Motorsport eNews Issue 187 - January 11-17, 2011

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Issue No. 187 Jan 11 - 17 2011

V8 SUPERCARS

KICK IT UP A GEAR! CAR OF THE FUTURE TAKES A RADICAL TURN IN GEARBOX PHILOSOPHY

PLUS

WE REVEAL THE LATEST V8 UTE ... AND WHO’S GOING TO BE RACING IT IN 2011

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Issue No. 187 | Jan 11-17 2011

news 4

Gear Shift Transaxles for V8 COF 6 Hellooooo Mr Wilson D’Alberto takes over WSR 8 Bear in there. Where? Utes Bundy takes on Utes 13 Dyer Straits Aussie boffin’s future unclear 15 Clock Rockers The full B12H entry list

chat 26 Five Minutes With ...

Tony D’Alberto

comment 28 Branagan: Grinds my gears 29 Adam: The Russians are coming

race 30 Dakar Update 32 Drag Racing 34 World Series Sprintcars 40 Sydney Speedway Sprintcars

trade 48 Classifieds

V8s GO FOR TRANSA V8 SUPERCARS

T

HE new Car of the Future looks set to signal the end of the two-decade relationship between V8 Supercars and Holinger Engineering.

While no confirmation of which company will supply transmissions for the new cars is expected until March at the earliest, eNews believes that the Kilsyth, Melbourne-based company, which has been involved with the category since its inception and which

has been the sole supplier of gearboxes for a decade, will not submit a tender for the new car.

While the initial philosophy regarding the COF called for the continuation of the current set-up of a mid-mounted Holinger gearbox and separate rear end driveline, V8 Supercars has recently changed course. Its desire to move to an independent rear end brought with it complications and cost issues in terms of retaining the separate gearbox/diff set-up.

Instead, the COF will now feature a rear-mounted transaxle, incorporating both the gearset and differential (though the latter may still have the capability to operate in a ‘spool’ mode, as per the

current configuration, if required).

Holinger Engineering does not currently produce a transaxle and sources familiar with the engineering requirements of such a process tell us that the lead time in designing and developing a bespoke item to meet the needs of the category would not meet the required deadlines.

We believe that there may still be at least one Australian company with the required capability, however. Albins Off Road Gear, based in Ballarat, Victoria, has an strong pedigree in, as the name suggests, Off Road racing, and has manufactured 500 transaxle units in the last six years. The items are used around the world, and some of its 5 or 6speed transmissions handle more than 1000 horsepower engines.

The V8 Supercar future? At least one Australian company already builds transaxle set-ups suitable for V8 Supercar use.

motorsport news

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AXLES

Both versions of the company’s transaxles are capable of using a sequential shift, as currently in use with the Holinger H6S transmission.

While details of V8 Supercars’ tender documents are confidential, we believe that the tender target is for a transaxle costing no more than $25,000 – about $10,000 less than the combined cost of the current gearbox-plus-differential set-up.

V8 Supercars stated a preference for Australian-based suppliers at the time of the COF announcement last March and the current high dollar might well mitigate that an Australian tenderer could have an advantage over international companies.

FUTURE CAR PUT ON THE BACKBURNER V8 SUPERCARS V8 SUPERCARS has delayed the introduction of its Car of the Future.

The new generation car was to have been introduced for 2012, with teams having the option of running a new car or an existing ‘Project Blueprint’ car. But V8SA has now put the introduction of the car back to the start of the 2013 season, but made the use of the car mandatory for that year’s V8 Supercar Championship.

“Car of the Future is incredibly important to the future direction of V8 Supercars,” said Martin Whitaker, Chief Executive Officer of V8 Supercars, “and as such it is vital that we get the product and its introduction absolutely right. We have www.mnews.com.au

complete support from all the teams and manufacturers in this decision. It’s a common sense decision that allows all teams to be on an equal playing field at the start of 2013.

“The COF program is already well advanced and we will have two prototypes built and ready to test mid-year. This decision allows all the players in the car’s introduction the flexibility of time to plan for a full and well-considered transition in 2013.”

V8 Supercars had originally planned to have prototypes of Ford’s FG Falcon and Holden’s Commodore VE ready for track testing at the start of the new season.

Plans for one or both to appear at the January test day have thus been scrapped.

Phil Williams

TDR TURNING GREEN, AND THEN BLUE V8 SUPERCARS

WILSON Security Racing will have its third home in as many years in 2011, after confirming it will switch its support to Tony D’Alberto Racing.

Known as Centaur Racing in 2010, D’Alberto’s outfit will take over the Wilson sponsorship this season, along with making a switch from running a Holden to running a Ford Performance Racing-built FG Falcon. It is the third team with which Wilson Security

has had title sponsorship in the last three seasons, starting with Paul Cruickshank Racing in 2009, and James Rosenberg Racing last season.

D’Alberto will actually start the season in his existing VE Commodore, which will run in an interim livery, before switching to the Falcon and proper WSR colours before the Clipsal 500.

“Wilson Security has proven to be a fantastic supporter of Australian motor racing, especially in V8 Supercars, and I’m looking forward to driving

the Wilson Security entry in 2011,” said D’Alberto.

“They are very big on backing emerging drivers, the young guys coming through the pack. This will be our second season with our own team, so we see ourselves as a growing operation with a view to building success and it’s good to have Wilson Security join us as a key partner in doing that.”

Wilson’s CEO John McMellan agreed that TDR being a young team played its part in his decision.

“We have always sponsored

emerging teams or drivers and it’s been pleasing for us to see them progress,” he said.

“With this opportunity we believe we have both an emerging team and driver.

There are some exciting plans in place for 2011 that will see the operations of Wilson Security Racing expand, and improve in performance ,and we look forward to seeing this season unfold.”

D’Alberto’s TDR team will run the car, not FPR, as we previously reported. eNews apologises for the error.

LATE LAUNCH FOR V8 TEAMS V8 SUPERCARS IF you are eagerly awaiting the release of V8 Supercar team’s 2011 colours, then you’ll have to wait until the end of the month in most cases.

While Ford Performance Racing and Stone Brothers Racing have revealed

some ’11 warpaint, many teams are opting to leave their launches until right before the January 29 Eastern Creek official test day.

One of the more eagerly awaited launches will be the Kelly Racing/ Pepsi Max entry. Greg Murphy will be announced as the driver of a Pepsi-

backed #51 Holden Commodore in Sydney on Thursday January 27, two days before the test.

By then, the Holden Racing Team will have already launched (Friday January 21), while TeamVodafone will launch on Friday January 28.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN motorsport news

news V8 SUPERCARS

www.mnews.com.au

IS V8 SUPERCARS FOR SALE?

