happen. Until we see what the new like everyone associated with the sport was Category 2 track being built at Changi is like – relaxing in Vegas, drinking those cocktails with please God, not another Hermann Tilke design little umbrellas in them and losing at blackjack.

– we will wait with interest to see what happens The fact was that most people in motor next in the island state to our north. racing were hard at work, but the public So, it’s back to Perth, for good reason. perception of the sport fell in a hole. Ironically, Onward and upwards to QR, and more miles that bleak, raceless, winter break had some up and down the Hume Freeway to Winton. pretty good news weeks for we at eNews ...

No more interminable breaks in the middle of And, no Bahrain? Bad news? Maybe. Will anyone miss it? Probably not. I am not sure that the season, to let other sports get under motor racing’s guard. a double-header half-way around the world Now, if we can just make sure that nobody to start the season sent a positive message to wants to carry those blasted Pink TV ads over the fans. It could have been seen as a bunch into the new season, so far, things are looking of teams deserting [pardon the pun] their up. fans, and flying for hours to race for two bags

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OPINION

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comment

PERTH, NO GO

A

OPINION

S a proud West Aussie, I’ve surprised myself with this theory ... but here goes.

Andrew van Leeuwen – I don’t agree with the fact eNews Editor that Barbagallo Raceway will be a round of the Fujitsu Series in 2011. There, I’ve said it. Now, let me explain.

Naturally, I think its great that V8 Supercars are returning to WA. It should be a national sport, and national means going to every state. For the main series, it’s a complete no-brainer.

But the Fujitsu Series? I can’t understand why a round at Winton would be dumped to include a round 4000km away from the east coast. The Fujitsu Series is getting more and more expensive.

Realistically, if you want to have a decent shot at the title, you’ll be spending well upwards of $500,000. In some cases, replace the five with an eight or nine. In its current guise, with the longest haul from Melbourne being Townsville and the longest haul from Queensland being Adelaide, it is still ridiculously expensive. A trip across the Nullabor is only going to add to that.

The other criticism that is often thrown around about the Fujitsu Series is the lack of miles that you get during a season. It’s only seven rounds long, so for that type of money, it’s not exactly bang for you buck. That’s why someone like Dean Fiore buys a license and jumps into the main game without the Fujitsu Series; you simply get so much more time in the car in the big league.

So, if there had to be an expensive change to the calendar for 2011, why not an extra round on the east coast, instead of a trip to Perth? Keep Winton on the bill, and go back to holding an FV8 round at Phillip Island. To me, that makes a lot more sense.

It’s not unlike the situation with Formula Ford’s calendar this season. Rounds at Townsville and Darwin, but no round at Phillip Island, makes no sense to me. It’s too much travel for what is supposed to be a budget-conscious junior category. Formula Ford is hoping to scale that back to one long haul for ’11, and if I ruled the world, I’d probably make it in Perth. Next year, there will be a WA-owned team competing in the AFFC, so it makes more sense than Darwin or Townsville.

There is also a booming FFord scene already existing in WA, so you could either top up the field with Kent-powered cars, or make tempting offers for one-off drives to get the locals into Duratecpowered cars for the weekend. Neither of those instances are options at the northern rounds.

In summary, Perth is a beautiful city and a great place to visit. It’s just not a great place to hold a round of the Fujitsu Series ...

www.mnews.com.au

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ANDRA PRO SERIES SYDNEY DRAGWAY John Bosher

T

he second round of ANDRA’s travelling acceleration circus – aka the ANDRA Pro Series – returned to Sydney for the Halloween weekend.

Full fields appeared for the two brackets on show, Top Fuel and Top Alcohol, however the scary bit was that someone forgot to tell the spectators as both days played to a very small band of hardy fans.

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Prior to the event, there were fears that a field of eight Top Fuel dragsters could not be drawn together. Santo Rapisarda was racing at the NHRA race in Las Vegas, meaning his two entries weren’t available, while Darren DiFilippo and Steve Read were non-starters. Noone should have worried as nine cars actually faced the starter in qualifying, including West Australian Damien Harris

who swapped his fuel Funny Car for a long skinny one.

