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'BAND MIRRORS BEHIND THESCENES ATFI TESTING
Australian
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No.418 April 2012
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'FAST TRACK
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comprehensive vehicle cover. Shannons has not taken account of your objeotives, tinancial situation or needs. First refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statemenl at shannons.com.au or by calling 13 46 46.
Australian
THIS MONTH’S FEATURES Editorial Group Editor Steve Normoyle snormoyle@chevron.com.au Assistant Editor Mitchell Adam mitchell@mnews.com.au
The Grid
Unusual Suspects T
'r-J
%
Editorial Enquiries
Chevron Publishing Level 6,207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW 2065 Locked Bag 5555,St Leonards, NSW 1590 admin@mnews.com.au
Afterspending the last two years racing in Europe and America respectively,Scott Pye
and George Miedecke are back
;iNc.
Contributing Writers
Phil Branagan, Andrew van Leeuwen, Bruce Moxon, Mark Glendenning, Paul Carruthers
in Australia in 2012,tackling the Dunlop Series. We checked in after their first round
ife is many things 's, including busy, agan tracked him
Photography
Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, John Morris, Andrew Hall, James Smith, Geoff Grade, Phil Williams, Peter Bury, Michael Vettas, Joel Strickland, Paul Carruthers, Rob Lang, Clay Cross
A
Art Director Chris Currie
60
It’s got a nice Sebring to it \Ne look at the opener of the new World Endurance Championship in pictures
64
Prototypes on pause MNews sits down with Prodrive's David Richards to talk Aston Martin sportscars
70
Getting stuck into G2 Honda has embraced the Australian Rally Championship's new two-wheel-drive format
Advertising Advertising Director Chris West cwest@chevron.com.au P 02 9901 6376 M0416125'252
What goes through the head ofa driver making their fulltime V8 Supercar debut? We shadowed Taz Douglas to find out
National Sales Manager Luke Finn lfinn@chevron.com.au P 02 9901 6368 M 0423 665 384
76
Knight racing specialist Meet Terry Knight. Since it started, he's never missed a Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge event
80
Going out East Drag racer Debbie O'Rourke talks Top Alcohol and moving from Perth to Brisbane
84
Sharing the Energy Former karting prodigy Adam Graham is giving back to the sport with his new team
A Chairman, Chevron: Ray Berghouse Circulation Director: Carole Jones
Subscriptions: www.mnews.com.au
BEHIND THE TIMES
a division of nextmedia Pty Ltd.
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 Ply Ltd ACN: 128 805 970, Level 6, 207 Pacific Highway,St Leonards NSW 2065 C 2012. All rights reserved. Motorsport News is printed by CaxtonWeb, 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 5555,5t Leonards, NSW 1590.
www.mnews.com.au
Former MNews Assistant Ed Andrew van Leeuwen is up and about in Europe. But it's not all beer and Bundesllga -he got the lowdown on El testing in Barcelona and spoke to David Richards in Geneva.
REGULARS
\
^^chevron PUBLISHING GROUP /
Taz Douglas'first solo V8 race didn't go to plan, getting caught up in a Turn 8 accident in Adelaide. His Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport crew had to do an all-nighter to fix the car, but Taz made sure they knew he appreciated it. Good rnan.
l .'M
r.
Formula 1 testing is secretive stuff. But thanks to some help from current driver, we look at what it all means
6
The Front Row
8
Motor Mouth with Phil Branagan
10
The Scoop with Steve Normoyle
12
On The Limiter with Chris Lambden
14
Box Seat
16
United States of Origin
I. Anotherjet-setting Andrew, Andrew Hall hit up the Sebring 12 Hour last month. Naturally, we told him to send us pictures from his adventure.
?-
After time in open wheelers. Jeroen Bleekemolen is a sportscar gun for hire. We caught up with him
A motorsport news
www.mnews.com.au
18
Winding Back
52
The Second Row
88
Model Behaviour
92
Trade
96
Classifieds
98
The Final Word with Paul Cruickshank
Eli Evans and Mark Redder are part offamous families in Australian rallying. They're now team-mates,in the thick of the ever-changing ARC driving new, two-wheel-drive Hondas.
k.