Dirk Klynsmith

CHANGE could be afoot in relation to the ownership of V8 Supercars.

While there have been suggestions for years that 25 percent stakeholders SEL would one day sell and move on, a wide-ranging review of the ownership of V8 Supercars Australia about to be undertaken by business analyst/sale specialist Tim Miles (a former director at Tasman Motorsport) could have wider ramifications.

The V8 teams themselves, via their (28) REC individual car licences, own the other 75 percent of the business – that’s around 2.7 percent of the business per car. Licences have been changing hands for around $1.5m over recent years.

Miles told The Australian last week that the review was promoted by “a number of unsolicited approaches over the last couple of years from private equity and trade buyers.

“No decision whatsoever has been made about whether there will be a sale or not. We are purely doing a review,” he told The Australian.

Miles elaborated a little when eNews spoke to him on Monday: “It’s not simply a case of SEL selling out, as has been rumoured from time-to-time.

It’s about responding to the enquiries that have been made and asking whether this is a good time to consider selling part of the business.

“The crucial thing is also the structure of the business after any partial change of ownership – and that can differ depending upon whether the incoming partner is simply an equity partner or companies linked to the industry in some way.

“We’re simply reviewing those options for V8 Supercars and, all being well, we will have something for them by the end of February.”

WELCOME TO 2011 WITH ENEWS EDITOR ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

H

ELLO and welcome back to Motorsport eNews.

It’s funny, 2011 is barely a week old, but I’ve already got questions.

Sure, some of the questions stem from things that happened in the latter part of 2010, but you get my point.

My first question is this; why was whoever designed the new PMM VIP Petfoods car only allowed to use Microsoft Paint? I mean, there are design programs available now that can make the most ordinary holiday snap look like something Ansel Adams took. So why does car #67 look like it does? Seriously.

While we’re on the topic, after looking fast and being slow, will the IRWIN Falcon be a rocket now that it looks like ... well, I can’t think of an appropriate group of adjectives to describe its ‘fresh’ look in this family friendly magazine.

Also, who’s going to end up with the Pepsi

Max sponsorship, and what brand of car will Tony D’Alberto spend most of the year driving?

Nah, I’m just messing with you. They are questions with unbelievably obvious answers – Greg Murphy in a Cola-powered Commodore, and D’Alberto in the most secure Ford Falcon in town.

What about Carrera Cup? Not that I’m hugely disappointed that MINI is gone, but will the great return of the 911s work? The team at Porsche Cars Australia are talking big numbers, but talk is cheap and the cars are not. Let’s hope there’s a good grid for the Grand Prix in a couple of months.

And finally, what the heck are we going to do about the Australian cricket team? That’s been the biggest question that has reared its ugly, shattering head over the summer.

To find out the answers to these questions, and many more, we’ll just have to let 2011 get on with it. Enjoy!

Dirk Klynsmith

Less Shootouts, more Sprints V8 SUPERCARS THE final sporting regulations for the 2011 V8 Supercar Championship are coming together.

The Top 10 Shootout will be largely disused in ’11, with

only the street circuits and Bathurst retaining the singlelap run-off.

That means it will only be seen at the Clipsal 500, Hamilton, Townsville, Bathurst, the Gold Coast and Homebush. The rest of the

meetings will have a regular qualifying session for each race.

As for tyres, Abu Dhabi, Hamilton, Winton, Queensland Raceway, Surfers Paradise, Symmons Plains, and Sandown will be all soft

tyre rounds.

The Clipsal 500, Phillip Island, Bathurst and Homebush will be all control tyre rounds, while the Grand Prix, Barbagallo Raceway, Hidden Valley and Townsville will be a mix between the two.

Ute Beauty!

V8 UTES LOOK for a new face in V8 Utes this season – Cameron McConville.

The long-time V8 Supercars racer, who took his second round win at the Gold Coast 600 last October, appears set to race a Commodore in the series, with backing from HSV and, possibly, Bundaberg Red.

“I have a number of options for the year,” said McConville last week, “and yes, I’ll be doing some more racing. But it’s too early to say what that is just yet.” eNews believes that his program, which will utilise a Commodore Walkinshaw Racing has acquired from James Brock, could be announced at Bundaberg Rum’s distillery later this month.

McConville, who turns 37 this month, is also expected to rejoin the Holden Racing team for the Phillip Island and Bathurst endurance races, to partner his 2010 co-driver Garth Tander. He has raced in the Utes before, making a oneoff appearance at Adelaide (using the nickname ‘Conkey’) and has also participated in parity testing for the category.

Mother Energy Racing Team Require Full-time race mechanics for the 2011 V8 Supercar championship Positions available are #1 race mechanic & #2 race mechanics.

Extensive knowledge of all aspects of Race Car preparation required.

Attention to detail, along with the ability to work in high pressure situations & fit in well within a professional race team.

Previous Motorsport experience is essential in same or similar role, preferably within V8 Supercars. Opportunity to work in secure, well funded race team based in Yatala, Qld. Competitive salary package.

Contact Andy McElrea andymcelrea1@bigpond.com or 0402 056 306

motorsport news

news

WA: Back even sooner!

V8 SUPERCARS V8SUPERCARS has moved its return date to Barbagallo Raceway by a week.

The event, now called the Trading Post Perth Challenge,

has been brought forward one week to April 29-May 1.

The original event May 6-8 date clashed with Channel Seven’s AFL coverage, and also avoids a clash with Mothers Day.

“We take the broadcast of our sport very seriously, as does the Seven Network,” said V8 Supercars Chief Executive Officer Martin Whitaker, “and we work hard to ensure all our loyal supporters receive

the best-possible television coverage.

“This date shift is a move to guarantee our fans, sponsors and teams the best possible exposure and coverage for the Perth event.”

Dirk Klynsmith James Cormick

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South African on board James Smith

V8 SUPERCARS GREG Murphy Racing will have conflicting loyalties during next year’s Rugby Union Tri Nations.

The Melbourne-based, New Zealandowned squad has signed South African driver Brandon Auby for the bulk of the 2011 Fujisu Series as part of a four-car squad. Auby, who won the Super GT Class in the 2010 Wesbank V8 Supercars series in South Africa, will step into one of the team’s VE Commodores for at least the first half of the season.

Auby, 18, tested with GMR in November last year, impressing the team’;s

experienced boss Kevin Murphy.

“Brandon did a good job when he was here, he went like a rocket,” Murphy said.

“He did 130-odd laps at Winton over two days and did a very good job, he was quite competitive time-wise, considering it was his first experience in these cars.

“He didn’t put a foot wrong, everyone was impressed with him and his feedback.