Top Fuel qualifying was actually a pretty tame affair with no fires and plenty of close runs. In the end it was current ANDRA Top Fuel Champion, Martin Stamatis who was on top of the heap with a 4.65s pass. This led Andrew Cowin, pictured, with a 4.74s while Luke Shepherd was to miss the cut thanks to a sub par 5.84s. Race day

opened with only seven of the eight drivers fronting up for the Shannon’s Shootout as Cowin was missing.

While firing the car prior to eliminations, a clutch malfunction saw him involved in a mad thrash trying to get the car ready.

As a result, a sporting Bob Shepherd waited for his opponent to turn up and he didn’t have to wait too long as the yellow and black motorsport news

race

Oktoberfast The ANDRA Pro Series continued at Sydney Dragway, with Top Fuel and Top Alcohol in action. JON VAN DAAL reviews the weekend

dragster was pulled into the pre-stage area. In this match up they both left as one but Cowin had to back pedal at third-track to avoid going up in smoke, but at the other end, Shepherd was to run out of steam with Cowin’s car managing to slip around the red dragster in a 5.22s to 5.35s joust.

Like the Nationals the month before, the first round of Top Fuel saw some of the www.mnews.com.au

more fancied scalps fall early including a tyre-smoking Martin Stamatis (a 6.46s to a 5.21s by Terry Sainty) and Phil Lamattina’s 5.43s fell to Phil Read’s 5.18s in a fire-belching duel.

The best race of the round was between the vivid yellow BTP Racing Parts digger of Harris and bright orange AEG mount of Darren Morgan, with Morgan taking the lead off the line (.069s to a .111s

reaction time) but the contest see-sawed down the track with Morgan taking the win with a 4.904s to a close 4.946s.

The semis featured saw another close duel when Sainty faced Morgan. On paper Morgan was favourite but in the heat of the day his car was clawing for traction as it smoked the tyres through the middle of the course and thus Sainty made his first final in a couple of years

with a 5.19s to 5.27s win. The other semi between Read and Cowin saw the latter run low ET of eliminations with a 4.797s to end the finals aspirations of Phil Read who was not disgraced with a spectacular 4.871s.

On paper the final was pretty much a David vs.

Goliath affair, with Sainty’s Aussie-built dragster up against the Rocketship of Cowin.

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John Morris / Mpix

Sainty last won in 1997 and he couldn’t end his drought this time around. Off the line, Cowin took a .059s to .113s lead and once the scoreboards lit up it was a 4.835s to 8.24 rout.

“The secret to winning was not to overpower the track so we took a lot of power out of it,” team owner Graeme Cowin revealed.

“The car was great to drive all weekend,” Andrew Cowin said.

“We richened it up and took a

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heap of power out of it and still ran well enough to make it through today. It would have been easy to overpower the track but the end result was a win.”

The second round of the Top Alcohol series was also held over the weekend, as Aaron Hambridge’s dragster topped the eight-car field in qualifying with a 5.57s. Second was the dragster of Wayne Newby with a 5.71s and it was no surprise that these two met in the

final. Both cars left together but Hambridge leapt in the air and unloaded the tyres while Newby scooted off to a well deserved win – a 5.669s easily covering a 6.38s.

“We had the weekend from hell,” an exasperated Newby related.

“We lost an engine on the last qualifying pass and our second motor wasn’t up to scratch so we basically worked to get everything back together again to make the first round.

I only had six hours sleep in three days but the win was well worth it.”

While the weather threatened a number of times over the weekend the race was finished and winners were crowned.

Due to the loss of major events over recent summers this will be the last event at Sydney Dragway until March, with the next round of Top Fuel to be held at Willowbank on January 2-3, 2011.

motorsport news

John Morris / Mpix

Phil Read just lost out to Andrew Cowin in their Top Fuel semi, despite his spectacular blowout, left, while Terry Sainty, above, couldn’t match Cowin in the final. Wayne Newby, below, won Top Alcohol after Aaron Hambridge, right, shook the tyres in the final.