5
Australian
THIS MONTH’S FEATURES Editorial Group Editor Steve Normoyle snormoyle@chevron.com.au Assistant Editor Mitchell Adam mitchell@mnews.com.au
The Grid
Unusual Suspects T
'r-J
%
Editorial Enquiries
Chevron Publishing Level 6,207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW 2065 Locked Bag 5555,St Leonards, NSW 1590 admin@mnews.com.au
Afterspending the last two years racing in Europe and America respectively,Scott Pye
and George Miedecke are back
;iNc.
Contributing Writers
Phil Branagan, Andrew van Leeuwen, Bruce Moxon, Mark Glendenning, Paul Carruthers
in Australia in 2012,tackling the Dunlop Series. We checked in after their first round
ife is many things 's, including busy, agan tracked him
Photography
Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, John Morris, Andrew Hall, James Smith, Geoff Grade, Phil Williams, Peter Bury, Michael Vettas, Joel Strickland, Paul Carruthers, Rob Lang, Clay Cross
A
Art Director Chris Currie
60
It’s got a nice Sebring to it \Ne look at the opener of the new World Endurance Championship in pictures
64
Prototypes on pause MNews sits down with Prodrive's David Richards to talk Aston Martin sportscars
70
Getting stuck into G2 Honda has embraced the Australian Rally Championship's new two-wheel-drive format
Advertising Advertising Director Chris West cwest@chevron.com.au P 02 9901 6376 M0416125'252
What goes through the head ofa driver making their fulltime V8 Supercar debut? We shadowed Taz Douglas to find out
National Sales Manager Luke Finn lfinn@chevron.com.au P 02 9901 6368 M 0423 665 384
76
Knight racing specialist Meet Terry Knight. Since it started, he's never missed a Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge event
80
Going out East Drag racer Debbie O'Rourke talks Top Alcohol and moving from Perth to Brisbane
84
Sharing the Energy Former karting prodigy Adam Graham is giving back to the sport with his new team
A Chairman, Chevron: Ray Berghouse Circulation Director: Carole Jones
Subscriptions: www.mnews.com.au
BEHIND THE TIMES
a division of nextmedia Pty Ltd.
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 Ply Ltd ACN: 128 805 970, Level 6, 207 Pacific Highway,St Leonards NSW 2065 C 2012. All rights reserved. Motorsport News is printed by CaxtonWeb, 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 5555,5t Leonards, NSW 1590.
www.mnews.com.au
Former MNews Assistant Ed Andrew van Leeuwen is up and about in Europe. But it's not all beer and Bundesllga -he got the lowdown on El testing in Barcelona and spoke to David Richards in Geneva.
REGULARS
\
^^chevron PUBLISHING GROUP /
Taz Douglas'first solo V8 race didn't go to plan, getting caught up in a Turn 8 accident in Adelaide. His Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport crew had to do an all-nighter to fix the car, but Taz made sure they knew he appreciated it. Good rnan.
l .'M
r.
Formula 1 testing is secretive stuff. But thanks to some help from current driver, we look at what it all means
6
The Front Row
8
Motor Mouth with Phil Branagan
10
The Scoop with Steve Normoyle
12
On The Limiter with Chris Lambden
14
Box Seat
16
United States of Origin
I. Anotherjet-setting Andrew, Andrew Hall hit up the Sebring 12 Hour last month. Naturally, we told him to send us pictures from his adventure.
?-
After time in open wheelers. Jeroen Bleekemolen is a sportscar gun for hire. We caught up with him
A motorsport news
www.mnews.com.au
18
Winding Back
52
The Second Row
88
Model Behaviour
92
Trade
96
Classifieds
98
The Final Word with Paul Cruickshank
Eli Evans and Mark Redder are part offamous families in Australian rallying. They're now team-mates,in the thick of the ever-changing ARC driving new, two-wheel-drive Hondas.
k.