He has, of course, been driving cars of similar power and weight over in South Africa as well, so he had a pretty good handle on everything.

“At this point in time he’s guaranteed to do the first four or five rounds and the balance is based on him finding a little bit

more financial help.”

Auby will drive the VE Commodore used by Daniel Jilesen in the latter stages of 2010, with Jilesen stepping into Steve Owen’s title winner. Geoff Emery will continue in the VE in which he finished 2010, while GMR will debut a new Commodore – built by Tasman Motorsport but unraced – at the Clipsal 500, as previously reported. A driver for that chassis is yet to be locked in.

“It’ll be running,” Murphy said of the new car.

“We don’t have a driver signed for that yet, but we’re talking to a couple of people.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

Give us the Blue Steel

10

MARK Winterbottom has decalred himself the man tio watch in the Ford ranks this season – so this is the car to look out for, Holden drivers!

The Ford Performance Racing star will carry the colours of Orrcon Steel in the company’s 10th year in V8 Supercar racing. The company started its involvement in the category in 2002, when it joined Larkham Motorsport.

It has backed FPR since 2007. motorsport news

news

Owen hopes to sit, stay

V8 SUPERCARS AS expected, Santa Claus was very kind to Steve Owen.

The current Fujitsu V8 Supercars Champ will step back into the Main Game

this season, in Paul Morris Motorsport’s Commodore VE. As first reported in eNews, Owen will race in the colours of VIP Pet Food.

“This is my biggest opportunity to forge a career

at the top level so I’m going to grasp it with both hands and give it a damn good shake,” said 36-year-old Owen, who won his maiden Main Game race at Surfers in October.

“They have good equipment

and good people so I’m really looking forward to working with them.

“I can’t thank Paul Morris, Tony Quinn and the people at VIP Petfoods enough for allowing me this opportunity.”

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11

HERE COMES NARAIN AG FORMULA 1

NARAIN Karthikeyan is back in Formula 1.

The Indian driver has been signed to race for HRT for this season, having been out of Formula 1 since the end of 2005. He is so far the only driver to be signed for HRT for the coming season.

“It is a great pleasure for us to have signed Narain Karthikeyan as our race driver for the 2011 Formula 1 World Championship,” team principal Colin Kolles said.

“I have known Narain for a long time and he can revert to the experiences he gained when he was competing for Jordan Grand Prix, and being test and reserve driver for Williams F1. Narain has also been driving in other racing series and running in one of the legendary Audi sportscars in the Le Mans Series.

“I am sure that his experience and speed will be very useful for the team during the season. We are welcoming Narain to our team and we look forward to working closely with him this year.”

Karthikeyan’s past Formula 1 experience involves a year as a Jordan Grand Prix driver in 2005, and two years as Williams’ test driver in 2006 and 2007.

NEW MACCA WON’T BE READY FOR TEST FORMULA 1

motorsport news

sutton-images.com

12

sutton-images.com

MCLAREN’S new car won’t be ready for the first official Formula 1 test of 2011.

The first test of the season is set to take place at Valencia from February 1-3, with Autosport reporting that McLaren will run an interim version of its 2010 car, with some updates that will form the ’11 car. The fully-fledged MP4-26 will be unveiled in Berlin, Germany, on February 4.

McLaren aren’t the only team that will run an old car at the first test; Force India, Virgin Racing and HRT will also run ’10 cars at the first test.

The move is not without precedent. Last season, Red Bull Racing missed the opening test because Adrian Newey was unhappy with the car at that point. They then went on to win both World Championships in 2010. This year, with the new Pirelli tyre still largely an unknown for teams, RBR are working towards having the RB7 ready for the Valencia test.

Renault and Sauber will unveil their new challengers on January 31.

news

GAIN Dakar Rally

MINI’S SORDO AFFAIR WORLD RALLYING

sutton-images.com

THE MINI World Rally team has completed its 2011 lineup, with the signing of Dani Sordo.

The Spaniard will join Briton Kris Meeke when the marque makes its return to rallying with the MINI WRC this coming season.

“There has been a great deal of excitement surrounding

MINI’s return to the WRC, so to be part of this new team is a fantastic opportunity for me,” said Sordo. “I’m sure MINI has a big future in the sport. I’m looking forward to working with Kris Meeke, having completed a successful test with him in Sardinia last November.”

Sordo, 27, has competed in the WRC since 2003, and since 2006 has partnered Sébastien

Loeb in Citroën’s teams. The former Junior World Rally Champion is yet to score his maiden win, but has secured 29 podium finishes and 102 stage wins during his career.

His best finish in the WRC was third in 2008 and ’09, and he finished fifth overall last season. Sordo, 27, will compete in at least six events this season, with co-driver Diego Vallejo.

DYER REPLACED AT FERRARI FORMULA 1 IN the wake of losing the World Championship to Red Bull Racing, Ferrari has opted for an engineering reshuffle for 2011.

With the team’s brainpower under attack after a costly tactical error during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ferrari has taken the axe to its team. The biggest scalp is Australia Chris Dyer, who has been removed as head of race track engineering with immediate effect. His new role is “will be defined in the next few days”, while former McLaren engineer Pat Fry will take over Dyer’s previous job.

Fry isn’t the only new addition; Ferrari has also signed up Neil Martin, ex McLaren and Red Bull Racing, and he will take the role of head of the operations research department, reporting directly to technical director Aldo Costa.

www.mnews.com.au

13

Rossiter and KVRT INDYCARS

In NFL news ...

INDYCARS

14

sutton-images.com

IT is well known that Joe Gibbs has won at the NFL’s Superbowl and in NASCAR’s Cup Series. Now, IndyCar has its own ‘coach’.

Jim Harbaugh, one of the six founding partners of Panther Racing in 1997, has been signed as the San Francisco 49ers Head Coach for five years.

“I love the Indianapolis 500, said Harbaugh. “It’s better than Christmas. I’ve come to the Indianapolis 500 since 1994 and only missed one year. It’s great to be a part of this with John Barnes, who’s the heart and soul of Panther Racing.

For all of us, this is all about that dream of someday seeing Panther Racing win the Indy 500. Hopefully this is the year.”

Harbaugh has coached in college football for the last four years, leading the Stanford University Cardinals to a 12-1 record. Panther Racing’s car entry No. 4 was selected based on Harbaugh’s playing number in the NFL. Harbaugh is not the first NFL player to have a stake in an IndyCar team. Former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana was a co-owner of Target Ganassi Racing, while Dale Coyne once shared ownership of his team with Chicago Bears running back, Walter Payton.

