BATHURST V8 SEASON FINALE? THE IMEW. BEHMIMD THE IMEWi
Australia $5.95 NZ $7.50 inci GST May 26-June 8 2004
Todd toughs it out at the Top End-FULL COVERAGE !!T
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motorsport features 28 Five Minutes With Chris Gilmour 1. Buy Dallara 2. Go racing 3. Win, win, win! 30 Family Business Steve Johnson speaks about living on Pianet DJR 34 Magna Car-ter Driving Misubishi’s AWD Production Raily weapon
race coverage
(MigSs HOLOEIM
36 22 Calibre Todd Keliy won after Skaife hated Ambrose, Ingail hated Ambrose and Richo got pipped by Ambrose. Ail the Top End V8 action 48 Blue corner beats Red corner Michael’s winning streak is not just stopped but blown away by Jarno Trulli and Renault. And what realty happened in the tunnel? 56 Porsche Territory Davo versus Richo in Darwo (Ed: that’s Darwin) 58 Melbourne Cupping Nations Cup and Formula 3 from sunny (?) Sandown SEASON FtNAiEI
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60 Vodafone Home Stokell leads PROCAR VW charge 62 Cyrpus Thrill But tech dramas for Peugeot, Citroen
Photos: Cover: Dirk Klynsmith, sutton-images.com Contents: Klynsmith, Ford Racing Media and Mitsubishi
regulars 64 Rallying
66 Speedway 68 Drag Racing
70 National Scene
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Marketplace 3
V8 tech changes set fer by CHRIS LAMBDEN
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HE technical make-up of a V8 Supercar is about to undergo its most radical make-over, following the release last weekend at the Darwin round of a draft document outlining a substantial list of technical changes aimed at further containing costs of competing in the premier category. Majority support for a high percentage of the proposals along pit lane at the weekend,suggest that the bulk of the sweeping changes may well be accepted quite quickly - in time for a planned final document in six to eight weeks time. The move has come as part of the category's ongoing program of cost containment and includes changes to almost every area of the cars, including engines, brakes, electronics, transmission, suspension and aerodynamics. The cost containment push,first revealed by MNews as far back as 18 ni'.'nths ago,is now a serious issue, will; over 30 individual items being pinp'linted for either tender as a con 'll item (one supplier), or to be subj. :t to control specifications(more than n.ue supplier possible). Introduction of some of the 'big ticket' items is over a staggered period of time to allow teams to use up current stocks If necessary, but TEGA ' CEO Kelvin O'Reilly is adamant that tire bulk of the proposals will be implemented for 2005. While reduction in aerodynamics, for example,is aimed at increasing braking distances and thus the spectacle of V8 racing, the bulk of the proposals are purely financial. "It's about the long-term viability of this category for the bulk of the teams who take part," O'Reilly told MNews.
"The time to be looking at cost containment and reduction is when
you don't have to do it. There have been a number of good categories around the world which didn't do that- and they are no longer with us. "An example is the former BTCC. They didn't start to worry about the costs until it was too late; until after the costs had killed the category. "Our aim is to give the teams a financially sustainable platform on which the future of the category can be based." The proposals will now be examined by TEGA's Technical Advisory Group made up of Richard HoUway(HRT), John Russell (FPR),Larry Perkins and Jim Stone (SBR), under O'Reilly's chairmanship - to offer refinements and suggestions but not, according to O'Reilly, major changes. "We're happy to look at sensible, reasoned suggestions from them,or anyone. By that I mean,for example, that there may be a case for one specific item where it is actually more beneficial to have two or three suppliers of something made to a control specification rather than an outright control part. "But that's about it. The Board is adamant that this is the right path to take." A casual MNews poll among the majority of teams in Darwin suggests that support for the proposals, in principal,is high - although not unanimous. Mark Larkham,belmv, team owner and Board member, has been a passionate campaigner for cost cutting measures; "The category has to get serious about it. We've often talked about various restrictions in a performance sense, but on this occasion, the model put forward has been a purely financial one," he told MNews.
They (the BTCC)didn't start to worry about the costs until it was too iate; untii after the costs had kiiied the n category - TEGA CEO Kelvin O’Reilly
"As part of the exercise. I've spoken to each and every team about costs and budgets and,at present, I reckon you've got to have something like $6m per year to challenge for the championship. That's unsustainable, unachievable by more than a handful of teams in the Australian environment now.