5
THE FRONT ROW since we last met
NEWS OF THE MONTH TRIPLE EIGHT LOCKS IN DRIVERS 3
WORLD RALLY C’SHIP
FORMULA 1 After all of the pre-season testing, talk and analysis, Jenson Button won the opening round of the 2012 Formula 1 season, the QANTAS Australian Grand Prix. While his McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton qualified on pole. Button got the jump and was never troubled. A Safety Car period helped Sebastian Vettel jump Hamilton but even he couldn't touch Button, who claimed his third Albert Park victory. Hamilton held off a late challenge by Mark Webber to secure the final podium position, while Daniel Ricciardo jumped from 12th to ninth on a chaotic final lap to score his first FI points in his first home race.
Sebastien Loeb has made a strong start to his bid for a ninthstraight World Rally Championship, leading the standings after the first three rounds of the 2012 season. The Citroen driver has scored wins in Monte Carlo and Mexico, and while he was only sixth in Sweden after a crash, he leads new team-mate Mikko Hirvonen by 16 points. Ford recruit Fetter Solberg is third after a consistent start, two spots upon fellow factory Fiesta driver Jari-Matti Latvala, who won in Sweden but crashed out of Monte Carlo and Mexico. Aussie Chris Atkinson made his first WRC start since 2009 in Mexico. Running with Ken Block's Ford team, Atkinson won a stage and was running eighth, before a crash on Day 2 and a mechanical problem on Day 3 ened his rally.
BATHURST 12 HOUR Audi's'international'entry splashed to a second-straight Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour victory. With 2011 winners Christopher Meis and Darryl O'Young joined by Christer Joens,the R8 LMS drivers dominated the race, after rain set in during the early stages. In the end,the team won by 13s over the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG of Peter Hackett,Tim Slade, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Brett Curtis, with the Ferrari 458 of Craig Baird, Matt Griffin and MokWeng Sun third. The highly-fancied 458 of Allan Simonsen,John Bowe, Dominik Farnbacher and Peter Edwards didn't disappoint early. Simonsen broke Mount Panorama's race lap record, but their race eventually ended with electrical dramas. The local Audi of Craig Lowndes, Warren Luff and Mark Eddy had an early shower,too, after Eddy crashed mid-race.
V8 SUPERCARS
motorsport news
HOLDEN LOCKS IN TEAMS During their ongoing time with TeamVodafone,Whincup and Lowndes will race Holdens. Holden has extended its deals with TeamVodafone and factory squad the Toll Holden Racing Team, ahead of the new Car of the Future era. "With the Holden Racing Team and TeamVodafone, we have the two very best teams,four championship-winning drivers,and the finest race engineering capabilities," Holden Sponsorship Manager Simon McNamara surmised.
ASTON MARTIN LOOKS AT B12 Could a factory Aston Martin tilt join Audi and Mercedes-Benz at next year's Bathurst 12 Hour? After ditching their Prototype sportscar campaign,the British manufacturer is focusing on GT racers, including an all-new VI2 Vantage GT3 car. Mount Panorama's enduro runs to GT3 regulations and has piqued Aston Martin's interest. "It's under discussion," Prodrive chief David Richards told MNews. "We've had a good look at the event,and we'll certainly give that some consideration." For more on Aston Martin's program from Richards, see Page 64.
NISSAN ON THE WING Nissan will power the ambitious DeltaWing sportscar project. Fitted with a 1.6-litre Direct Injection Gasoline -Turbocharged (DIG-T) engine from the Japanese manufacturer,the car has now appeared in public, running across the Sebring 12 Hour weekend with Marino Franchitti and Nissan's Michael Krumm at the wheel. The DeltaWing will make its race debut in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
RUBENS’ NEW DAWN Rubens Barrichello will race indyCars this year. After joining pre-season testing, Barrichello has inked a deal to race with KV Racing, alongside close friend Tony Kanaan.The series was set to kick off in St. Petersburg as MNews went to print.