And just like the AFL, there will be a brotherly rivalry in the NFL. Harbaugh’s brother John is the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

– MARY MENDEZ

JAMES Rossiter could be IndyCar’s next fast Brit.

The former Honda Formula 1 test driver participated in the pre-season IndyCar open test last February in a KV Racing Technology car and has signed on as test driver for the Lotus team. He could become a driver for the SH Racing team that plans to contest the Indy 500 in association with KV Racing Technology and Lotus.

“I would like to have James racing for us in IndyCar,” Claudio Berro, Director of Lotus Motorsport told Autosport. “It could happen this season, though most likely only on the road and street tracks.”

KV Racing looks to return in 2011 with its same three drivers, Takuma Sato, E. J. Viso, and Mario Moraes. Last week, well respected team manager Tom Wurz joined KV Racing Technology, leaving Team Penske after many successful seasons where he was responsible for the engineering, fabrication, paint, electrical, transportation, and accounting departments. Prior to Penske, Wurz was team manager at the other most successful open wheel team, Newman-Haas Racing.

– MARY MENDEZ

Meira back with Foyt INDYCARS VITOR Meira has signed on to return for his third season at A.J. Foyt Racing.

In addition, longtime sponsor ABC Supply and chief engineer Jeff Britton are returning the 2011 IndyCar Series season.

Meira, who returned to the team for a full season in 2010 after suffering injuries in the 2009 Indianapolis 500, recorded six top-10 finishes with a best of third in the opener in his native Brazil. Over 114 IndyCar Series races, Meira has 63 top-10 finishes. In his first season

in 2009, Meira worked with Foyt directly as his engineer. He developed such a good rapport with Foyt that he is one of the few drivers to return for another season. Having an engineer definitely helped the team advance during 2010.

“Being able to continue the progress that we made at the end of last year will make for a good season this year,” explained Meira. “We know the areas that we have to work in to improve and we have already started to do that in the off season.”

– MARY MENDEZ motorsport news

news

Did you hear the one about Michael Waltrip?

NASCAR

NASCAR RICHARD Petty Motorsports is off to a good new year, confirming that Best Buy has

renewed its sponsorship deal.

The electrical retailer will be the primary sponsor of the #43 Ford of AJ Allmendinger in 24 Sprint Cup races and the

two non-points events, The Duels and the Sprint All-Star race. It will also be an associate sponsor for the team’s #9 entry, driven by Marcos Ambrose.

www.mnews.com.au

new 2012 chassis and engine coming, this tire manufacturer may not want to commit its resources to develop all new tyres.

“Firestone is evaluating all their marketing assets right now but we’re currently in negotiations,” Bernard told SpeedTV.com last week. “We talked again today and I’m optimistic that we’re making progress.”

Bernard has admitted to the Indy Star newspaper he’s “concerned”.

Should Firestone depart, potential replacements might include Cooper Tires (an Ohio based manufacturer that supplied the Atlantic series and Star Mazda competition), Pirelli or Michelin.

Currently teams pay Firestone US$400 per tyre – over $200,000 for a whole season – for tyres they must return after they have been used.

– MARY MENDEZ

Toyota Motorsports

COULD Firestone be leaving IndyCar? Amid news of new driver signings and the intention of Chevrolet and Lotus to build IndyCar engines, the contractual renewal date for Firestone to renew its tyre supply contract passed quietly and there is no guarantee it will re-sign past its current deal, which runs until the end of the coming season.

Randy Bernard, CEO of IndyCar, has been meeting with Firestone, which has been the sole tyre supplier for the IndyCar series since 2000. The company has not only heavily marketed the series, but it served as the title sponsor of several race events each year. It also supplies tyres for and is the title sponsor of the driver development Indy Lights series.

Most important, the product has been extremely safe and consistent. But with a

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Smoke without Fire?

INDYCARS

FORD RACING

SIMPLY THE BEST. BUY

IT’S a busy few months coming up for Michael Waltrip.

The two-time Daytona 500 winner has confirmed that he will race in next month’s season-opening race, making it is 25th successive start in the Florida classic.

“I think two people have started that many,” Waltrip said last week.

“Richard Petty and Dave Marcis come to mind.

Our plan is to race the Budweiser Shootout and 500. I’m looking forward to it.”

The veteran will not be at pre-race testing, but Michael Waltrip Racing will send two Camrys to the test, for Martin Truex and David Reutimann.

But that’s not all. Waltrip will hit the stage later this month with Michael Waltrip’s Comedy Garage.

He will join comedians Henry Cho and John Reep in the standup show, starting in Kansas City, then Windsor Ontario and finishing in Las Vegas in early March.

Waltrip also has a book coming out, ‘In the Blink of an Eye’, telling the story of his fateful 2001 Daytona 500 win.

15

New CCup cars here this CARRERA CUP

sutton-images.com

THE arrival of Carrera Cup Australia’s fleet of Porsches is imminent.

A total of 22 CupCars are due to land in Melbourne in the coming days, ahead of a busy couple of weeks for series organisers and competitors.

After the cars arrive, Porsche will host a training seminar for teams on January 27-28, followed by a handover on January 29 and a test day at Winton on the 30th.

Of the cars on the way, Porsche’s Motorsport Manager Jamey Blaikie confirmed that most have been sold.

“As of this morning, we’re at 18 and a half, 19 in the next couple of hours I would imagine. We’ve got one which is half done at the minute,” he told eNews on Monday.

“The cars are due to arrive in the first or second week of January and we’re right in the middle of that now, so I’m

FORMULA FORD FORMULA Ford has completed its 2011 calendar, and will contest two of its rounds on the Shannons Nationals bill.

Before Christmas, the first six rounds of the 2011 schedule were released, all of which were on the V8 Supercar bill – Clipsal, Winton, Queensland Raceway, Phillip Island, Gold Coast and Symmons Plains.

Now, the final two rounds have been added, the Eastern Creek and Sandown Shannons 16

Nationals rounds. It will be a return for New South Wales to the Formula Ford schedule, having not been included since Oran Park in 2008. The two Shannons rounds will be Rounds 3 and 5 respectively, with Eastern Creek on July 15-17, and Sandown on September 9-11.

“It’s a big boost for Formula Ford to have the opportunity to return to NSW for the first time since the final round of 2008, and I know all of our NSW drivers are looking forward to having a home event again,”

Margaret Hardy, Category Manager said.

“The Sandown event fits nicely into our calendar as a popular venue, but its also a boost for interstate competitors who will only have to make one trip to Victoria for Sandown and Phillip Island, which are just one week apart.

“Weve got a great range of circuits this season and were looking forward to working with the Shannons Nationals and also V8 Supercars in 2011 to make this season one of the best yet.”