John Morris / Mpix

John Bosher

www.mnews.com.au

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NASCAR Round 33 – TALLADEGA, AL

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motorsport news

race

WHOWUNNIT? In a typical ‘Dega race, everyone was left wondering which of Richard Childress’ cars had actually won the race after the finish. In the end, Clint Bowyer got the nod

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W

HEN the Amp Energy Juice 500 at Talledega finished, the only person who was guaranteed a trip to Victory Lane was Richard Childress.

He knew he’d won the race, but which of his cars would join him remained a mystery for several minutes after the finish, after a stunning dice between Clint Bowyer and Kevin Harvick. In the end, Bowyer was declared the winner, after a confusing few minutes.

It was a typical ‘Dega drafting battle. With a couple of laps to go, Bowyer split from the pack with Juan-Pablo Montoya giving him a bump. Harvick soon followed with David Reutimann on his rear bumper, sparking a side-by-side, four-car battle for the lead. But just as the white flag was thrown, the track went into caution due to a wild flip from AJ Allmendinger. The question was, who was leading when the caution came out?

After extensive review, NASCAR deemed that the race belonged to Bowyer, who was narrowly ahead at the time Allmendinger crashed. “[I’m] just thrilled for RCR,” said Bowyer.

“I mean, you got to think about all the hard work that goes into it. It’s not just us racecar drivers. When you’re at that race shop every day, you realize the passion for this sport, no different than you have as a racecar driver. Those guys are the hardest-working people in this sport. All of us take it easy for the week, and we go back to our job on the weekends.

Their jobs start 7:00 on Monday morning.

“To realize how much hard work and dedication goes into those cars, that’s what makes you the proudest, the pride in Victory Lane, to know what it means to those guys.”

With title contenders Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin finishing seventh and ninth respectively – Hamlin after coming from a lap down – the Chase for the Sprint Cup is now tight at the top, with just three races remaining. Johnson increased his lead over Hamlin to 14 points, but Harvick cut down Johnson’s lead to just 38 points. Next stop is Texas, where Hamlin is the reigning winner.

As for Marcos Ambrose, like Martinsville he led the race, and then got unlucky. Ironically, it was with the two RCR cars that Ambrose’s trouble came; he first got a bump from Bowyer, spun, and collected Harvick, damaging the second-place finisher’s car. But while Harvick clawed his way back into contention, Ambrose was left off the lead lap and finished 34th.

“We had a quick car out there today, but once again things didn’t work out as planned,” Ambrose said.

“The speed was there to run with the best of them, and we were lining up for a big finish. It’s a shame about the spin, but that’s racing in the pack at Talladega.

“The crew did an awesome job to get the car back out there running.

We tried playing the waiting game, but the cautions never came.”

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Shake on it: While waiting for the verdict on who had won, Bowyer and Harvick shook hands from within their respective racecars, top. Earlier in the day Jeff Burton gave his car a good kick after crashing out, above.

motorsport news

race

Results :: Amp Energy Juice 500, Talladega, AL Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

No. 33 29 42 00 20 56 48 24 11 12

Driver Make Clint Bowyer Chevy Kevin Harvick Chevy Juan-Pablo Montoya Chevy David Reutimann Toyota Joey Logano Toyota Martin Truex Jr Toyota Jimmie Johnson Chevy Jeff Gordon Chevy Denny Hamlin Toyota Brad Keselowski Dodge

Team Childress Childress Ganassi Waltrip Joe Gibbs Waltrip Hendrick Hendrick Joe Gibbs Penske

Sponsor BB&T Shell-Pennzoil Target Aaron’s Home Depot NAPA Lowe’s National Guard FedEx Penske

Qual 2 14 1 21 25 18 19 31 17 11

Top 10 Points: Johnson 6149, Hamlin 6135, Harvick 6111, Gordon 5942, Kyle Busch 5919, Edwards 5902, Stewart 5832, Kenseth 5825, Kurt Busch 5799, Burton 5797.