TRULLI SAD FOR JARNO
Ford Performance Racing has started the 2012 V8 Supercar season in fine fashion, with Will Davison winning the Clipsal 500 and Mark Winterbottom dominating the non-championship races at Albert Park. A week after the death of his father, Jamie Whincup produced a masterful drive to win Adelaide's Saturday race, with fuel economy a major factor. While most drivers elected to gamble on economy to the end, Whincup pitted during a Safety Car period on Lap 66 and sliced his way back through from seventh. He sealed the win with a final-lap pass on Davison, who ran out of fuel but limped home in second. On Sunday, there was no such heartache for Davison. He dominated the race to take his first win since Bathurst 2009, leading home Winterbottom in an FPR 1 2. He leads Whincup and Tander - third in each race - in the standings. A fortnight later at Albert Park, Winterbottom won three of the four non-championship races to win the MSS Security V8 Supercars Challenge's $100,000 major prize. Shane van Gisbergen won the other race and was second for the weekend, ahead of Tander.
6
Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes will race with TeamVodafone in theV8 Supercar Championship Series until at least the end of the 2014 and 2015 seasons respectively. The pair - both three-time V8 Supercar champions - have extended their deals with the Brisbane-based outfit. "With both Jamie and Craig on board I know that we have the strongest driver line-up in the V8 Supercar Championship Series,"T8 Managing Director Roland Dane said.
Like Barrichello, JarnoTrulli is out of Formula 1 in 2012.Trulli was replaced by former Renault driver Vitaly Petrov at Caterham in the lead-up to Albert Park's season opener. Trulli joined the squad (formerly known as Lotus)for its maiden season in 2010 after stints with Toyota, Renault, Jordan, Prost and Minardi. He's set to finish with 252 GP starts from a 14-year career. His departure means Italy is without a Formula 1 driver for the first time since 1969.
www.mnews.com.au
7
THE FRONT ROW since we last met
NEWS OF THE MONTH TRIPLE EIGHT LOCKS IN DRIVERS 3
WORLD RALLY C’SHIP
FORMULA 1 After all of the pre-season testing, talk and analysis, Jenson Button won the opening round of the 2012 Formula 1 season, the QANTAS Australian Grand Prix. While his McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton qualified on pole. Button got the jump and was never troubled. A Safety Car period helped Sebastian Vettel jump Hamilton but even he couldn't touch Button, who claimed his third Albert Park victory. Hamilton held off a late challenge by Mark Webber to secure the final podium position, while Daniel Ricciardo jumped from 12th to ninth on a chaotic final lap to score his first FI points in his first home race.
Sebastien Loeb has made a strong start to his bid for a ninthstraight World Rally Championship, leading the standings after the first three rounds of the 2012 season. The Citroen driver has scored wins in Monte Carlo and Mexico, and while he was only sixth in Sweden after a crash, he leads new team-mate Mikko Hirvonen by 16 points. Ford recruit Fetter Solberg is third after a consistent start, two spots upon fellow factory Fiesta driver Jari-Matti Latvala, who won in Sweden but crashed out of Monte Carlo and Mexico. Aussie Chris Atkinson made his first WRC start since 2009 in Mexico. Running with Ken Block's Ford team, Atkinson won a stage and was running eighth, before a crash on Day 2 and a mechanical problem on Day 3 ened his rally.
BATHURST 12 HOUR Audi's'international'entry splashed to a second-straight Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour victory. With 2011 winners Christopher Meis and Darryl O'Young joined by Christer Joens,the R8 LMS drivers dominated the race, after rain set in during the early stages. In the end,the team won by 13s over the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG of Peter Hackett,Tim Slade, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Brett Curtis, with the Ferrari 458 of Craig Baird, Matt Griffin and MokWeng Sun third. The highly-fancied 458 of Allan Simonsen,John Bowe, Dominik Farnbacher and Peter Edwards didn't disappoint early. Simonsen broke Mount Panorama's race lap record, but their race eventually ended with electrical dramas. The local Audi of Craig Lowndes, Warren Luff and Mark Eddy had an early shower,too, after Eddy crashed mid-race.
