^ WIN A SUPER WEEKEND AT THE NITRO SUPERGP
mnorspori No.386 AUGUST 2009
Australia $7.95 NZ $8.50 inc GST
WEBBER HOW IT ALL TURNED AROUND
FPR;WHAT'S WRONG,WHAT'S RIGHT? WHINCUP: WHY I'M STAYING PUT USF1: CONTENDERS OR PRETENDERS
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Issue 386 AUGUST 2009
www.mnews.com.au
NEWS 4
W'for 700 pts
Whincup,Lowndes, Vodafone re-signs
.5
Mumm'sboy
Webber: Title challenger?
6
Pretty colours
Sprinting through the tyre Options
7
Millennium Win GTs favourite race is Bathurst'00
OPINION 13 MotorMouth
Yep, we are biased. And no apologies
20 Box Seat
Politics knocked offpage 7. Phew!
82 The Back Page
Webber and Champagne.Again
FEATURES 78 Five Minutes with Jamie Whincup 22 Ich bin ein Ringmeister! Webber tells how he did it, and why he can do it again 30 Performance Upgrade Plans, not Panic,inside FPR's think tank 38 Mom. Thanksgiving. And Formula 7? Who would you put in USFl's cars? 42 Australian's Got Talent Just quietly. Grant Denyer Is having a strong season 48 996,997, GT3,Mark II Why is the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge sho successful?
RACE 54 Townsville V8s: Three winners;JDub,JC and FNQ 56 Hidden Valley l/Ss; Caruso breaks through 58 Nurburgring FI:Aw,come on. You know who won 60 Silverstone FI: The Bastion ofSebastien
NATIONAL 64
Formula Ford
66
MINI Challenge
68 A ussie Racing Cars 69 V8Utes 70 71
Aussie GT/Commodore Cup Biante Series
72 F3/Manufacturers
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issu
73
CIK Karting
78
Race Shop/Industry News/Classifieds
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we yeasatTtMVodatefw Jamie WhinCQp,but hesays Triple Eighttink could still lead toam overseasdrivelathefuture JAMIE Whincup is committed to race for TeamVodafone for the next three years - but he has intriguingly left the door open on his international ambitions. The current V8 Supercar Champion has agreed terms with the team and, with Craig Lowndes, has signed a deal to stay with the powerhouse quad for the next three years. At the announcement of the deal in Sydney last Thursday, it was also confirmed that Vodafone has extended its naming rights sponsorship of the team,and will also be involved until the end of 2012. "It was a big decision,"Whincup told Motorsport News."At the end of the day, it is one that 1 am really, really happy with, it is a fantastic opportunity, and what more could I ask for? It's the best team, and with Vodafone onboard for the same period of time, it points to strength in the future." Reports suggest that Whincup will become one of the best-paid drivers in pitlane, with suggestions that he would earn a minimum of $700,000 a year. But apart from confirming that he had received a big pay increase with his new deal ("I am not on apprentice's wages!"), he would not shed any further light on the numbers involved. Whincup did admit looking at overseas options before he re-signed, and there is a 4
suggestion that his new arrangements may allow him to take in some events outside V8 Supercar racing in the future. "Racing a car overseas remains an ambition of mine," he said,"and I believe that with Roland [Dane], and with Vodafone, being with those guys could give me the best opportunity to think outside the square - outside of V8s." As to what they may be, Whincup has expressed admiration for NASCAR racing in the past, and with a mid-season break likely to be a feature of future V8 calendars, there would also appear to be a possibility to take in some
races in series like the German DTM or Porsche Supercup - and that is where the reference to Vodafone may lead. On the other hand.Triple Eight's sister team in the UK has been involved in the British Touring Car Championship, above, for some years and unlike the local championship,that series allows drivers to race in some'wildcard' appearances. Whincup has no manufacturer links, so it would appear, the world awaits... For more on Whincup,see 5 Minutes, page 78
motorsport news
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MARK Webber has targeted more Grand Pri>c wins after his historic German GP victory. The Red Bull driver has stopped short of predicting a title in 2009 but,following his dramatic come-from-behind victory at the Nurburgring, says that the manner in which he won the race gives him increased confidence for more wins this season. "To finally win at this level is a big moment, and to do it, I suppose,the way I did, is what I was pretty keen for," he told Motorsport News. "There are a few key things to focus on,and we have been across some uncharted water in terms of what we did at the Nurburgring. We were being chased, not the chaser. 1 was comfortable with that. I have certainly not done my confidence any harm, in terms of that, and I am looking forward to delivering more of that in the future. I am looking forward to the next battle."
Webber's leg-breaking cycling accident left him with an extensive and ongoing rehabilitation program and forced him to miss most of the pre-season testing, which was particularly crucial this year because of the new in-season test ban. Despite this, and the form of his German team-mate Sebastian Vettel, the Aussie scored only 1.5 points less
than Vettel in the first half of the season,the pair taking three 1 -2 results. Webber said that the timing of his win was especially important, in terms of the team deciding to give priority to one driver of the other in its bid to chase down runaway leader, Jenson Button. "Had it gone 10-nil, I think that would have been a real rough result for me,in terms of things going that way.So, I think you are right. He would have had the momentum within the team. I am still in a very, very good position to hold my own in there." Some experienced FI observers are already predicating that this year's Drivers'title may go to the last race and replicate the 1986 season, when Williams pair Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet faced off with McLaren's Alain Prost - who ultimately snatched the title on the streets of Adelaide. Webber, who is expected to be confirmed as a Red Bull Racing man for the next two seasons within a few weeks,also came clean on how badly injured he was in that accident,and what ending the 28-year-long drought of Advance Australia Fair at GP venues means to him. For more on Webber,see page 22
In case you though it was easy
To get to his career high, Mark Webber has been through plenty of lows. Here's a collection 1999: Webber made international headlines when his Mercedes flipped not once, but twice, over the nil course ofthe Le Mans 24 Hour weekend. 2001:Driving for Super Nova, Webber tried to out do his Mercedes crash with a mega F3000shunt at nil Spa’s notorious Eau Rouge. 2004:A decison that, in hindsight, proved a set back. Webber's FI contract manager Fiavio Briatore wanted him to drive for Renault. Mark chose Williams. Renault went on to win two world titles in 05/06. Webber's best result was third at nil Monaco in 2005. 2006:On his way to a probable podium iiii^ perhaps a win - the exhaust gases burnt out the wiring loom on his Williams. Slamming the steering wheel into the cockpit has been replayed many, mant times... 2007:Another FI win went begging at a sodden Japananese Grand Prix. Sitting second under Safety Car conditions, he was collected by I Sebastian Vettel. Game Over. 2008: The Mark Webber Challenge fundraising adventure race in Tasmania turned into a disaster when he was hit by a car while on his bike, III! breaking his right leg.