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35

MULLER IN BOX SEAT WTCC

TIMO Scheider took out an incident-packed penultimate round of the DTM at Adria, as Bruno Spengler reclaimed the points lead from Paul di Resta.

The race was stopped after an opening lap crash which saw Alexandre Premat roll several times. When the shortened race resumed, Scheider opted for a radical strategy to move up from 15th on the grid.

Scheider made his two stops just seven and five laps from the end, using clean air to leapfrog Gary Paffett and Bruno Spengler to claim Audi’s second win of 2010.

With di Resta finishing out of the points in ninth after late drama, Spengler leads by three points, with Shanghai to host the finale on November 28.

Timo on top sutton-images.com

ROB Huff and Augusto Farfus split the WTCC wins at Okayama in Japan, while a pair of thirds have put Yvan Muller in a strong position to take the crown.

Huff claimed Race 1 and Farfus Race 2 in a wet weekend, while Muller’s title rivals were in strife. Andy Priaulx took second in the opener but spun out of Race 2, along with Gabrielle Tarquini, who led at the time.

The incidents have put Tarquini out of contention, while Muller leads Priaulx by 37 points with one round remaining. Irrespective of Priaulx’s results, a podium in either race at Macau will be enough for Muller to wrap it up.

DTM

Cobby kicks off with a win SPEEDWAY ON a cold and frosty night Sprintcar racing fired up for the first time this season at Adelaide’s Speedway City with the opening round of the Revolution Racegear Sprintcar Track Championships for both 410cc (Open) and 360cc Sprintcars.

Jamie Cobby got his season off to a great start taking the win in the open Sprintcar feature which proved to be one

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with many twists and turns.

“We didn’t have a winning car but we had some luck fall our way, so we will take the win and bank the points and come back next week for the Australian Sprintcar Masters,” Cobby said.

Front row pair Luke Dillon and Dillon Jenkin jumped away with the former commanding from the front while David Murcott sliced his way through to third before spinning on Lap 14.

Dillon again led away from Ricky Maiolo, who had also busily made his way forward.

Over the next five laps the duo squared off in a thrilling dice for the lead until Maiolo rode the rear wheel of Dillon, sending him into the Turn 4 wall and Dillon out of the race with a cut down rear tyre. Jenkin then inherited the race lead and he led the following four laps only to spin on the drying track in Turn 2 with only two laps remaining.

Cobby, who had been running fourth only four laps earlier, took his turn at the front and grabbed the victory with both hands over Daniel Pestka and Matt Egel.

The 360ci Sprintcar feature race event was won by Darryl Wright who proved to be too strong in the 15-lap final despite the best efforts of a fast finishing Shane Hendry and reigning All Star Series Champion Colin Brooks.

– PARIS CHARLES

motorsport news

race STATE RACING DANIEL Reinhardt stormed to his first Formula Vee National Title at Mallala over the weekend, sweeping to victory ahead of former champion Ben Porter.

Leading from lights to flag the Victorian was chased hard

by Porter who was unable to find a way by the Sabre 02 driver, the pair separated by little more than a car length at the finish.

In the 1200 class veteran Wes Young won the National Title, capping off a successful season, which saw the South Australian take the national double with victory in the Formula Vee Australia Series. Young won ahead of Neil Richardson and youngster Rhys Newman, Zach Jones spinning out of third almost within sight of the flag.

Young also claimed the 1200 South Australian State Championship, while Rob Surman laid claim to the 1600

title.

Michael Mohr won the Formula Ford title by a single point ahead of Dylan Richter, while Chris Slusarski won three of the four races in a dramatic championship finale.

Also among the silverware was Graham Mason, wrapping up the HQ Racing state title, as Bruce Heinrich won all four race wins across the weekend. Other winners included Adam Allan in Improved Production, Jim Doig in Historic Sports Racing

while Keith Wong dominated early in the Sports Car category before Brenton Grigoul won in his Ferrari.