V8 SUPERCARS
motorsport news
HOLDEN LOCKS IN TEAMS During their ongoing time with TeamVodafone,Whincup and Lowndes will race Holdens. Holden has extended its deals with TeamVodafone and factory squad the Toll Holden Racing Team, ahead of the new Car of the Future era. "With the Holden Racing Team and TeamVodafone, we have the two very best teams,four championship-winning drivers,and the finest race engineering capabilities," Holden Sponsorship Manager Simon McNamara surmised.
ASTON MARTIN LOOKS AT B12 Could a factory Aston Martin tilt join Audi and Mercedes-Benz at next year's Bathurst 12 Hour? After ditching their Prototype sportscar campaign,the British manufacturer is focusing on GT racers, including an all-new VI2 Vantage GT3 car. Mount Panorama's enduro runs to GT3 regulations and has piqued Aston Martin's interest. "It's under discussion," Prodrive chief David Richards told MNews. "We've had a good look at the event,and we'll certainly give that some consideration." For more on Aston Martin's program from Richards, see Page 64.
NISSAN ON THE WING Nissan will power the ambitious DeltaWing sportscar project. Fitted with a 1.6-litre Direct Injection Gasoline -Turbocharged (DIG-T) engine from the Japanese manufacturer,the car has now appeared in public, running across the Sebring 12 Hour weekend with Marino Franchitti and Nissan's Michael Krumm at the wheel. The DeltaWing will make its race debut in this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.
RUBENS’ NEW DAWN Rubens Barrichello will race indyCars this year. After joining pre-season testing, Barrichello has inked a deal to race with KV Racing, alongside close friend Tony Kanaan.The series was set to kick off in St. Petersburg as MNews went to print.
TRULLI SAD FOR JARNO
Ford Performance Racing has started the 2012 V8 Supercar season in fine fashion, with Will Davison winning the Clipsal 500 and Mark Winterbottom dominating the non-championship races at Albert Park. A week after the death of his father, Jamie Whincup produced a masterful drive to win Adelaide's Saturday race, with fuel economy a major factor. While most drivers elected to gamble on economy to the end, Whincup pitted during a Safety Car period on Lap 66 and sliced his way back through from seventh. He sealed the win with a final-lap pass on Davison, who ran out of fuel but limped home in second. On Sunday, there was no such heartache for Davison. He dominated the race to take his first win since Bathurst 2009, leading home Winterbottom in an FPR 1 2. He leads Whincup and Tander - third in each race - in the standings. A fortnight later at Albert Park, Winterbottom won three of the four non-championship races to win the MSS Security V8 Supercars Challenge's $100,000 major prize. Shane van Gisbergen won the other race and was second for the weekend, ahead of Tander.
6
Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes will race with TeamVodafone in theV8 Supercar Championship Series until at least the end of the 2014 and 2015 seasons respectively. The pair - both three-time V8 Supercar champions - have extended their deals with the Brisbane-based outfit. "With both Jamie and Craig on board I know that we have the strongest driver line-up in the V8 Supercar Championship Series,"T8 Managing Director Roland Dane said.
Like Barrichello, JarnoTrulli is out of Formula 1 in 2012.Trulli was replaced by former Renault driver Vitaly Petrov at Caterham in the lead-up to Albert Park's season opener. Trulli joined the squad (formerly known as Lotus)for its maiden season in 2010 after stints with Toyota, Renault, Jordan, Prost and Minardi. He's set to finish with 252 GP starts from a 14-year career. His departure means Italy is without a Formula 1 driver for the first time since 1969.
www.mnews.com.au
7