John Morris

FFORD DATES 2011 FORMULA FORD DATES 1 Clipsal 500 SA Mar 17-20 2 Winton VIC May 20-22 3 Eastern Creek NSW Jul 15-17 4 QLD Raceway QLD Aug 19-21 5 Sandown VIC Sep 9-11 6 Phillip Island VIC Sep 16-18 7 Gold Coast QLD Oct 21-23 8 Symmons Plains TAS Nov 11-13

motorsport news

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s week

expecting them any day.

“On Thursday the 27th and Friaday the 28th of this month, we’ve got training for mechanics and data engineers at our training facility at Tullamarine. On the 29th, we’ll deliver the cars and we’ve got Winton booked for the 30th.”

The category’s first batch of new, wider Michelin tyres will also arrive in Australia in the coming weeks.

“We’ve got a new tyre this year for the cars, which is currently under construction by Michelin in France and they’ll be flown out in time ready to be run for the first time on the 30th,” Blaikie said.

“The fronts were at 24 [inches], they’ve gone to 25 and the rears were 27 and have gone to 30. They’ll better suit the car, better suit the rims that are on the cars now, the front rims are half an inch wider and the rear are an inch wider than that we’ve had before.”

WORLD RALLY FORD is expanding its involvement in the World Rally Championship.

The FERM Power Tools World Rally Team will make its debut at Rally Sweden next month. Dutchman Dennis Kuipers will pilot new Ford Fiesta RS WRC, prepared by Ford’s rally partner, M-Sport.

Kuipers, 25, made his debut in the WRC with M-Sport in 2010, becoming the first Dutchman ever to score WRC driver points after finishing ninth at Rally of Turkey.

Kuipers joins a growing list of talented competitors competing under the MSport banner in 2010 including Xevi Pons, Bernardo Sousa, and Andreas Mikkelsen.

FERM Power Tools is a Dutch-based producer of electronic equipment and tools.

TC MASTERS DATES 1 Clipsal 500 Mar 17-20 2 Barbagallo Apr 29-May 1 3 Hidden Valley Jun 17-19 4 Eastern Creek Sep 3-4 5 Bathurst Oct 6-9 6 Gold Coast Oct 21-23 7 Sandown Nov 18-20 8 Homebush Dec 2-4 www.mnews.com.au

Dirk Klynsmith

2011 TOURING CAR MASTERS SA WA NT NSW NSW QLD VIC NSW

TCM THE Touring Car Masters Presented by Autobarn has released a preliminary schedule for 2011.

The series will kick off at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, before having just two further rounds before September’s Muscle Car Masters at Eastern Creek – Long hauls to Barbagallo Raceway in Western Australia, and Hidden Valley in Darwin.

After MCM, the schedules

gets hectic, with rounds at Bathurst, the Gold Coast, Sandown and Homebush to finish the year. Apart from MCM, all of the rounds are on the V8 Supercar bill.

“We are delighted with the schedule for 2011,” said Chris Stillwell, chairman of the TCM board.

“This is a superb line up of events for the Touring Car Masters. It has been a lengthy process, but I believe that we have arrived at the best

possible mix of events for our licence holders, sponsors and our fans.

“We are very excited to venture to a couple of new circuits, and we will still be a feature at some of the season’s key events like Clipsal and Bathurst.”

In other TCM news, the series’ long-time PR and media manager Marscelle Tully will not continue with the role in 2011. A replacement is yet to be named.

17

28 goes into 12 once A 28-car entry list has been released for next month’s Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour.

In the first year GT cars have been eligible for the February 4-6 event, 20 cars meeting GT3 or GT4 regulations have been entered, including nine in the outright class.

Tony and Klark Quinn will be joined by Craig Baird to debut a new Porsche GT3-R while, as previously revealed by eNews, a Ferrari F430 with Hector Lestor, Allan Simonsen and Luke Searle has been entered.

A question mark remains over drivers in Wall Racing’s GT3 Cup S outright contender.

The car will be led by David

CLASS A – GT3 OUTRIGHT 2 Procon Developments 7 Team Joest 8 Team Joest 12 Hallmarc 17 Maranello Motorsport 29 VIP Petfoods 37 Rosso Verde Ireland 38 Wall Racing 69 Supabarn Supermarkets

Dean Grant Mark Eddy Darryl O’Young Marc Cini Peter Edwards Tony Quinn Hector Lestor David Wall James Koundouris

Max Twigg Craig Lowndes Marc Basseng David Reynolds John Bowe Klark Quinn Allan Simonsen Greg Crick / TBA Theo Koundouris

Geoff Emery Warren Luff Christopher Hies Dean Fiore Tim Leahey Craig Baird Luke Searle Des Wall / TBA Steve Owen

Mosler MT900 Audi R8 GT3 Audi R8 GT3 Porsche GT3 Cup S Ferrari F430 GT3 Porsche GT3-R Ferrari F430 GT3 Porsche GT3 Cup S Porsche GT3 Cup S

CLASS B – GT3 6 Boylan Group 10 Racing Dynamics 23 Falcon Property Group 39 Wall Racing 66 Motorsport Services Ltd 67 Motorsport Services Ltd

Peter Boylan Andrew Walker Roger Lago Paul Tressider Scott O’Donnell Allan Dippie

Geoff Morgan Cade Bell Matthew Kingsley Shane Smollen Simon McLennan Stephen Thompson

Rick Bates Craig Willis David Russell Simon Middleton Miro Kinopka Mark Maddren

Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Porsche 997 GT3 Cup Porsche 996 GT3 Cup Porsche 997 GT3 Cup

CLASS C – GT4 25 Michelin 44 Donut King Racing 62 Simply Sports Cars 63 Eagle 80 Bruce Lynton BMW

Paul Freestone Tony Alford Adam Gowans Rob Thomson Beric Lynton

Hayden Pullin Peter Leemhuis TBA TBA Matthew Mackelden

David Sieders Mal Rose TBA TBA John Modystach

Corvette 206 Nissan GTR R35 Lotus Exige S Lotus Exige S BMW M3

CLASS D – PRODUCTION (HIGH PERFORMANCE) 3 Maximum Motorsport Dean Herridge 28 G.W.S. Personnel Peter O’Donnell 43 Easts Holiday Parks Leigh Burges

John O’Dowd Matt Hansen Damien Flack

Angus Kennard Christian D’Agostin Neil McFadyen

Subaru WRX STi BMW 335i Mitsubishi Evo IX GSR

CLASS E – PRODUCTION (PERFORMANCE) 16 Benzcorp Security Paul Nelson 26 G.W.S. Personnel Bruce Thomlinson 27 The Shine Conveyancer Allan Shephard 50 Racer Industries Ryan McLeod 68 Motorsport Services Ltd David Glasson

Bob Holden Geoff Fontaine Garth Duffy TBA Dennis Roderick

TBA Richard Gartner TBA TBA Aaron Harris

Ford XR8 BMW 130i BMW 130i HSV VX-R Turbo BMW 130i

12 HOUR

Wall, with his father Des and Greg Crick also listed as drivers.

