Motorsport eNews Issue 193 - February 22-28, 2011

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Issue No. 193 Feb 22 - 28 2011

PROTEST BLOCKADE SET TO DISRUPT CLIPSAL 500

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Issue No. 193 | Feb 22-28 2011

news 4

Clipsal Carnage?

The plan to stop the 500 6 Ever heard of Joey Hand?

Well you’re about to ...

10 Sweet ride, bro The NZ COTF revealed 13 Bahrain Blues Trouble brewing for GP 21 Classical Return Classic Adelaide is back!

chat 26 Five Minutes With ...

Craig Lowndes

comment 28 AVL: Abu Dhabi is good 29 Branagan: October is good

race 30 Daytona 500 34 World Series Sprintcars 38 Formula 5000 40 Nationwide/Trucks

trade 43 Classifieds 3

“The intent will be to block or slow every entrance into Adelaide and bring the city to a standstill. We have played nicely for too long ...”

4

motorsport news

news

DRAG FANS PLAN TO SLOW DOWN CLIPSAL V8 SUPERCARS

T

HE first Australian round of the V8 Supercar Championship, the Clipsal 500, faces the threat of disruption from an Adelaidebased group of racing enthusiasts.

A push by the Adelaide Motorplex consortium, which has been lobbying the South Australian government to provide support for a motor racing facility, has been stepped up and may include a blockade of the city’s arterial roads.

A rally has been organised for Friday March 18 at 4pm in the Adelaide CBD, a move designed to coincide with the Clipsal 500. The race takes place in Victoria Park, on the edge of the city centre, and at the time of the rally, the fourth practice session for the V8 Supercars is scheduled to be in progress.

The proposed facility, which includes a championship-standard drag strip, is backed, according to its website, by “a group of businessmen dedicated to

bringing a multi-discipline Motorsport facility to Adelaide”. Its spokesperson is Anna Micheel, a former manager of the Adelaide International Raceway and a former Liberal Party candidate for the state seat of Port Adelaide.

“The Adelaide Motorplex Proposal continues to have every hurdle known to mankind placed in front of it by the Government,” said Ms Micheel.

“Whilst the Consortium have had several meetings with Government representatives and officials, most have just been lip service, including with the newly appointed Case Manager.

“At the same time, the Consortium have also had meetings with Specialist Consultants dealing in noise, flooding and acid sulfate (sic), which have all been extremely productive, positive and helpful.

“There is apparently an interview with the newly appointed Motorsport Minister, Mr Foley, where he states that there are too many noise issues with the

Motorplex to proceed.

“I find this comment perplexing if accurate, as Mr Foley has not met with the consortium since his appointment, nor spoken with the consortium on not only the noise issue, but on any issue.”

The consortium says it has now been forced to move to more aggressive action.

“We are organising a rally that will not only involve competitors and motorsport fans from South Australia, but interstate as well,” Ms Micheel said.

“The intent will be to block or slow every entrance into Adelaide and bring the city to a standstill. We have played nicely for too long.” eNews was unable to contact Clipsal 500 representatives for comment prior to this issue being published.

More updates and information on progress of the Adelaide Motorplex are on the consortium’s website – www.adelaidemotorplex.com.au.

– BRANAGAN/NIEUWHOF

Phil Williams

www.mnews.com.au

5

WHO THE HECK IS JOEY HAND?

He may well be the next American to race a V8 Supercar on the Gold Coast ...

V8 SUPERCARS

JOEY Hand has emerged as a likely starter in the Gold Coast 600.

The American GT racer, who won the Daytona 24 Hour earlier this month, has staked his claim on slotting into a V8 Supercar around the streets of Surfers Paradise.

“V8 Supercars? Holy cow! It’s awesome!” he told Motorsport News.

“That has me written all over it. A little push from the guy in second on the guy in first, to shove him and tuck under, and then that guys says, ‘No way!’ and he chops down to keep that guy on the bottom. Sideby-side, drag racing to the next corner? That’s me!”

Hand, 32, is confident that

the experience he has gained in the Grand Am Series, in which he drives a factory BMW M3 for Rahal Letterman Racing, will translate to a V8 Supercar.

“I have always been good in rear-wheel drive cars with big horsepower,” he says. “I think that I would fit in perfectly. Off the brakes, work hard on the throttle, use the power, do traction control with your foot … that is me. Those guys all look strong under brakes, and it looks like a fun race, do a show up and a one-off race.”

In the exclusive interview in MN, Hand also tells how he came back from a laterace pitlane penalty to win America’s biggest Sportcar race. Motorsport News is on-sale at newsagents this Wednesday.

LYONS ENDS UP WITH A MOTHER OF A DRIVE V8 SUPERCARS JONO Webb has grabbed Richards Lyons to partner him in the V8 Supercar endurance races.

The Northern Irishman, a regular in the Japanese GT Championship ti Toyota, will share Webb’s Mother Energy Falcon at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

“I’m looking forward to racing with him,” said Webb. “he knows his way around Bathurst 6

in particular, and has had some good results there.”

One of the factors in choosing Lyons is the fact that Webb, at 1.88m, presents a challenge for a co-driver to feel comfortable in the car. Lyons is 1.81m tall, so he should fit in Webb’s T8-spec Ford.

Lyons, who has made four previous V8 Supercar starts with Team Betta Electrical and TeamVodafone, and will test for the team prior to the L&H 500 in September. motorsport news

news

LOWNDES F1 DRIVE GETTING CLOSER ...

FORMULA 1

sutton-images.com

EXPECT to see a Formula 1 car running around Bathurst on the Tuesday before the Australian Grand Prix.

The Bathurst Regional Council has approved the use of the Mount Panorama circuit for a Vodafone promotional stunt, which will see 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button and five-time Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes both drive a Formula 1 car around the classic Aussie circuit. eNews understands that, should CAMS approve the project, it will take place on March 22.

While it is getting closer and closer to being a reality, Lowndes isn’t getting too excited just yet.

“That’s the ultimate racing car, and to drive it around a track that we consider to be so good, when they finally ring me up and tell me it’s got the big tick of approval, I’ll be jumping up and down,” he said.

“But at the moment ... every day its get closer, and I get more excited, but I’ll be really excited when it all gets across the line.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN For more with Craig Lowndes, see ‘Five Minutes With’ on page 26.

... BUT V8s REMAIN TOP PRIORITY sutton-images.com

sutton-images.com

V8 SUPERCARS will remain Craig Lowndes’ priority, despite growing links between the five-time Bathurst winner and Audi’s European sportscar program.

As exclusively revealed by eNews last week, Lowndes has now been officially invited to test for Audi in Europe, following a successful outing with German outfit Team Joest at the recent Bathurst 12 Hour.

But while its seeming surer and surer he will race for Audi overseas – as soon as later this year – he told eNews that V8 Supercars will remain his priority.

“Hopefully it does lead to bigger and better things, but www.mnews.com.au

Dirk Klynsmith

V8 SUPERCARS

I’m happy to say that I’m not going to relocate myself in Europe to race overseas fulltime,” said Lowndes.

“V8 Supercars is definitely my main focus and my primary

racing.

“Ultimately, I have to get approval from the race team, because Roland [Dane] still has final say. He’s been good enough to date to allow me

to do the 12 Hour, and the Australasian Safari last year and again this year, so at the moment everything is looking pretty positive.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN 7

Russell set for one more with MW FUJITSU SERIES

Dirk Klynsmith

DAVID Russell looks likely to remain with MW Motorsport for his 2011 Fujitsu Series title tilt.

After finishing second with Howard Racing in 2009, Russell joined Matthew White’s squad last year, running second in the standings before a troubled season finale at Homebush

dropped him to fifth.

Having attracted attention from a number of other leading squads, eNews understands Russell is working towards a deal to stay on with the team and drive one of their ex-FPR Falcons.

Russell would line up alongside new recruits Tim Blanchard and Tom Tweedie for the Victorian outfit.

Miles Racing took the wraps off the Falcons Chaz Mostert and Ash Walsh will race in the 2011 Fujitsu Series last week. simPRO has signed on to back the FFord graduates. Mostert will carry #10, Walsh #90.

INTERNATIONAL PROSPECTS FOR JAY FUJITSU SERIES INTERNATIONAL interest in the Fujitsu Series continues to grow.

South Australian outfit Jay Motorsport is working to secure an all-international line-up for this year’s series.

Team Manager Keith Rennie told eNews that his outfit was in discussions with a pair of internationals, who were in the process of securing funding.

Other than confirming the 8

pair were both under 30 years of age and from further afield than New Zealand, Rennie was tight lipped on their identities.

“They’re very creditable guys, they’ve driven a lot of cars,” Rennie said.

“I’m confident they’ll be quick. They’ve both driven open-wheelers, GT3 cars and all sorts of bits and pieces.

They’ll be well up to it.

“They seem confident that they’ll have their funding by Clipsal.

“They’ve got plenty of proposals out, we’ve got quite a few out, trying to finalise a couple of sponsors for the cars as well, which will reduce the amount they need to bring.”