"So we've got serious about looking at costs. Simple example: wheels. We all currently spend about $1000 per wheel. If we amalgamate our buying, all use the same wheels from a common supplier, and can negotiate it at a few hundred dollars a wheel, why wouldn't we? It's pure business sense. "The guy on the hill doesn't care that we're using titanium valves they cost a fortune! Same with blocks. We all send them across to Perth to be machined - costs a fortune ... Why? "I'll defend each and every one of the individual proposals to any team owner who wants to ask. "We've got the best, and strongest Board we've ever had right now and there is a strong resolve to get this right. Roland Dane, the newest member of the Board,saw the demise of the BTCC first-hand. He probably has the resources to out-spend many of the other teams in the game, but Q can see the big picture, the long-term S picture." Indeed, the Triple 8 boss,/«r left, is strongly behind the proposals.
nioiorspon news
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NEWS
green light
What is proposed? Aerodynamics
n Minimal working aerodynamics solely to achieve parity. The cars to have the same external appearance. n Removal of front undertray from 1 January 2005 n Rear wing to be fixed or with minimal adjustment from 1 January 2005
Brakes n Control brake rotor from 1 January 2005 |i Control brake pad from 1 January 2005 n Restricted list of specified calipers available for use in 2005 n Control brake caliper from 1 January 2006
Data logging/telemetry
n Live car to pit telemetry to be banned from 1 January 2005 n Control dash unit from 1 January 2005 n Reduction in the duplication of data collected from 1 January 2005 n Reduction in the number of channels of data available to teams from 1 January 2005.
Transmission/driveline
n Immediate consideration of gearbox specification - sequential or H-pattern shift. Any change to be effected 1 January 2005 n Control specification of internal gearbox components from 1 January 2005 n Minimum flywheel weight from 1 January 2005 n Control carbon clutch from 1 January 2005 n Control crown wheel 8t pinion from 1 January 2005 n Minimum rear axle (drive shaft) weight - solid component from 1 January 2005 n Minimum tail shaft weight and gauge of metal from 1 January 2005. To be a TEGA recommended part
Engine
"We already have some control items, such as tyres. Now whether we are talking about tyre manufacturers,brake manufacturers,gearbox manufacturers, whatever, they are not shareholders in our business. Our business is owned by the teams and our responsibility is to the teams.If the teams are successful, the show wiU be successful and the sponsors and fans wiU be happy. "There is some degree of cost, ie pain,in making some of the changeovers, but we have to manage that pain to best effect. That's why there are changeover periods proposed for specific items. "This isn't just a desirable change for the category,it's an essential one..." Mark Sk^e,left, also a Board member, appears to be philosophicaUy behind the move,but with a UtUe added caution: "There's no doubt that cost containment,as such,is an obvious area for our business,any business,to have as a priority," he said on Monday. "In our business, which is all about competition, it's really about saving us from ourselves! Whatever you do, there will be teams going that extra 26 May 2004
mile to get that little bit more out of it, but there's no doubt that there are savings to be made, particularly in relation to non-performance items." One dissenting voice is that of PWR boss Kees Week "I'm concerned that if we go down this path, the teams will lose their individuahty. To me,control specification is the way to go,far more so than specific controlled items,from one manufacturer." And OzEmail Racing's Kim Jones adds his own sanguine view: "You know, the most expensive category I ever raced in was Production cars. There's no end to the lengths the people with resources will go to to get some Uttle edge, even out of something as apparently tightly controlled as that..." Overall, though, the mood along pit lane appears to be one of acceptance. There will be debate about a number of the individual items in the proposal, about control versus control specification, but it is likely that the bulk of the proposals will be implemented.
n Engine specification will be adjusted to provide extended life. As many engine components as is practical and possible are to have a minimum weight and specification applied to them from 1 January 2005 n As many engine components as is practical and possible will be reviewed and specified as a control component (either by specification or supply) from 1 January 2005 n Maximum valve lift to be stipulated from 1 January 2005 n Specified number and size of piston rings from 1 January 2005 n Restricted list of specified engine peripheral components together with designated position requirements from 1 January 2005 n Engine peripherals to be control components from 1 January 2007 n Minimum engine block weight for both Ford and Holden to be identical from 1 January 2007
Suspension
n Restricted list of specified shock absorbers available for use from 1 January 2005 n Control sealed shock absorber from 1 January 2006 n Individually team homologated stub axle to be available for use and sample logged with TEGA from 1 January 2005 - control component from 1 January 2006
Wheels n Control aluminum alloy wheel from 1 January 2005. All other wheel specifications to remain unchanged. Current stock of wheels to be marked
General/non-performance items
n As many non-performance components as is practical and possible will be control components for any new car that is built from 1 January 2005 n Control fuel tank in all new cars built from 1 January 2005 n Specified identical location of the fuel tank in all new cars built for application with the introduction of new model cars n Control on-board jacks in all new cars built from 1 January 2005 n Control rattle guns and associated equipment from 1 January 2005 5