Des, however, has since broken a wrist and won’t drive, while David Wall told eNews that the position listed as Crick’s was yet to be finalised.

“We’re looking for two drivers now, or one more, probably,” he said.

“We think we know one of

the drivers we’re going to put in, but we’ve still got to tick it all off.”

In the other GT classes, six GT3 Cup Porsches will tackle it out in Class B, while Class C features five cars from Australian GT’s ‘GT Production’ ranks. A total of eight Production Cars have been entered across two classes.

John Morris / Mpix

18

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YEAR YEAR BOOK BOOK

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Bathurst 2010 The Great Race 30 tells the full story of the 2010 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. This is the original Bathurst annual hard-cover book, the definitive publication on Australia’s Great Race. The story of this always-epic and often heartbreaking event is presented in 256 pages, illustrated by some 400 images shot by some of Australia’s best motorsport photographers. The book also boasts a comprehensive statistical analysis covering all facets of the race – there’s even a full race history record for each competing car.

This fabulous annual hard-cover book is a collector’s prized possession, and a great gift idea.

HOW TO ORDER:

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5000 Reasons to Smile

James Smith

AGP SUPPORTS FORMULA 5000s and a Celebrity Race look set to make a comeback to the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in March.

The AGP Corporation announced this week that the thundering open-wheelers will make a return to Albert Park, after making such a strong impression in 2009 and 2010.

“Formula 5000, a feature category of the late 60s and 70s, is a sentimental favourite for spectators and a premier addition to this year’s exciting support category line-up,” said Andrew Westacott, acting Chief Executive Officer of the AGPC. “It is fantastic to have the exhilarating racing of up to 35 of the 5.0 litre V8 engine open-wheel race cars back on track alongside the pinnacle of

motorsport, Formula 1.”

The front-running cars from last year’s races are expected to return, with a number of newly-restored and imported cars joining the field as the growth of historic racing’s ‘showcase’ category continues.

It appears that the new Lexus CT200h Hybrid may be the car used for the Celebrity event, and would mark a return to the event after a two-

year absence. Toyota has a long history in Celebrity races in events like the Long Beach Grand Prix.

Other support events already confirmed for March are the races for V8 Supercars (which will have their own pitlane for the first time) and Carrera Cup, as well as the now traditional parade of Historic race cars and the Speed Comparison.

It’s NZ versus The World in TRS TRS THE 2011 Toyota Racing Series will kick off this weekend with a strong contingent of international drivers.

Drivers from Australia, Russia, England, Germany and Japan will join locals on track at Teretonga’s opening round. Scott Pye leads the Australian group, joined by Nick Foster and Jordan Skinner, while Pye’s 2010 British Formula Ford team-mate Josh Hill and Alex Lynn will represent England.

A Russian trio consists of Red Bull Junior Daniil Kvyat, Ivan Lukashevich and Sergey Sirotkin, while Mario Farnbacher and Kotaro Skaurai hail from Germany and Japan respectively.

20

The internationals will take on locals including Mitch Evans, Nick Cassidy, Alistair Wootten and Jamie McNee. “We have attracted our best ever entry from overseas and the racing will be exhilarating,” TRS Manager Barrie Thomlinson said.

“All the overseas drivers are stepping up to major championships in 2011, so we are delighted they have chosen to start their year in our Europeanstyle series and shows New Zealand continues to have a role in the early career development of young drivers, whether they are Kiwis or internationals.

“The economic situation has affected motorsport throughout the world, so

TRS are also delighted to be offering an exceptionally strong Kiwi line-up. Our local lads will prove to be tough rivals.”

There will also be a pair of Australian teams, with ETEC to run Pye, Hill, McNee, Farnbacher and Sirotkin.

Meanwhile, Team BRM will make their first foray into TRS when the six-time Australian Formula 3 Champions winners field Wootten under the Dart International banner.

“As a team we have had a long history working with New Zealand drivers, and we’re looking forward to doing the same with Alastair and the Dart International team during the Toyota Series this year,” Team BRM manager Mark Rundle said. motorsport news

Holden Motorsport

GARLAND OUT OF DAKAR September for Safari SAFARI

Weyens

DAKAR AUSSIE Bruce Garland is making a good recovery from injuries he sustained last Thursday in a crash on the Dakar.

The Isuzu Motorsports’ driver fractured a vertebra when his D-MAX ute bounced landed heavily during the stage. Garland and co-driver Harry Suzuki carried on to complete the stage, but was admitted to the Dakar organisation’s mobile medical unit that night before being transferred to a hospital in Iquique.

“I knew I was in trouble as soon as we landed,” said Garland.

“I felt my spine crunch. I’ve landed hard plenty

of times but never had this much pain. It was unbelievable. I just drove off the main track so we were out of the way of the crazy truck racers, and then I got out and lay down.

“The hit was so hard on my side that it broke an engine mount. We were lucky that a spectator who obviously knew a lot about cars came out of the crowd and helped Harry get the car sorted. I took a couple of Nurofen and then we took it slowly for the last 30km and I went straight to the medical centre.”

Garland is still recovering in Chile, and to send him a get well message, log on to the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group. php?gid=212985626694

THE 26th running of the Australasian Safari has been given a date – September 23-30.

Once again, the Safari, which is run through the remote West Australian outback, will feature divisions for cars, bikes and quads. Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes is the reigning winner of the Auto division.

The exact route is yet to be determined.

“It’s shaping up to be Asia Pacific’s version of the famous Dakar rally, and the state government of Western Australia looks forward to welcoming it back in 2011,” said Eventscorp Executive Director David van Ooran.

Emotional Adams says farewell SPEEDWAY GP IN emotional scenes, Leigh Adams brought the curtain down on his 30-year speedway career in Mildura last week.

But it was young Queenslander, Troy Batchelor who spoilt the party, defeating Adams in his final ever speedway ride. Batchelor, who flew out to Australia especially to farewell Adams, ran the 10 times Australian Champion wide at the first turn in the final to assume the lead from Gate 1. Adams, who dropped back to third wound up on the outside www.mnews.com.au

to pass double World Under 21 Champion Darcy Ward. He kept that outside line on the last lap trying to get around Batchelor, but the youngster crossed the line barely a wheel in front of Adams. Finishing fourth was a solid Cam Woodward, who endured a wicked crash in his opening ride.