Should the team fill two seats, they’re ready to obtain a VE Commodore from Walkinshaw Racing, while the older of the team’s two VZ Commodores is being restored to its original state.

“Walkinshaws are putting

together a VE for us now, they’ll fast-track it as soon as we give them the green light,” Rennie said.

“The other car [as used by Nick Percat and Shane Price in 2010] is basically sitting here, ready to go.

“The other old car we’ve got, the Dynamik car, we’re rebuilding that now for sale, painting it in the original Team Dynamik colours, when Jason drove it.”

– MITCHELL ADAM motorsport news

news

It’s Richo!

CARRERA CUP STEVEN Richards looks set to join the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Series.

The V8 Supercar veteran, who this season steps into an endurance role with Ford Performance Racing, is working hard on a deal to race one of the 997s in the series, in which his father Jim was one of the men to beat in its first incarnation.

“I’ll know something soon,” said Richo Jr when contacted by eNews.

“It should be clear in the next few days.”

Richards is believed to be putting the deal together himself, rather than joining an existing team. Should

the CCup program move forward, it is likely that it will be run from Jim’s workshop in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Richards, father and son, are also expected to face each other in the Touring Car Masters Series, with Steve likely to take the wheel of the Falcon Sprint Jim raced in the series in 2009-2010 at selected events. Richards Sr has his new AMC Javelin nearing completion and is expected to air the car in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Michael Patrizi has confirmed he’ll race in Carrera Cup, signing to run with McElrea Racing, while Marcus Marshall is also close to finalising a program as the field takes shape.

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www.revolutionracegear.com.au 9

NZ: A Super Race NZV8s NEW Zealand motorsport has stolen a march on its Australian cousins by rolling out the prototype of its uni-brand V8 touring car last weekend.

Greg Murphy was on hand to lift the covers on the first car – Holden-bodied – which is due to start testing in six weeks time.

V8SuperTourers Ltd is a company formed by current NZV8 team owners Mark Petch, Wayne Anderson and Garry Pedersen, which looks set to achieve its aim of creating a new generation, future-proofed V8 touring car, offering V8 Supercar performance at a realistic cost. The aim was to end up with a turnkey race car for NZ$200,000 (approx A$155,000), and the signs are that the target has been met.

Designed and built by Paul Ceprnich, of Pace Innovations in Brisbane (the same workshops where, interestingly, the Australian V8 Supercar Car of the Future is taking shape), the chassis is built to not only accommodate both the current VE Commodore and FG Falcon bodies, but any other similar-sized four-dour production vehicle such a Toyota Camry, BMW 5 series, etc.

Interested vehicle manufacturers of four-door saloon cars of a similar size to the Holden VE and Ford FG models can apply for homologation to race in NZ’s V8SuperTourer series.

The V8SuperTourer will utilises a strictlycontrolled ‘one make’ all-alloy, fuel-injected and dry-sumped 7-litre V8 ‘ST’ engine. The power-plant is derived from the Le Mans C6R Corvette programme and hand-built in America.

It delivers around 550hp at 6800rpm and is expected to have a racing life of 10,000 racing kilometres before requiring maintenance. The engine is identical to that of Mosler’s current and very successful GT Sportscar.

10

The car weighs in at around 1300kgs, including driver. The drive-train consists of a triple-plate clutch, which delivers engine torque through a Quaife 6-speed sequential transmission via a two-piece pro-shaft feeding a classic 9-inch Ford differential, which is fitted with a Torsen-style limited slip, crown wheel carrier assembly.

The rear suspension adopts the proven threelink live rear axle fitted with camber and toe, with CV-style, floating rear hubs.

The front suspension is a ‘clean sheet’ double wishbone layout that is symmetrical from left to right, thus reducing spares’ inventories, etc.

Basic adjustable bump and rebound shock absorbers are fitted with adjustable spring platforms.

The rack and pinion power steering assembly is mounted ahead of the engine in order to better optimise the front suspension geometry and the high loads generated under long distance racing events.

The V8SuperTourer uses 11x18” forged alloy wheels carrying 280x680x18 slicks or wet weather radial tyres. The brake rotors are 355mm (front) and 328 mm (rear).

The inaugural V8SuperTourer series is scheduled to start in New Zealand in February 2012 and run through to November. Up to eight rounds are planned, with the annual series incorporating a mixture of sprint and endurance races. The series calendar will be designed to avoid clashing with the Australian V8 Supercar Championship and the Motorsport NZ summer series.

Twelve team owners have already registered their interest (evenly split 6:6 between Commodore and Falcon). Indications are that a full grid of 24 new cars will have been sold by the time the series kicks of in February next year.

Cam covers sir? Red for Holden, blue for Ford ... take your pick! Toyota?

Well ....

motorsport news

The BBC: Barker, BRM and the Carrera Cup CARRERA CUP BEN Barker will represent Team BRM in their maiden tin-top foray.

After winning the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship with the squad last year, the English driver will race in the reborn Carrera Cup Australia. It will be the six-time Australian F3 title winner’s first program outside of open-wheelers, joining existing F3 and Formula Ford campaigns.

“As a team we have been working towards entering Carrera Cup since it was announced that the series would be returning this year,” Team BRM manager Mark Rundle said.

“To have the pieces in place to launch a professional campaign with a fantastic young driver like Ben is a good way for us to go racing.

We’re excited to be part of the series’ new beginning as we diversify our own operations into other categories.”

Barker made a Fujitsu Series start at Bathurst last year, and ended up opting for the allPorsche category over the second-tier of Supercars as his first step out of open-wheelers.

“I feel it’s the right move for where I am at in my career and especially when I look at where I want to go – V8 Supercars or GT / Sportscar racing back in Europe or America,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to getting dialed into the Porsche – my confidence is pretty high and I’m itching to get back in the car “The best thing is I know the team, know how they work and know their processes which I think will make the transition so much easier.

“We can go straight into our pre-season testing with the hard-working attitude we had last year and I think it will get us all up to speed quicker compared to if I was driving for another team.”

Team BRM are currently upgrading its western Adelaide base ahead of taking delivery of its CupCar.

www.mnews.com.au

11

FORMULA 1 NICO Rosberg has set the fastest time on the latest day of Formula 1 testing at Barcelona, as Mercedes GP desperately try and drag some speed out of it’s new F! challenger.

The German set the day’s best time of 1:23.168s in the afternoon, following damp conditions in the morning.

Vitaly Petrov (Renault) and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) were also in the 1:23s bracket, while Mark Webber ended the day fifth fastest, after his Red Bull RB7 stopped on track during a race simulation late in the day.

While the fastest times came during the afternoon, changing conditions in the morning gave the team’s a good insight into how the new-

for-2011 Pirelli tyres will work in the wet.

“It was interesting running with the intermediates this morning and, although the warm-up is tricky, we definitely improved our understanding of the tyres,” said Rosberg.

“Our long runs this afternoon included some aero work in preparation for our next upgrade package before going into lower-fuel, newtyre running at the end of the day. We made good progress in understanding the car and the tyres, and the reliability was solid once again. Overall, I’ve enjoyed two positive and productive days here in Barcelona.”

Young West Australian Daniel Ricciardo was one of the surprise packages of the day, setting the pace on slick tyres in the damp morning

sutton-images.com

ROSBERG FLIES, RICCIARDO STARS

BAHR UNLIK

Australia set to host 20

conditions. It took a blinder lap from Hamilton to displace Ricciardo from the top of the time sheets before lunch, after which Sebastien Buemi took over the Toro Rosso for the dry afternoon running.

“It was an interesting morning in changing conditions, especially as I was one of the first to switch to slick tyres as the track dried this morning,” he said.

“I was pleased to be able to test a few different compounds so the day was more productive than we expected, especially in terms of learning more about the crossover point from wet to intermediate to dry tyres. Now, I am not due to drive at any further test sessions, so my next time in the car should be during Free Practice 1 at the first Grand Prix.”

TONIO FOR HRT? FORMULA 1

12

sutton-images.com

TONIO Liuzzi might yet make it onto the 2011 Formula 1 grid, after testing with the Hispania Racing Team at Barcelona.

The Italian, who has been ousted from Force India to make way for Paul di Resta, is now being considered for a race seat at HRT, where he would join Narain Karthikeyan.

“I’m pleased to have this opportunity to test

with HRT, as I haven’t driven since the tyre test following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,” he said.

“I know the 2010 car was not the most competitive, but I think the team did a great job in very difficult circumstances to achieve good reliability and performance. The HRT team started with an enormous challenge last year and never gave up, and I think [they’ve] shown they have the determination and tenacity you need to improve in Formula 1.”

motorsport news

news

RAIN RACE NOW KELY

011 season-opener

FORMULA 1 A DECISION is expected to be made tonight (Monday) as to the fate of the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix, and thus whether the Australian Grand Prix will open the new Formula 1 season.

