No. 435 September 2013
Australia $8.95 NZ $10.99 inc GST
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1000 Words Respite after a tough Sprint Cup season for Marcos Ambrose looked headed his way at Watkins Glen, where the Australian took pole and dominated the early running. But a third consecutive win at the Glen it was not to be as Ambrose exited the race after a clash with Max Papis.
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motorsport news
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THIS MONTH’S FEATURES Editorial
Group Editor Steve Normoyle snormoyle@chevron.com.au At Large Phil Branagan
Editorial Enquiries
Chevron Publishing Level 6, 207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW 2065 Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590 editorial@chevron.com.au
Contributing Writers
Mark Glendenning, David Greenhalgh, Tom Howard, Edward Krause, Andrew van Leeuwen, John Morris, Bruce Moxon, Geoff Rounds
Graphic Design and Production Art Director Chris Currie Junior Designer Melissa Karatzas
Photography
Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, John Morris, Paul Cross, James Smith, Andrew Hall, Geoff Gracie, Sportspics, Michael Vettas, Daniel Beard
The Grid 16 Triple Eight’s ten years
At first British touring car outfit Triple Eight struggled to get to grips with V8 Supercars. But very soon it had things sorted, and five Bathursts four championships later…
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Advertising
Advertising Director Chris West cwest@chevron.com.au P 02 9901 6376 M 0416 125 252 National Sales Manager Luke Finn lfinn@chevron.com.au P 02 9901 6368 M 0423 665 384 Chairman, Chevron: Ray Berghouse Circulation Director: Carole Jones
Subscriptions: www.mnews.com.au
F1 mid season review
Can anyone stop Sebastian Vettel from making it four world championships in a row? On the evidence of the first half of season 2013, it looks unlikely.
30 Nick of time
Level 6, 207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW 2065 Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590 Chief Executive Officer, David Gardiner Commercial Director, Bruce Duncan Motorsport News is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd ACN: 128 805 970, Level 6, 207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065 © 2013. All rights reserved. Motorsport News is printed by Webstar, Sydney, distributed by Network Distribution. No part of this magazine may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the prior permission of the publisher. The publisher will not accept responsibility or any liability for the correctness of information or opinions expressed in the publication. All material submitted is at the owner’s risk and, while every care will be taken nextmedia does not accept liability for loss or damage. Privacy Policy We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide personal information through your participation in any competitions, surveys or offers featured in this issue of Motorsport News, this will be used to provide the products or services that you have requested and to improve the content of our magazines. Your details may be provided to third parties who assist us in this purpose. In the event of organisations providing prizes or offers to our readers, we may pass your details on to them. From time to time, we may use the information you provide us to inform you of other products, services and events our company has to offer. We may also give your information to other organisations which may use it to inform you about their products, services and events, unless you tell us not to do so. You are welcome to access the information that we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590.
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Nick Percat might have switched from the Dunlop Series to the Carrera Cup this year, but his chances of finally getting a drive in the V8 Supercars Championship next year are looking better than ever.
38 Rally Oz
It’s that time of every second year again… when the WRC comes to Coffs Harbour for Rally Australia. motorsport news
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Unusual Suspects
60 That tyre guy
American Kenny Szymanski is one of the real characters of the sport and has some interesting stories from his five decades working with some of the world’s best motor racing teams.
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Nick Percat Amid the fanfare behind new V8 Supercar winners Chaz Mostert and Scott McLaughlin, fellow 2012 Dunlop Series front runner Nick Percat seemed pretty much forgotten. Which is strange when you think about it, because Percat has also won a V8 main game race – and his win was in the Great Race, no less.
AdVantage Quinn
Most Aston Martins are at least a little bit special but Tony Quinn’s Vantage GT is truly unique, the only current model GT3 car racing in the Australian GT Championship.
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ELMOFO, bro…
It’s an unusual name but then this electric powered Radical is an unusual machine.
Going national
With the ANDRA Drag Racing Series now running in Darwin, and with a scheduled return to Calder later this year, the dream of a truly national championship looks closer.
Speedcar shake up
Speedcar racing is set for a much-needed resurgence with the announcement of a new national series.
Andrew van Leeuwen It’s a long way from Barbagallo Raceway to the Nordschleife, but former Perth boy and MN staffer van Leeuwen these days does indeed reside in Germany – and that gives us the opportunity to get close and personal with some of the biggest names in European motor racing.
Remembering Tony Gaze and Archie White
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Motor Mouth with Phil Branagan The Scoop with Steve Normoyle On The Limiter with Chris Lambden United States of Origin Box Seat Model Behaviour Trade Classifieds Retro Vision Parting Shot
Roland Dane When Roland Dane arrived here to set up Triple Eight’s V8 Supercar team he knew plenty about the British touring car scene but not much about how things went down down under. The early showings from Dane’s Triple Eight Falcons certainly reflected that, but it didn’t take the British team long to get on top of things. And once they did… 5
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