“There’s no regrets, that’s for sure,” Adams said after the event.

“Before the race, I said to Troy give it your all and he did. That’s all I could ask for. I didn’t expect to have it handed to me and it wasn’t – fair play to Troy. It’s been an amazing ride and this

event has been a mega effort by many people – especially my wife Kylie to pull it together.”

The event attracted former six times World Champion Tony Rickardsson back to Australia, and despite not having been anywhere near a speedway bike in four years, he was right on the pace in his demonstration run. Other internationals to compete in the meeting included Englishman Simon Stead, Swede Ricky Kling and British Grand Prix winner Chris Holder.

“The amount of people from all over the world that have come to Mildura for this has

been overwhelming,” Adams said.

“I still cannot believe that Tony Rickardsson came all the way from Sweden to ride! He made a commitment to me many years ago that he would be at my farewell and here he was.

Amazing.”

The minute Mildura venue was packed to the rafters, all there to say farewell to one of the all time greats, not just in Australian speedway, but motorsport in general.

– MATT PAYNE For more with Leigh Adams, check out the February issue of Motorsport News magazine 21

BRIEFLY n Pro Gearbox Champion Matt Wall used his recent trip to Las Vegas to not only compete in the SuperNats event – he proposed to long-time girlfriend Casey Seabrook during a program at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Now that’s cool! n Registrations for the Fujitsu Cool Driver Program have opened and the program has been welcomed by karters from around Australia. Such an impact has the program had, enquiries have flooded in from around the world to be part of it, but it is only open to Australian karting license holders. Just seven places exist, so to register, visit www.velocitygp.com.au.

Registrations will close on Australia Day (January 26). n Three times Australian Speedway Champion – Phil Crump – has said if you have any loose change – put it all on his son Jason to win his fourth World Championship in 2011. In a rare show of exuberance, the quietly spoken Crump said his son was raring to go after a season hampered by an arm injury and he would ‘guarantee’ Jason winning the crown this year. n Terry Russell – the man who owns media rights to the British Elite League Speedway seen on SPEED TV – says he has been encouraged by the response from having live speedway on TV in Australia in 2010.

Speaking exclusively with eNews, Russell says he is looking to expand the television offering into Asia and has signed a deal to webcast Polish speedway throughout the world.

– MATT PAYNE

22

EXPRIT SIGNS STARS FOR OZ DEBUT KARTING THE new Exprit kart – soon to arrive in Australia – has wasted no time in making an impact on the national karting scene, announcing three superstar drivers that will undoubtedly put the chassis on the map.

Exprit has attracted longtime Arrow stalwart and multiple Australian Champion William Yarwood, along with Australian representative James Macken, and some time Formula Ford competitor Sam Howard to its ranks.

The Exprit chassis (pronounced ex-pree) is manufactured under license

by Tony Kart, and has been based on the Kosmic

machine. It will be imported into Australia by IKD and two dealers – Parramatta Kart Warehouse in Sydney and Tony Kartsports in Queensland.

Yarwood – who will double as brand ambassador and will provide technical expertise to dealers and Exprit racers – reflected on his time with Arrow and the difficulty of switching colours.

“The decision to change brands was not an easy one for me, especially when Arrow have served me so well in the past,” he observed.

“I gained third in the Rotax World titles, nine National Titles and 35 of my 39 State Titles in Arrow karts, so I am very grateful to the guys at

Drew Price Engineering.”

Yarwood will compete in the CIK Stars of Karting Series and the major Rotax events around the country.

In other chassis developments, the kart bearing Fernando Alonso’s moniker – FA Kart (also manufactured by the Tony Kart factory) – has appointed James Sera as its Australian distributor, while the boutique English manufacturer, Wright Karts, will be brought into Australia by Victorian Michael Bantick.

The FA Kart has had a strong impact since joining the world karting scene a few years ago, and is set to bring that to Australia.

– MATT PAYNE

CIK HITS A CENTURY KARTING THE registrations for the CIK Stars of Karting point towards a phenomenal series in 2011, with almost 100 registrations being received across the three CIK categories and two support events.

The strongest class would appear to be the Pro Gearbox class, with nominations already approaching over-subscription. A great mix of rising stars and former champions grace the

Pro Gearbox nomination list, with names such as Scott Auld, William Yarwood, Hayden Patrizi, Jason Pringle and defending champ Matt Wall signalling their intentions.

Cian Fothergill and Pierce Lehane – the champions in Pro Light and Pro Junior – both return in their respective classes, while East Coast Clubman Champion – and former HAASE factory Formula Super A racer – Jason Hryniuk will line up in Pro Light aboard a CRG. – MATT PAYNE motorsport news

Brand new DVD! Peter Brock “Road to Glory” Peter Brock loved living on the edge. From rally driver to nine-times Bathurst winner, Peter loved pushing the boundaries. Many things have been written about Peter and his achievements. Our story covers parts of Peter’s life that are little known. We travel back to his childhood, talk to his family and some old friends that helped him in his early days of racing, from the old tractor on his uncle’s farm to the Austin A 30, then interview some of his more famous racing opponents, culminating with his first Bathurst win in the fantastic Torana XU-1 at Bathurst in 1972. Included are interviews with Harry Firth, Colin Bond, Peter Janson, Bob Jane, Bill Tuckey and Ian Tate (Chief Mechanic for HDT).

This is a fascinating journey, with never before seen stills and family home movies, together with classic Bathurst footage from 1969, 70, 71 and 1972.

Plus with every purchase you have an opportunity to enter the competition to WIN a Peter Brock limited Edition full size replica 1996 race suit and two great runner up prizes.

Produced by

Running time approx. 90 minute with some great extras.

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DRAG RACING DEBBIE Reed is recovering after her horror accident in the ANDRA Pro Series last weekend in Queensland.

Reed was treated at the scene by medical staff before being transported by road to Ipswich Hospital, where she

was in a stable condition.

Reed’s husband Steve Reed, also a Top Alcohol racer said in a statement released last week Debbie was remaining under observation after the numerous tests carried out by the staff at Ipswich Hospital returned clear results.

“All tests to this point indicate

that she has not suffered head injuries, contrary to other reports,” he said.

“She will continue to undergo tests, but overall is recovering well.”

The incident occurred following Reed’s first qualifying pass of the night, where she set a time of 5.98s at approximately

Ken Ferguson

Read recovering

360kmh.

After crossing the finish line, Reed’s Top Alcohol dragster came into contact with the barrier of her lane. The dragster continued across the track into the opposite barrier before it flipped several times and came to a stop in the braking area.