The Formula 1 circus was expected to lob in Bahrain for a three-day test starting on March 3, before the seasonopening Grand Prix on March 13.

However, political unrest in the tiny Kingdom has seen violent protests ravish the city, placing extreme doubt on whether the GP will take place or not.

With the final European test at Barcelona wrapping up tonight (Australian time), the teams are waiting for instructions. The likely outcome is that the race will be called off, and Australia will return to being the first round of the season.

“It’s obviously a really difficult situation in Bahrain, but we have complete trust in Bernie, FOM and the FIA to make the right decision,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told AUTOSPORT on Friday.

“They will only send us there if it is safe.

“It would be a great shame to lose the race, but it’s not the teams’ decision – it’s down to the promoter. Bernie and the FIA will have much more information than us and we will trust their decisions.”

Meanwhile, Aussie Mark Webber has come out and said that in the scheme of Bahrain’s problems, the Formula 1 event is of little importance.

“It’s not a big deal to be honest because there are more things than Formula 1 in Bahrain,” he told the BBC. “They have bigger things, bigger priorities and that is what they want to work on over there, generations of issues. That’s the most important thing for them to sort out and not to worry about Formula 1.”

Last week, it was decided that the GP2 Asia round, scheduled to be held last weekend, would be cancelled. The decision was made not only because of the danger to human lives in the country, but because sufficient medical staff were not available thanks to the protests.

Should a decision over the Grand Prix be confirmed overnight, the news will be published tomorrow (Tuesday) via eNews’ Twitter feed – @motorsportenews.

www.mnews.com.au

13

Ford Racing

The Boy who could Fly NASCAR SPRINT CUP

14

A week of Tweaks

Ford Racing

TREVOR Bayne has set the NASCAR world ablaze by winning the Daytona 500.

The day after he turned 20, the rookie sped to the win, aided by a push from Bobby Labonte. For a moment, it looked like the #21 and the #47 – ironically, the two entries formerly raced by Marcos Ambrose – would fight out the finish, until Carl Edwards shot past Labonte’s Toyota to help his fellow Ford drive to the flag.

Bayne becomes the youngest driver to ever win the 500 and the second to win it at his first attempt (though the first, Lee Petty, did it in the very first 500 in 1959). He also ties the record for the shortest time taken to win any Sprint Cup race, in his second start.

Jamie McMurray also won his second race, at Charlotte nine years ago. At 20, he beats the record for the youngest man to win the race by almost five years, from Jeff Gordon.

The irony of Bayne’s win is that under the new 2011 NASCAR points scoring rules, he does not lead the championship. Because each driver is now eligible to score points only in one series, Bayne scored zero, as he is a registered Nationwide Series driver, with only a part-time Cup program. Equally ironically, secondplaced Edwards take the title lead for Roush Fenway Racing – the team for which Bayne races in NW.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP NASCAR continued to fine-tune the aero package of its Sprint Cup cars throughout raceweek at Daytona.

NASCAR issued smaller restrictor plates to Sprint Cup teams last Wednesday after they had them block off right side air openings in the front air dams prior to last Saturday’s Budweiser Shoot out in a effort to curb the two by two drafting.

On Saturday NASCAR informed teams they could increase the size of the centre air opening from 2½ inches in height to 3 inches in an aid to keep engines cooler in drafting during the 500, which was held on the hottest day of speedweek.

A number of cars suffered engine problems during the race, but immediately after the chequered flag, there were no suggestions that the tweaking caused the engine woes. motorsport news

Pagenaud sets sail for IndyCar SIMON Pagenaud looks set to return to open-wheelers.

Pagenaud, 26, is contracted to drive for Peugeot in its endurance program, but wants to run a partial season in the IndyCar series in preparation for a full-time effort in 2012.

Honda has highly recommended him, utilising his testing skills to develop their ALMS engines and chassis prototypes.

“I’m actually not permitted to discuss the details, but if it happens, it could be a pretty big deal,” Pagenaud, Highcroft Racing’s 2010 ALMS LMP co-Champion, told speed.com.

“If it does happen, it would be a partial season for this year, with a full season the following year. It’s where I want to be, and where I’ve wanted to be since Champ Car ended.”

Will Power, team-mate to Pagenaud while at Walker Racing during the 20007 Champ Car in 2007, knows how the Frenchman’s addition to IndyCar racing would enhance the competition.

“The series is already loaded with talent,” explained Power to Racer.com.

“Finishing in the top-10 really means something as it is. But could you imagine having Simon there? And Bourdais? And Tracy?

It would be ridiculous.

“I want the best talent in the series because it means that if you’re winning or doing well, you’ve really achieved something. As it is, getting past my team-mates, the Ganassi guys, and a few others is a nightmare. It’s already brutal. Get Simon in there, and Sebastien and Tracy and you’d see the best season of IndyCar racing ever. The best.”

– MARY MENDEZ

sutton-images.com

INDYCAR

Honours for Dario, Will

INDYCAR THE two drivers who fought out the 2010 IndyCar title, Dario Franchitti and Will Power, have both been honoured with awards.

Franchitti has been inducted into Britain’s Motor Sport Magazine’s Hall of Fame. Th three-time IndyCar champion and two-time Indy 500 winner joined Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Frank Williams and Jody Scheckter for the second class of inductees. Last December Franchitti was named British Competition Driver of the Year

by Autosport.

US based Racer magazine’s readers voted Will Power as the Road Racer of the Year, narrowly defeating Formula 1 Champion Sebastian Vettel.

– MARY MENDEZ

TG returns INDYCAR

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TONY George has returned to the Board of Hulman & Company, the parent company of both IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

George, who resigned as CEO of the IRL (now INDYCAR) in July 2009 after being removed as the CEO of both IMS and Hulman & Company, is one of four new member of the company’s Board. Randy Bernard, who replaced George, is expected to remain in his role as CEO of IndyCar. – MARY MENDEZ 15

FORMULA 3 THE 2011 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship is taking shape, with additional rounds and series incentives coming together.

A sixth event is now on the calendar, with confirmation that Winton’s V8 Supercar round will host the season opener in May, as revealed in last week’s eNews. Another V8 Supercar support slot at Queensland Raceway is close to being finalised, while discussions could see Symmons Plains’ V8 round also added, taking the calendar to

eight rounds. The other four will be run with the Shannons Nationals.

“We think it’s worth the wait we have had in confirming our opening round this year,” F3A Chairman Ian Richards said.

“Winton is a great Open Wheel track that challenges drivers with corners that allow drivers to exploit the aero and mechanical grip that F3 cars produce. [Winton CEO] Mick Ronke and his team have for a long time been supporters of Open Wheel racing and we’re proud to continue that tradition.

“Round 5 at Queensland

Raceway is 90 percent confirmed and due to the increased interest from competitors an eighth round at Symmons Plains is in the final stage of negotiations.”

Meanwhile, F3A will introduce a number of incentives to entice additional competitors into the category.

Entry fees are down by $1,000, to $1,600 per round, while competitors who sign up as ‘contracted drivers’ for the full season and appear at each event will have their entry fee for the final round waived. Contracted drivers will also receive $1,500 in travel

Dirk Klynsmith

F3’s Winton win

money for the trek to Hidden Valley, with each other entry receiving $1,000.

Alongside the previouslyannounced Forpark Australia F3 Scholarship worth $50,000 for young National Class competitors, there will be $2,000 in prize money up for grabs in National Class at each round.

The new, Kumho Key Contender Award will see one standout driver selected to receive $5,000 at the end of the season, while the threeround East Coast Shootout will return with a $5,000 prize pool.

Borland gets CAMS nod FORMULA FORD FORMULA Ford designer Mike Borland has been awarded the Phil Irving Award by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport.

The award recognizes 16

outstanding skill and achievement by an Australian engineer, and through running Melbourne-based company Borland Racing Developments, which builds and develops Spectrum Formula Fords and Sabre Formula Vees, Borland is

the latest recipient.

“I feel incredibly privileged to have received the Phil Irving Award, said Borland.

“Its a great honour and really validates everything were doing at Borland Racing Developments.

“When I was younger I really looked up to people like Ron Tauranac and Peter Holinger, so to be recognised and to have my name alongside them as a recipient of this award leaves me feeling very proud and humbled.” motorsport news

news

Marshall Cass

Big field for FF opener FORMULA FORD THE official entry list for the opening round of the Australian Formula Ford Championship has been released, ahead of next month’s Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

Sonic Motor Racing Services will feature a three-car line-up, with Nick Foster and Cameron Waters returning with the team, and Garry Jacobson joining after racing last year with the CAMS Rising Stars team in a Spectrum.

“It’s pretty exciting,” says Sonic boss Michael Ritter.

“It’s pleasing to see how much interest there is amongst these young guys and their parents in racing for Sonic. I’m really looking forward to this year, I think this is the strongest we’ve ever been as a race team.”

Jacobson added that he was excited to be joining the multiple championship winning team.

“I can already see why they’re successful,” he said. “[It’s] just the way they work together around the shop, the way they all gel, the work

ethic they have. It’s easy to see why they win championships.