Rodney Gibb headed home the pack in the MG category, with Wayne King’s Ford Falcon proving too strong for the other Saloon cars. The DeLuca entry saw off all-comers in the Historic Touring class, while spoils were shared by Michael Brock and Tim Knappstein for the Tarmac Rally category.

– MAT COCH

Reinhardt’s Vee good Phil Williams

NEW ZEALAND

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Fourplay Fast Company / Alex Mitchell

KENNY Smith claimed a recordequaling fourth Lady Wigram Trophy as the MSC NZ Formula 5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series kicked off.

Smith won the two sprint races, and then led home Steve Smith to win the 15-lap feature race at Ruapuna Park in Christchurch to secure his fourth Lady Wigram Trophy.

The wins, in 1976, 1990, 2009 and 2010 see Smith draw level Graham McRae.

“It’s certainly good,” Smith said.

“Not just for me either. My mechanic here, Barry Miller, has been with me for three of the four years we’ve won it now from way back in the early 70s.

It’s mighty.”

Ross, who was also second in the opening race, got the best of the start in the feature, but Smith reclaimed the lead through the infield on the opening lap and was never headed. Tony Richards, Ian Clements and Sefton Gibb completed the top five.

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Bathurst 12hr 2011

Westfield English SEI 7

Elfin MS8 Clubman Race Car

Lotus 340R

5700 LS1 alloy block V8, factory fitted roller cam and rockers.

Owner fitted 4 into 1 headers; ECU modified; 388 HP at wheels.

Roll cage certified by Motorsport NZ. Battery switch, harnesses etc.

OE Tremec 6 speed and diff. ABS. Koni shocks, Eibach springs, ARBs. 2 sets wheels. Class winner. +64274468483

Single-way Nitron dampers with light weight Eibach springs.

Fully rebuilt motor incl. forged pistons, steel liners, fully balanced.

Currently runs about 170hp ATW @ 650kg car. Mocal oil cooler.

Motec M400 ECU. Carbon exhaust (3kg) Techo magnesium wheels.

Spare heated screen. WA B Class registered. $85,000 0414401815

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Porsche 993 Race Car

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2 Ex team Dynamic v8 supercars for sale. Cars are complete ready to race. Kms on components and massive spares package. POA 0429677255

3.5L twin plug. Motec with aim dash. Chrome molly cage, all turbo brakes, suspension. 3 sets wheels and tyres (incl. 1 set new slicks app.

6 laps). Contact Rick Scarf 0418202100

First Westfield registered in Australia.

Collector’s piece.

Original low nose 7. Beautifully built, stored. Mechanically as new.

CAMS log booked, never raced.

Weather kit. Dry sump Kent 1700, close ratio gearbox, LSD rear end.

SPAX suspension - all as new. Huge spares package, new and used.

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Lotus GT production drives available for Bathurst 12 hour 2011. Fully prepared arrive and drive packages for experienced drivers. NC license req'd. Be a part of a great event and a professional, championship 2 car team. Bathurst 12 hour 4-6 February 2011.

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35ft Aluminium Gooseneck Trailer Internal ramps over guards, alum cliplock flooring, alum cupboards, 240V & 12V. Front compartment accessing generator & air comp, rear drop down tailgate, side access door, rear 5m awning mounts to back of trailer. No poles!! Roll your race car in and go racing!! $60,000 0359402034 www.my105.com/1876

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motorsport news

rear of grid

BERNIE TURNS 80!

Last Thursday, the man who controls Formula 1 – Bernie Ecclestone – turned 80 years old. To help celebrate the milestone, Red Bull Racing presented him with a custom zimmer frame, which, as you can see, he took with good humour. Just to remind you that Bernie hasn’t always been an old man, we’ve also included a picture of him from way back in 1974. Happy Birthday, Mr E!

Odd Spot

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