I’m really excited about doing my first full season with the National Series working with Michael Ritter.”

Evans Motorsport Group also has a three-car line-up, with Kiwi Nick Cassidy returning after a stunning debut in Townsville last season. He will be joined by Adam Graham

and Elliot Barbour. And the CAMS Rising Stars cars, run by Minda Motorsport and using Mygale chassis for the first time, will be driven by Trent Harrison and Jack Le Brocq.

ENTRY LIST – AFFC ROUND 1, CLIPSAL 500 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 15 16 17 21 27 30 31 32 33 36 39 42 49 62 66 69 77 99

Steeline/Sonic Motor Racing Nick Foster Linde Material Handling Cameron Waters Jacobson’s Transport Garry Jacobson Evans Motorsport Group Nick Cassidy Evans Motorsport Group Adam Graham Evans Motorsport Group Elliot Barbour Borland Racing Tom Williamson XCEED/Synergy Motorsport Liam Sager Minda Motorsport/CAMS Rising Stars/AMSF Trent Harrison Tandersport/Accuweigh/Jaypak Packaging Rhett Noonan Tandersport/Pro Race Products Peter Major Synergy Motorsport Sam Power Richter Racing Dylan Richter Davbridge Constructions/Synergy Shae Davies Team BRM/RTS Refrigeration Tom Goess Team BRM/Yellow Cabs Tasmania Josh Burdon Exclusive Auto Centre/LMT Surgical Jon Mills Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove Robert Hackwood M. Roesler Services Matthew Roesler Mike O’Donnell Racing Mike O’Donnell Toshiba/RaceSolutions/MSCA Samantha Reid Minda Motorsport/CAMS Rising Stars/AMSF Jack LeBrocq Sears Workwear/Synergy Motorsport Mathew Hart Borland Racing Developments Jesse Fenech Team Townsville/Brad Jones Racing Zac Schonberger Densal P/L/King’s Fibreglass Caleb Rayner Borland Racing/Auto Clean Products Daniel Ramerman

QLD VIC VIC NZ NSW VIC NSW QLD VIC WA WA SA SA QLD SA TAS QLD QLD SA SA SA VIC ACT VIC QLD VIC SA

Mygale SJ11a Mygale SJ10a Mygale SJ10a Mygale SJ11a Mygale SJ10a Mygale SJ11a Spectrum 012 Spectrum 012 Mygale SJ11a Stealth S311D Stealth S311D Spectrum 011c Spectrum 011b Spectrum 011c Mygale SJ09a Mygale SJ09a Mygale SJ09a Spectrum 012 Spectrum 011c Spectrum 011b Mygale SJ11a Mygale SJ11a Spectrum 012 Spectrum 012 Mygale SJ09a Spectrum 012b Spectrum 011d

FOUR FOR EMG AT SELECTED ROUNDS FORMULA FORD EVANS Motorsport Group is looking to run four cars at a handful of Australian Formula Ford Championship rounds this year.

The Victorian squad has www.mnews.com.au

locked in Adam Graham, Nick Cassidy and Elliot Barbour for their three fulltime Mygales, while 2010 driver Andre Borell is likely to make selected appearances.

Borell won’t have a fulltime campaign, but Evans confirmed

the Queenslander is looking to contest his local rounds.

“He wants to do the Queensland events, Gold Coast and Queensland Raceway,” Evans said of Borell.

“We’ve got his car here, it’s pretty much ready to go, so

we’d run four at those events.”

In addition to the three National cars, EMG will also run three Mygales in the Victorian Formula Ford Championship, for Barbour, Greg Holloway and Jordan Lloyd.

– MITCHELL ADAM 17

TAPLIN’S NEW TOY AUSTRALIAN GTs

ANDREW Taplin will return to the VodkaO Australian GT Championship at the Clipsal 500, driving a new toy.

Taplin has purchased Max Twigg’s Porsche GT3 Cup S, having last appeared in the series aboard a Lamborghini Gallardo in the opening two rounds of 2010. He drove the car for the first time on the weekend, in

Mallala’s opening SA State Round.

The car will receive a new black and yellow livery ahead of the GT opener at the Clipsal 500 next month.

“I’ve competed in every single Clipsal since it’s been Clipsal, so I’ve been negotiating to try and get a car,” Taplin explained.

“This was, I thought, the best of the bunch, so a deal was put together last week and we’re back. It’s a very

exciting new toy.

“Porsche has always been my number one love, I did Carrera Cup in 2003, I ran a number of road GT3s in Targa Tasmania and Queensland classics, and even in the competition of Adelaide. I’ve always loved the Porsche, so I’m happy to be back in the Cup S. “We’re looking forward to the year and the series.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

SKAIFE TO RUN AMSF NEW TALENT TIME

SKAIFE Racing will now operate the activities of the Australian Motor Sport Foundation.

The AMSF Board of Directors have taken the decision to outsource the foundation’s activities, which have previously been conducted under the auspices of CAMS, to Skaife

Racing as of this month.

“This is an exciting appointment for us” said Mark Skaife. “Aussies have really made their presence felt on the world stage over the last few years and we want to keep that momentum going through the next generation of driving talent.”

Long-time Skaife ally Lucas Docking will be the AMSF’s

Operations Manager. Docking, who is the nephew of the English-based Australian team owner Alan Docking, worked with Skaife at the Holden Racing Team, and moved on from the team at the same time Skaife retired.

The AMSF was established 10 years ago to provide a framework to encourage young drivers to progress in their careers, both in

WHITE HOT COMEBACK V8 UTES

STEPHEN White will return to a race seat at the Clipsal 500, taking on the best in the V8 Ute Racing Series.

White, who once raced Formula Renault in Germany and competed in the 2002 V8 Supercar Championship, will race James Brock’s VE 18

Commodore Ute at the opening round of the 2011 series in Adelaide. After Clipsal, former MINI Challenge driver Brendan Cook will take over the Brock car for the remainder of the season. However, White isn’t ruling out a full season campaign just yet.

“We would like to stay on for the year but unfortunately

organised everything at the last minute,” said White.

“We were more prepared for Barbagallo onwards, but I really like the Clipsal track. It is one of my favourites and we’ve always done well there, I also thought it would be a shame to miss the first round if we wanted to have a real go at the series.

Australia and internationally.

Its Board includes Tom Warwick, Geoff Morgan, CAMS President Andrew Papadopoulos, former AGP Coporation CEO Drew Ward, Michael Stillwell, Network Ten Sports boss David White and Skaife himself – though it is understood he stepped aside during the Board’s deliberations surrounding the appointment.

“The appeal of the category as a whole is what grabbed me.

The entire package is great and unique to any other category out there. You have great value to offer your sponsors with excellent TV, and I’m looking forward to the close racing.”

Cook is unable to race at the Clipsal 500 because of overseas commitments. motorsport news

Celebrating

The Australian International Airshow

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ARC SIGNS MAJOR SPON AUSTRALIAN RALLY

BOSCH has signed on as a naming rights sponsor for the Australian Rally Championship.

It’s the first naming rights sponsor the ARC has had since 2007, and according to the ARC’s CEO Scott Pedder, the deal is a big boost for the ailing series.

“Bosch is a global company, and it is fantastic it has embraced the Australian Rally Championship, not only providing a great financial boost but also its significant corporate stature, adding to the credibility and positioning of the ARC,” said Pedder.

“This comes at a time when we have boosted TV coverage of the series on Ten/One HD, initiated some significant rule changes, including reducing restrictions and revitalised interest in the championship.”

The 2011 Bosch Australian Rally Championship will run over five rounds, kicking off in Western Australia on April 15.

Dale of the Weeks EKSTROM INJUR TARMAC RALLY KEVIN Weeks has enlisted former Australian Rally Championshipwinning co-driver Dale Moscatt to call the shots at Targa Tasmania this year.

Weeks will continue with his Supaloc Racing Lamborghini Gallardo, but with regular codriver John Allen leaving the team, Moscatt has been called in for the Tasmanian classic. Moscatt won the ARC with Cody Crocker and has since held a number of roles locally and internationally.

“I’m really excited about it,” Moscatt said.

“I’ve done Targa Tasmania before, but this will be the first time I’ve been in a car capable of 20

outright victory.

“Not only is the Supaloc Lamborghini prepared well, but Kevin has come a long way with his driving and he is one of the absolute favourites for the event.

“Targa Tasmania is not just won on outright speed, but by having a clever strategy and driving to the varying conditions. Kevin and I will be a new pairing, but we are putting a lot of effort into all those important areas, so we will be going there aiming for nothing less than an outright victory.

“Overall, I’m excited to be driving for one of the frontrunning teams in Targa Tasmania and hopefully I can help Kevin claim his first victory in the event.”

DTM

FACTORY Audi driver Mattias Ekstrom has broken his wrist during a pre-season Audi training camp.

Ekstrom, who races in the DTM, broke his left wrist during a game of volleyball with his teammates. Audi team physician is confident that the Swede will be ready for the start of the DTM season at Hockenheim on May 1.

“Mattias must wear a cast for about four weeks, afterwards he can start training again to build up the muscles,“ explained Audi team physician Dr Christian John. “We all hope that he recovers well and Mattias can line-up on the grid at Hockenheim.“ “We wish Mattias all the best and a rapid recovery,“ added Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich.

“I’m convinced that he will do everything possible to be absolutely ready to go for Hockenheim. We’ll give all the support he requires in the process.“ motorsport news

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NSOR Dirk Klynsmith

IS THAT THE MURRAY WALKER TT? IT IS! AUSTRALIAN GT THE 2011 Vodka O Australian GT Championship contenders will be competing for the Murray Walker Tourist Trophy at the Clipsal 500 next month.

The legendary Formula 1 commentator has lent his name to GT organisers for the first round their championship, with winner of the first of two

one-hour races to be crowned the Murray Walker Tourist Trophy winner.

“It’s great news that we are running for the Murray Walker Tourist Trophy as part of the Vodka O Australian GT Championship, and it would be a great [trophy] to have in the cabinet,” said Mark Eddy.

“I’m really looking forward to the event and will certainly go

a lot better in the Penfold Audi Sport sponsored Audi R8 LMS than I did last year in.

‘The more time I spend in the car, the more confident I get, and now we have a lot more data. Also having Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff driving with me at the Bathurst 12 hour gives every one another perspective on the performance of the Audi.”

Phil Williams

Jeremy Rogers

RED CLASSIC ADELAIDE IS BACK! TARMAC RALLY

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THE Classic Adelaide Rally is to be reborn later this year, with a new name and new date.

To be known as Classic Targa Adelaide, the rally will run over three days from September 15-18, a week before the annual Bay to Birdwood Classic.

The rally will be a round of the Australian Targa Championship, which includes Targa Tasmania.

In an announcement last week by SA Tourism Minister John Rau, the new event will be run by Octagon, and has South Australian Government’s support through Events SA, a division of the SA tourism Commission.

On commercial confidentiality grounds, Mr Rau refused to disclose the amount the

government would invest.

The new Minister for Motorsport Kevin Foley said he was thrilled a classic car rally would once again grace the roads of South Australia.

In a welcome move, the event returns to its roots and will be open only to Classic Cars aged 20 years or older. The route and format has yet to be finalised, but is planned to include the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley and Fleurieu Peninsula.

Classic Adelaide was cancelled in 2010, a year after the promoter, Silverstone Events, went into liquidation with debts of over $1 million, including $150,000 for entry fees already paid for the 2010 event.

– PHIL WILLIAMS 21

HUGE FIELD FOR CIK OPENING ROUND KARTING

The CIK Stars of Karting Series will blast off in Ipswich, Queensland, next weekend.

The series sees drivers compete in equipment similar to what is used in the European and World Championships, and this year’s opener is shaping up to be scintillating. A record number of 29 Pro Gearbox (KZ2) entries have been received for Round 1, led by defending Champion Matthew Wall, along with eight of the Top 10 finishers in last year’s title chase.

Coupled to a massiv 21 Pro Light (KF1) field, and the same number in Pro Junior (KF3), it is the largest number of Pro drivers assembled for a round of the CIK-style series since early last decade when the likes of Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom and Michael Caruso were lining up on the grid.

“When the series returned to Australian tracks at the start of

last year it reinvigorated many of the top drivers in our sport, and I’m delighted to see the hard work that has been put in really starting to pay off with some record numbers,” said series coordinator Peter Galvin.

“For the first time in many years Australian karters can now lay claim to having the best drivers from all across the country competing in some of the world’s best equipment.

“One of the most pleasing aspects for me is to see the huge numbers across the three different categories.

In the Pro Gearbox field we’ve got some of the most experienced drivers, the Pro Light field features some of the best rising talents and in the Pro Junior ranks are definitely the stars of the future.”

After several years away from the top level of karting, Ipswich’s Scott Auld, who finished runner-up in the World Rotax Challenge in 2002, will make his debut in the CIK Stars of Karting Series

next weekend. Auld will be competing in the Pro Gearbox category, where he will be one of 12 Queenslanders in the field.

“After seeing the series from the sidelines last year I really got the karting bug again, and I can’t wait to get out there on my home track next weekend,” said Auld.

“The professionalism of the series has really taken the

sport of karting to the next level and it’s going to be on for young and old in round one with everyone out to make a great start to the year.

“Ipswich is where I was born and bred, every time I race on my home track it gives me a bit of an extra buzz and with the high level of competitiveness in the series I’ll need every bit of support I can get next weekend.”

AUSSIE RACING CARS

Racing Cars on television lots of times, I love them. The chance to do a full factory track test at Wakefield Park was awesome, I’ve now realised how exhilarating the cars are to drive.”

Meanwhile, Adrian Cottrell has switched to an Aurionbodied car for 2011, with his father Kym joining the series in his 2010 Falcon.

The Aussie Racing Cars Super Series kicks off at the Clipsal 500 in late March.

BRAND NEW MODEL FOR AUSSIE RACERS – LITERALLY! MODEL Hayley Swanson will join the 2011 Aussie Racing Cars Super Series field.

The seven-round season will be Swanson’s first foray into national racing, following a test in an Aussie Racing Car at Wakefield Park last year.

“I am excited to have the opportunity of racing in the biggest National category in Australia,” Swanson said.

“I’ve watched the Aussie

22

motorsport news

THE SEASON IS UNDERWAY, SO ...

WHAT’S HOT, WHAT’S NOT? MOTORSPORT NEWS’ DEFINITIVE GUIDE TO SEASON 2011

PLUS: WILL DAVISON SPEAKS EXCLUSIVELY ABOUT HIS SWITCH TO FORD PERFORMANCE RACING, A RETRO LOOK AT THE CITROEN C4 WRC CAR, THE INSIDE DEALINGS ON THE PEPSI MAX SPONSORSHIP, HOW FERRARI PLAN TO TAKE BACK THE FORMULA 1 CROWN, WE HANG OUT WITH AUDI AT THE BATHURST 12 HOUR, WHY YOU NEED TO VISIT THE YAS MARINA CIRCUIT IN ABU DHABI, WHO THE HECK IS JOEY HAND, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE

ON4 SALE THIS WEDNESDAY!

motorsport news

John Bosher

JASON Grima ran his new Pro Stock Mustang for the first time at Sydney Dragway on Friday night. Straight off the trailer, he ran a 7.27s pass first up.

Wonder White DRAG RACING TOP-End drag bike rider Scott White ventured to America this month to participate in the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School in the USA. No stranger to quick bikes, White is the holder of the Modified Bike track record at Hidden Valley Dragway with a 7.903s pass at 166mph back in July 2007 on a Suzuki Hayabusa.

24

But during training in Florida, he did one better and topped the class, running both the quickest and fastest time of the group, 7.78s at 165.5mph. School coordinator, George Bryce, was impressed with White’s efforts, saying the bikes are only built to run just into the sevensecond zone.

White’s own son Bryce is named after the drag school’s host, who White met in

Australia in the early 90s at Calder Park where White was racing Pro Bike.

“Many champions have started at the school including Ashley Force, Scott Kalitta and Antron Brown. I saw it as a chance to improve and to dust off the cobwebs as I hadn’t ridden the bigwheeled bike since August 2008,” said White.

“I want to run a round or two of the ANDRA Pro Series in Pro

Stock Bike this year. I won’t go away to race until I’ve done a pass or two at home as there are so many new bits on the bike.

“The motor has been set up in Adelaide by Trevor Birrell and is putting out 268 horsepower – it’s now a bigger capacity at 1500cc.

“I’m looking forward to this year and having a good track at home is definitely a plus.”

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

motorsport news

news

Luke Nieuwhof

Strong fields for Westernationals DRAG RACING THE entry list for the 40th Westernationals at Perth Motorplex has been released, with 19 Top Doorslammers and nine Top Bikes highlighting the ANDRA Pro Series rounds at the track.

The event is also the only round of the Rocket Allstars Racing Series for WA racers

and has attracted some of the best in the nation, with over 20 entries in each of the Group Two categories of Competition, Super Stock and Competition Bike.

Surprise Top Doorslammer points leader Mark Belleri has entered with his father Lucky’s Camaro, above, looking for a repeat of the bonus points success he enjoyed in

December at the Perth facility.

Belleri’s key to victory was consistent 5.9s runs on a difficult track. With traction improving as the season moves on at the Motorplex, it may allow the chasing pack that includes Robin Judd, john Zappia and Maurice Fabietti to make some high horsepower gains.

In Top Bike it may well come

down to the Chris Matheson show yet again.

The Nitro Voodoo rider, below, has been without rival this season when it comes to elapsed times. Missing the final against Troy Maclean in the last event in Perth will give him the hunger to chase the win and boost his series lead.

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

Ken Ferguson

Next ANDRA Pro Series Round: Westernationals, Perth Motorplex, March 5-6 ANDRA Pro Series on TV: Friday February 25 Top Fuel Championships www.mnews.com.au

25

FIVE MINUTES WITH ...

CRAIG LOWNDES

Craig Lowndes has a lot going on at the moment; V8s are back, an Audi test in Europe is coming, and then there’s the F1 car at Bathurst. He spoke to ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN MOTORSPORT NEWS: Okay, probably not the weekend you would have liked in terms of race results in Abu Dhabi, but the cars speed was there. Is that the source of some encouragement as the series heads back to Australia?

CRAIG LOWNDES: For sure. Qualifying has never really been my strong point, but after the pre-season test at Eastern Creek, the speed was good, and it was fantastic to carry that into Abu Dhabi.

The end results, we didn’t capalitise on our qualifying performance, and that’s something we’ll look into before Clipsal.

But having the speed there was great, because we know we have the pace there.

How did the soft tyre work out in Abu Dhabi?

The tyre lasted longer than we all expected, although racing at night, in cooler conditions, definitely helped in a lot of ways. It was interesting, unusual, because we were racing with our qualifying set-ups. That’s not usually the case because the set-up for qualifying is all about getting the best out of the tyre straight away, and then in race trim you want to look after the tyre.

Knowing that we raced so much later in the night, and the track temperature was dropping so dramatically, we were basically leaving the set-up the same.

Was there any readjustment process having done the Bathurst 12 Hour the weekend before, or was that a good warm up?

It was good to get some track miles and racing before we went to Abu Dhabi, but I did have to get my head around the differences in the cars. The Audi has a lot more aerodynamics, but it doesn’t have the straight line speed. When I got to Abu Dhabi, it didn’t take too long to remember how to drive a V8 Supercar.

26

I was going to say, as great as Le Mans would be, 24 hours of racing around the old Nurburgring would be absolutely something else!

For sure! The car’s got so much downforce that at a high-speed circuit like the Nurburgring it would be a nice car to drive.

The car would do everything you’d want it to do.

I’d have to learn the track. I’ve raced at the Nurburgring, but not on the original track, just the Formula 1 version. But yeah, if it comes off it would be sensational.

Between now and then I have to keep the communication up with Audi, and ultimately I have to get approval from the race team, because Roland still has final say. He’s been good enough to date to allow me to do the 12 Hour, and the Australasian Safari last year and again this year, so at the moment everything is looking pretty positive.

Speaking of downforce, the Formula 1 drive at Bathurst is getting closer to being a reality. Are you allowing yourself to start to get excited?

Yeah, I can’t wait to have an opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car. You’d be silly not to be excited about that! That’s the ultimate racing car, and to drive it around a track that we consider to be so good ... When they finally ring me up and tell me it’s got the big tick of approval, I’ll be jumping up and down. But at the moment ... every day its get closer, and I get more excited, but I’ll be really excited when it all gets across the line.

Be honest, how jealous were you last year when Jamie Whincup got to drive the McLaren?

Oh, I understand why it happened that way. I had my time in Formula 3000, so I was able to talk to him about some of the familiarities, but the Formula 1 car does things a lot nicer and a lot faster. To hear Jamie talk about the experience of what he went through, and what he felt, was great to hear.

For someone like Jamie to have that experience, I wasn’t too jealous, it was just a great opportunity for him.

What’s Jenson Button going to think of Bathurst?

That will be the interesting thing, to take a Formula 1 driver to our ultimate circuit.

He’s driven on a lot of great tracks in his career, so to show him our best track in Australia, it will be interesting to see his response and his reaction when we take him across the top of The Mountain.

Andrew Hall

It sounds like its going to lead to a test over in Europe with Audi; how exciting is that prospect?

Le Mans is the ultimate outcome of the

whole project, and we have to keep in contact with Audi now, and keep communications up, and make sure they were happy with what I did for them here in Australia. Hopefully it does lead to bigger and better things, but I’m happy to say that I’m not going to relocate myself in Europe to race overseas full-time. V8 Supercars is definitely my main focus and my primary racing.

But to do Le Mans, or even Spa or Nurburgring, because there are a lot of great 24 hour races over there, would be great. Hopefully they coincide with breaks in our calendar. First things first we have got to keep in contact with them and see what we can drum up.

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Dirk Klynsmith

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THE GREAT DHABI DEBATE OPINION

Andrew van Leeuwen – eNews Editor

E

VER since V8 Supercars Australia decided to spread its wings beyond Australia and New Zealand, the debate has been on – are these overseas races worth it?

The criticism started back when Shanghai was added to the calendar in 2005, and continued into the Bahrain era, which ran from 2007 until 2010. And, initially at least, these rounds were run mid-to-late year. But the real squawking about taking V8 Supercars away from the motherland started last year, when the season was started with Abu Dhabi. Not the Australian Grand Prix, not the Clipsal 500, but Yas Marina, some 12000km from the east coast of Australia. That was where the new drivers, new cars and new liveries were debuted for the first time.

There was a portion of the V8 Supercar fan base that was distraught about the series kicking off so far away from home. The general consensus was that having the series start so far away, and in a radically different time zone, alienated the fans. If they couldn’t feel directly involved right from the start, how could they be expected to engage with the series as the year wore on?

But it was never an issue. By the time the series was at its exciting 2010 conclusion in Sydney, the words Abu and Dhabi weren’t on the radar. The fans engaged with the series just fine last year, and if the amount of Twitter traffic that was bouncing back to me while I was reporting live on the ground in Abu Dhabi – at a ridiculous hour of the night in Australia – engagement shouldn’t be an issue in 2011, either.

So, are these overseas races worth it? A year ago I was unsure, but having been to Abu Dhabi now, I reckon there is some genuine value there. No, this isn’t a case of puppy love having just been on a nice little jaunt – it’s my honest opinion. Let me explain.

A few days out from the Abu Dhabi race this year, James Courtney committed a V8SA crime and told Ed Jackson, an AAP reporter, that the Abu Dhabi circuit offered no thrills for drivers. Jackson did what any good journalist would do, and ran a story saying that Courtney though the circuit was boring. And as a result, shit hit the fan in a pretty significant way – to the point where the issue was raised in a driver’s briefing.

Initially, I though it was a case of over protectiveness from V8 Supercars. I mean, as far as I’m concerned, if Courtney wants to say the track is boring, that’s his right to do so. I don’t agree, because I reckon the track has heaps of character, but Courtney should be free to say what he wants.

But what really surprised me was the reaction from other team owners. There were those that were as upset as V8SA were about the comments, because as one team boss pointed out to me, the trip to Abu Dhabi is a good earner for a team. And in the post-GFC world we live in, where sponsorship can be tough to find, anything that helps the teams out is a huge positive.

At the end of the day, the teams and the category get a nice financial gain from going offshore. Also, V8 Supercars – our category – has the privilege of being able to say it races at what is undoubtedly the best motor racing facility in the world. And, with GP2 also on the bill, there was some international interest, particularly from Italy and England, that otherwise would never have existed.

So does it really matter that the series kicks off on the other side of the world? Does it really matter that the local attendances to the race aren’t massive? Does it really matter that the races are in the middle of the night, when they are replayed on TV? The short answer is no.

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RAIN SUPREME OPINION Phil Branagan – Executive Editor

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Dirk Klynsmith

www.mnews.com.au

RACE yourself for a revelation; it rains in Spring.

I bring up this metrological thunderbolt not because I am writing this from soggy Melbourne, but to bring MotoGP boss Carmelo Ezpeleta up to speed on what happens down under. The Jefe of motorcycle Grand Prix racing has suggested that since it rains on his parade at Phillip Island from time to time, we need to move the Australian MotoGP from October to March. He has even suggested that Victoria might host a ‘Festival of Speed’, with the bikes racing on the weekend before Formula 1 at Albert Park.

Holding two and four-wheeled GPs a week apart is nothing new. It has happened in other countries plenty of times in the past and this season, it will happen again, in Germany in July and in Italy in September.

But here is the problem; in this part of the world, we already have a bit on in March. Let us imagine that Sr Ezpeleta had his way this year, and the bikes move to the week before the F1s. Except, they can’t; the Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport is already booked into the track. The event is now recognised as one of the best of its type in the world, draws a huge crowd and features many competitors and cars from around the world. It may not play to the same audience as the Bikes, but the one it does draw is passionate and enthusiastic.

This year, as many as 30 cars are headed down under from various corners of the world – a number, dare I point out, far in excess of the number of 800cc prototypes that race in MotoGP.

This is possible, in part, because the keepers of these legendary racers can plan their movements in advance because everyone acknowledges when the Festival is held – in March.

So, a Festival of Speed? Great idea. But to paraphrase what the French soldier said in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, “we already got one”.

Then there is the small matter of the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide – which is also on the same weekend. One would forgive Sr Ezpeleta for not realising how much bigger that event is than the PI MotoGP, and how long it has been successful.

You could present a plausible case that Adelaide is the world’s best touring car event.

I am an enthusiastic follower of MotoGP racing. I should disclose that on numerous occasions, I have hosted various functions at the event, including forums at Cowes and the riders’ autograph sessions. But I honestly fail to see the overall benefit of, at the very least, compromising two already successful motor racing events to make way for the Bike GP, all because Valentino Rossi doesn’t want to get wet.

MotoGP is the World Motorcycle Championship. It rains in the real world. It rains at Bathurst too, but nobody is talking about moving the 1000 from October.

The MotoGP series is contracted for a few years yet. Should Sr Ezpeleta set him sights on a March-or-bust idealogy, one may think that March in Australia might get by with ‘just’ the Clipsal and the Classic.

No bikes? Not really; we do have the World Superbikes in February, after all …

29

NASCAR ROUND 1 – DAYTONA 500

Only in

AMERICA Trevor Bayne took the Wood Brothers back to Victory Lane after a decade away – in his second-ever Cup race, at the Daytona 500.

MARTIN D CLARK was there to witness a ‘Made-in-the-USA’ fairytale

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NASCAR Media

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OU know the story.

Rookie driver goes to Daytona in an unfancied ride, in his second career Sprint Cup drive, for a team steeped in history that has fallen on tough times. He struggles through the week, and the race, but comes through to take a fairytale win – the day after his birthday.

The next part usually reads, ‘Starring Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall, Rated PG13’. Except this time, it doesn’t.

Trevor Bayne was a surprised and popular winner of the Daytona 500 for the veteran Wood Bros team on Sunday.

Bayne, who turned 20 on Saturday, became the secondyoungest driver to win a Cup race in an event with cars looking like mating mosquitoes, two-by-two in bump drafting pairs.

“This is insane,” said Bayne in Victory Lane.

“God has been so good to us all week to be in this situation and to be able to work with the Wood Bros in the famous 21 car, it’s insane. I want to be in this thing for a long time to come. This car made me look good today because it was so fast, anybody we worked with went to the front. I was thinking ‘something has gotta go wrong’ ... there was no way coming off turn four we were leading the Daytona 500. Hopefully I don’t wake up from this.”

Eight laps of overtime included two green, white, checker shoot-out’s over the final laps in a race which saw a record 16 cautions and record 74 lead changes.

Bayne was leading Roush Fenway’s David Regan on the penultimate restart, but Regan switched lanes in front of Bayne to draft before the start-line so was black flagged

by NASCAR. “At that point I was worried,” quipped Bayne.

Meanwhile Robby Gordon was pushed into a spin from the lead pack then Ryan Newman was forced into the wall and then into pole winner Dale Earnhardt Jr, airing the final yellow flag.

From there Bayne was drafted at the green flag by Bobby Labonte in the JTG Toyota, with Tony Stewart and Mark Martin to their outside. As they entered the final lap Bayne headed Labonte with Kurt Busch and Juan Pablo Montoya in tow, but the challenge came from Carl Edwards and David Gilliland as they attempted to pass on the inside on the backstretch of the last lap. Edwards got between Labonte exiting the final turn and drafted Bayne to the win with Gilliland third, Labonte fourth followed by Busch and Montoya.

“Thank you so much to Bobby Labonte for pushing us and to Carl for giving me that final push,” smile Bayne.

The #21 Wood Bros car, sporting a throwback paint scheme of the car David Pearson drove to victory 35 years ago, almost didn’t make it to the race. The car was involved in a drafting wreck with Jeff Gordon on the final lap of its Duel qualifying race and the team worked tirelessly on getting the car back to race condition, replacing the left-side bodywork and reworking the right side on Friday, and missing two practice sessions in the process.

The team is scheduled to run a limited schedule including the first five races and then 12 other events, but now it’s now hoped they will find additional funding 31

to run the remainder of the year.

Bayne is running full-time for Roush Fenway Racing in the Nationwide Series after driving for Diamond Waltrip Racing in 2010.

There were several wrecks, many spurred by the bump-drafting all the way around the 2.5 mile speedway.

The worst, on lap 29, involved 17 cars, among them Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle. Gordon was vocal about drivers running three wide so early in the race in pairs.

Kevin Harvick retired early with a blown engine, as did his Richard Childress team-mate Jeff Burton, while last year’s winner Jamie McMurray, using a similar ECR built 32

engine, dropped off the lead lap with a misfire in the closing laps after running strong with Montoya much of the race.

Marcos Ambrose, in his Richard Petty Motorsports Ford, was involved in the first ‘big one’ on lap 29 and finished a disappointing 37th.

“It’s a terrible way to start our season,” commented Ambrose.

“In the Duel (race on Thursday) I lost the draft, I didn’t have a playing partner. I was so worried about it, then I was pushing forward trying to be safe and you just got caught up in the mess. It’s just what it is. Everyone’s trying to work out how this race is going to be run – unfortunately it just didn’t end too well for us.” motorsport news

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NASCAR Media

Twenty and 21: Bayne got help from Labonte and Edwards on the run to the chequers, left. At 20, he got to celebrate with his team – but is too young to drink alcohol in Florida. The Big One took out a number of drivers, including Jimmie Johnson and Marcos Ambrose, above. The Childress cars were fast, opposite left, but had engine problems in the 500.

NASCAR Media

NASCAR Media

Results :: Daytona 500, Daytona, FL Pos No. Driver Make 1 21 Trevor Bayne Ford 2 99 Carl Edwards Ford 3 34 David Gilliland Ford 4 47 Bobby Labonte Toyota 5 22 Kurt Busch Dodge 6 42 Juan Montoya Chevy 7 78 Regan Smith Chevy 8 18 Kyle Busch Toyota 9 27 Paul Menard Chevy 10 5 Mark Martin Chevy Martin D CLark

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Team Sponsor Qual Wood Bros Motorcraft 31 Roush Fenway Aflac 12 Front Row Taco Bell 5 JTG Daugherty Kroger USO 6 Penske Shell Penzzoil 25 Earnhardt Ganassi Target 4 Furniture Row Furniture Row 27 Joe Gibbs M&Ms 39 Childress Menards 1 Hendrick GoDaddy.com 34

Top 10 Points: Edwards 42, Gilliland/Labonte 41, Kurt Busch 40, Montoya 39, Smith 38, Kyle Busch 37, Menard 36, Martin/Allmendinger 34.

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WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS FINAL WEEKEND - PERTH MOTORPLEX

No longer the bridesmaid After having come close on many occasions, Robbie Farr finally broke through to win his maiden World Series Sprintcar title, GEOFF ROUNDS reports

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Peter Roebuck

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Peter Roebuck

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OBBIE Farr watched the final laps of the last-chance C Main final at the Perth Motorplex on Saturday night and walked to his car for the 30-lap A Main knowing he had won the 2010-11 $500,000 World Series Championship.

It would be Farr’s first WSS title after a string of seconds in the championship in 2002/03, 2004/05, 2007/08 and 2008/09.

Victory for Farr finally was clinched when his rival and tough series contender David Murcott had no chance of hauling in the points Farr had banked after a horrendous weekend.

Farr, driving the Barry Waldron-owned East Coast Pipelines Eagle, grabbed two wins along the way and finished in the top six on 11 occasions, while suffering two DNFs, both in Tasmania. He was otherwise near perfect all year and all last weekend, while Murcott crashed on the penultimate night and his team was forced to put together a new chassis overnight.

“I have been sweating bullets for the last couple of weeks, mate, it is a great feeling,” Farr said.

“It’s in the record books, they can’t take it off us. I am pretty happy, mate, I am absolutely stoked. It’s a 20-year apprenticeship to get here to win this championship.

“Driving for Baz is not just a job, it’s an honour and I relish it everyday. He supplies the best gear for the job and Speedy (crew chief Nick Speed) and the boys make it work for me. It is a dream job and I can’t thank them all for their efforts, this is a much their championship as it is mine.”

Farr said he also felt for his mate, Murcott.

“Murky is a great mate of mine; they are a great bunch of guys ... they have done an absolutely awesome job and I didn’t expect

“ www.mnews.com.au

them to have the weekend they did,” he said.

Farr held a slender, two-point lead over Murcott heading into the final round but it all started to unravel in Friday night’s preliminaries. Murcott could only manage 11th in the B Main. while Farr took fourth in the A Main. On Saturday night, Murcott finished well down in the C Main.

“Every night the car was fast it was just up to me,” Murcott said.

“Every time I sat in it, it was fast. I am pretty sure we can do something next year.”

Murcott said the team learnt a lot with their equipment and also said they went to places such as the Motorplex where they didn’t race a lot.

“At least it gives us a good leg up for next year.”

The final round was won by veteran and seven-time WSS champion Max Dumesny, who started from position five to stay low on the racing line, winning from local star Ken Sartori followed by the consistent Farr. Local Ken Sartori won Friday night’s preliminary A Main from Jamie Maiolo.

“I am really rapt to have won a race,” Dumesny said.

“They might bring us back next year. We knew the rubber would come down there sooner or later.”

Earlier in the week, Ryan Farrell made a stunning WSS return to win the penultimate round at Manjimup last Wednesday night.

Fellow WA racer Mark Wells was second, while both of the title contenders crashed out.

Final point standings: Robbie Farr 4021, David Murcott 3787, Jason Johnson 3729, Steven Lines 3569, Ian Madsen 3429, Max Dumesny 3317, Trevor Green 3106, James McFadden 3091, Danny Reidy 3038, Brooke Tatnell 2883.

I’VE BEEN SWEATING BULLETS FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS

THE NEW CHAMP

37

TASMAN CUP REVIVAL SERIES ROUND 5 – TERETONGA, NZ

CANADA v NEW ZEA OUTSTANDING PIT DISPLAYS BY OCTANORM MANY OTHER DISPLAY OPTIONS AVAILABLE PLEASE CALL US TO DISCUSS REQUIREMENTS

SYDNEY (02) 9556 6012 MELBOURNE (03) 9394 3150

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ALAND!

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T was Canada verse New Zealand, and McRae verse Lola at Teretonga Park last weekend – and in the end, it was the Canuck who came out on top in terms of wins.

Jay Esterer, from Alberta, and Kiwi Ken Smith spent Round 5 of the Tasman Cup going at it hammer and tongs. The scene was set in qualifying, when Esterer went fastest with a 54.0s lap, Smith second with a 54.3s lap, and Andrew Higgins third ... with a distant 55.1s lap.

The first race was close, but Esterer seemed well in control of proceedings. He took the chequered flag by 0.8s, making it 1-0 to the Canadian in the McRae. But in Race 2, Smith got his revenge – even if it was slightly fortunate. Esterer’s first piece of Race 2 bad luck came at the start, when he was forced to start the race from pit-lane after being late to get to the grid. However, a Lap 1 shunt saw the race re-started, which gave the Canadian a chance to start from pole. Not that it mattered; by mid-race he was on the sidelines, after a fuel problem crippled his car. As a result, Smith cruised to the win ahead of Ian Ross and Higgins.

In the final, Esterer was way too good. He charged away from the field, beating Smith home by almost nine seconds to secure his second race win of the weekend. After the racing was done, Smith conceded that Esterer was just too fast.

“We had a bit of a gearbox problem, which limited the amount of time we could get on track on Friday, and though we did a good enough time in qualifying there was no way we were going to catch Jay’s car in the races,” said Smith.

“Our car’s good, don’t get me wrong, we’ve got it handling the way we want it, but we’re giving away a good 130kgs to that car of Jay’s and there’s no way we can pick that weight up and dump it on the ground and be as quick as Jay can without it.”

The sixth and final round of the Tasman Cup will be at the Australian Grand Prix in March.

39

Loudon on top at TSS SPEEDWAY

Stewart wins Nation

Toyota Motorsports

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John Morris / Mpix

FORMER Sydney Speedway track champion Ian Loudoun bounced back into the winners circle after scoring a brilliant sprintcar A Main victory last Saturday night at Tyrepower Sydney Speedway.

Loudoun, pictured, took command late in the event to take out a clear win over current track points leader Ben Atkinson, with James Thomson third. The 30 lap feature was only marred by two stoppages with Thomson taking the early lead ahead of former Speedcar ace Matt Young, Roddy BellBowen and Loudoun. For most of the race the lead was shared between BellBowen and Thomson, with the pair trading positions a number of times while, behind, the battle was very intense.

By mid race distance, Young had started to slip back a few positions, with Adrian Maher, Atkinson, Sammy Walsh and Mitchell Dumesny battling behind. Loudoun forged by both Bellbowen and Thomson to take the lead with nine laps to go. After a restart caused

by McCorkindale stopping on

the back straight, Loudoun again took control but a fastfinishing Atkinson moved into third, before taking second place from Thomson. Up front, Loudoun was leading comfortably to take the win over Atkinson and Thomson.

Another fast finisher, Walsh powered up into fourth, getting by BellBowen on the final lap, with Dumesny salvaging sixth.

The opening lap of the first heat claimed Peter Bourke who flipped over. The only other incident saw Kelly Linigen gently roll over on the front straight in Heat 3. The six heats saw wins to Grant Tunks, BellBowen, Thomson, Dumesny, Loudoun and Young, while Steve Caunt – after building up a huge lead – just held on to win the B Main over Troy Little, with Marty Perovich and Toby BellBowen the final qualifiers into the A Main.

Sprintcars take a two-week break from TSS with the 410 Sprintcars heading to NSW South Coast town of Nowra for the final round of the Country Series next Saturday night.

– GREG BOSCATO

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Vics join locals at Mallala SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Phil Williams

nwide, Waltrip Trucks NWIDE & TRUCKS TONY Stewart edged Clint Bowyer to victory in Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide race in another event that saw two-by-two drafting.

Stewart and Bowyer, both driving Chevrolet’s owned by Kevin Harvick, drafted much of the race together. However a flat tyre saw Stewart pit and after the final caution he hooked up with ‘pusher’ Landon Cassill and that was the key to victory as he drove

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to the right of Bowyer who was drafting with Dale Earnhardt Jr. In Trucks, Michael Waltrip won, after a last-corner pass on Elliott Sadler. The win came 10 years after Waltrip’s Daytona 500 win – the race in which Dale Earnhardt was killed – and amazingly, Waltrip was carrying The Intimidator’s colours on his Toyota.

Two huge wrecks involved 24 trucks the last with five laps run took out 10 trucks and only the top four appeared to be totally damage free.

– MARTIN D CLARK

A DOGFIGHT between the visiting Victorians entertained during the first round of the 2011 South Australian State Championships held at Mallala at the weekend.

With more than 160 entries across the classes, the round was the strongest at the SA state-level for some time, but it was the visitors in the Victorian Porsche 944 Challenge who stole the show with their excellent racing.

Making their second foray to Mallala, the series provided three dramatic races that featured three different winners. Ivan Klasan, Vince Misuraca and Steve Courtis split the race wins; Races 1 and 2 in particular showcasing frenetic fights for the lead between the front-running group of cars each and every lap.

Formula Vee, too, proved unpredictable for tipsters with two regular frontrunners joined by a first-time victor as the class continues to show strength after last years’ National title was held at the circuit.

Ben Forgan took Race 1 and Robert Surman the second, but it was the muchimproved Daniel Westcott who slipstreamed his way to a Race 3 victory despite starting the first race of the weekend from a lowly eighth position.

Chris Slusarski was the best of the Formula Ford 1600 bunch and swept all three races ahead of Michael Mohr.

Michael O’Donnell topped newcomer Todd Hazelwood in the battle of the Duratec runners.

Andrew Tapilin was impressive in the combined Sports / Tarmac Rally class in the debut of his ex-Max Twigg / Australian GT Championship Porsche GT3 Cup S and was comfortably the pace-setter all weekend.

Racing into the night, Darryl Crouch resisted Graham Boulter’s speedy start to the HQ weekend – he took pole and Race 1 – by winning the two final races and snaring the round win overall, whilst the competitive Saloon Car field was decimated in the finale’ after a multi-car incident saw three cars failing to finish – and the Commodore of Naomi Maltby completely destroyed.

Former Australian Champion Shaun Jamieson showed his ability by taking pole and winning all three races comfortably.

The super quick Brabham BT40 driven by Tim Kuchel dominated the running in Historic Sports and Racing, though Keith Williamson’s Clubman scored a win in the second, handicap-start, race.

– RICHARD CRAILL

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DAVO MAKES HIS AFL DEBUT FOR BOMBERS

W

ILL Davison and Craig Lowndes have a lot in common. They have the same manager, they have both driven for the Holden Racing Team and Ford Performance Racing, and they are both passionate fans of the Essendon Bombers.

But one thing that Davo can genuinely lay claim to, the Lowndesy can’t, is that he’s actually PLAYED for the Bombers. Sure it was a nine-aside charity match for victims of the Victorian floods, but Davo can now tell people he once pulled on a Bombers jersey and played at Etihad Stadium.

Davo was the on a Bombers list that included club legends Matthew Lloyd, Scott Lucas, Terry Daniher, Justin Blumfield and Mark Bolton, as well as The Age reporter Rohan Connolly, footy caller Tiffany Cherry, and Australian rally driver Brendan Reeves. They took on a Brisbane All Stars team.

“I’ve always been a Bombers fan; it’s who my dad went for,” Davison said.

“So since having been back in Melbourne for the past two years, [after being based in Queensland with Jim Beam Racing from 2005 to 2008], during the season and any spare weekend I try to get to a game.

“Even at a race meeting back at the hotel I watch the game. I really enjoy it.

“I had a great night, even though I didn’t get that many touches, it was awesome to be running around with some of my footy idols. I have to say a huge thanks to the Essendon Footy club for giving me the chance to do it, it really was a highlight of the year so far.” www.mnews.com.au

Odd Spo t

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