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

Monster new deal for Tucker DRAG RACING ROB Tucker Racing has signed the Monster energy drink brand as a major sponsor for the 2011 ANDRA Pro Series.

“The opportunity to have Monster Energy on board is huge, not only for our team but the entire sport, Monster Energy is a fantastic fit, adding them as an integral part of our racing efforts will bring a whole new dynamic to the team for sure,” said team driver Shane Tucker.

“We have been working very hard to get our team’s performance back to the top of the heap this season, the forecast for the 2011 season

24

looks extremely exciting.”

Monster Energy sponsorship manager Dave Ellis said the company was excited to support Tucker.

“Since meeting Shane almost 12 months ago when Monster was launched in Australia, we have always felt that it was only going to be a mater of

timing as to when we would get involved in what we feel is a very professional operation, and one we feel will be very competitive on the national Pro Series,” he said.

“Shane has been very professional in doing up the whole deal for 2011 and we are looking forward to a very

exciting year in racing.

“It gives us great pleasure to be able to support another young guy live his dream as well as getting another professional team to the line and we wish Shane and the rest of the series drivers a safe 2011 session.”

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

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Judd goes with the flow DRAG RACING CHAMPIONSHIP aspirant Robin Judd has signed up Aeroflow and Mickey Thompson as new major sponsors for the team.

Aeroflow and Mickey Thompson principal Graeme Cowin said his organisation chose Robin Judd Racing because it is a professional and successful team.

“Aeroflow and Mickey Thompson are quality brands and Robin Judd Racing is a quality team,” Cowin said.

“Robin Judd presents himself very professionally; he runs a professional racing operation, has a passion for what he does and has a professional and first class crew alongside him.”

Judd said RJR had decided to change to Mickey Thompson tyres prior to entering into the partnership arrangement.

Top Doorslammer drivers are not limited in tyre choice and typically run Mickey Thompson, Hoosier or Goodyear brands.

“Coincidentally we had changed to Mickey Thompson tyres just before Graeme

approached me with the partnership offer. The Aeroflow range of high pressure fittings look great and are top quality, so we are also in the process of using the product on the car,” Judd said.

“We missed a great

opportunity to capitalise on our points lead in Perth. Now with Aeroflow and Mickey Thompson on board, we are hoping for a change of luck that will see us regain the championship lead.”

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

Rain thwarts Willowbank DRAG RACING WILLOWBANK Raceway has announced the cancellation of this weekend’s planned ANDRA Pro Series and Rocket Allstars Racing Series rounds due to the extreme weather that has been hitting the east coast.

Willowbank Raceway managing director Steve Bettes said the decision had been made with the best interests of the competitors, spectators and officials in mind and after

extensive consultation with weather forecast providers.

“This is an unprecedented decision in Willowbank’s history, but it is also an unprecedented situation in which we find ourselves,” said Bettes.

“Over the past month the state of Queensland has been hit hard, with news programs estimating that 200,000 Queenslanders have been affected by flooding.

“In the surrounding areas, roads continue to be cut and rivers flooded, with many

competitors unable to make it to Round 1 of the New Year Series due to floods in their home towns.

“It is likely that if the event were to continue next weekend, many competitors vying for results in the ANDRA Pro Series and Rocket Allstars Series would be unable to compete and therefore disadvantaged through no fault of their own.

“The Raceway’s grounds are sodden from the previous weeks of rain, and the risk of

damage to the facility is high.

“With the forecasted extreme weather to come over the next seven days, I can only see the situation in our local area worsening.

“The Management Committee resolved to make this decision one week out from our start date in an attempt to lessen the impact on our racers – with many travelling from across the country – and our officials and spectators.”

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

SPINOZZI DEBUT DELAYED DRAG RACING ONE team perhaps a bit more disappointed than most at the cancellation of the upcoming

Willowbank Pro Series round is the Terra Civil unit of Emilio Spinozzi.

They were going to make their debut at the round but

will now have to delay for some time.

“I’m definitely looking forward to making the transition to Pro Stock. The last few weeks we

have spent numerous days at the race track, getting data and perfecting the setup for the car,” said Spinozzi.

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

Next ANDRA Pro Series Round: Top Fuel Champs, Sydney Dragway, Jan 29 ANDRA Pro Series on TV: Friday Dec 14, Top Fuel, New Year Series www.mnews.com.au

25

Five Minutes with ...

TONY D’ALBERTO

D’Alberto has a new sponsor in Wilson Security and, soon enough, he’ll have a new Falc ... we mean car. He told ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN all about it. The sponsor that is. Not the new car. That’s still a secret.

MOTORSPORT NEWS: So, when Tony D’Alberto needs his security needs taken care of, where does he go?

TONY D’ALBERTO (Laughs) He goes straight to Wilson Security!

I bet he does! It must be nice to have a deal like this together, so you can take the title sponsorship outside of your family’s group of companies again.

That’s exactly right. Last year, we ran Belmont on the car as a space-filler. We looked at it, and we wondered if we should go for a blank car, or something on the sides. It can work both ways, because people can think you’re fully sponsored.

But most people in the know knew that it was our family’s company.

The hunt was always on for a major sponsor, and 12 months on we’ve got one.

We’re rapt about it, that’s for sure.

Speaking of which, are you in a position where you can tell us more about your plans, technically speaking, for the 2011 season?

Ummmm ... not beyond Abu Dhabi, I’m not. For the first round we’ll be running the VE Commodore still, and from then on ... we’ll make an announcement after Abu Dhabi, with our plans and our new livery.

But you will have Wilson on the car for Abu Dhabi ...

Yeah, we’ll run an interim design. It will be based on the 2010 car, but with some 26

Phil Williams

As someone who has an involvement in the team beyond just being a driver, how relieving is it when you do a deal like this, and add some financial security to the organisation?

It is a huge relief. I don’t look after that side of things too much – my dad and his brothers take on that burden as a group, but it’s in the back of my mind all the time. So it’s nice to know that we’ve got a budget to work towards trying to improve our show.

green to try and spice it up, Wilson-style.

We’ll go to the new, full livery for Adelaide, with some other exciting announcements on the way.

But all of that stuff is a work in progress.

It’s really hard to get a deal together.

I bet. When it does all come together, is this a year where you’ll be looking at building on your first Top 10 Shootout appearance last year, and taking another step forward?

That’s the plan. Everyone goes into every year thinking they have a better package, and that they’re going to kick arse, and all this stuff. But the plan is definitely to go better, to improve our business.

If we want to survive in this sport, we need to move up the grip, have more Shootout appearances, and have more

Top 10, and Top 5 results.

This might even be the year that we get on the podium. That would be a blessing!

Is it heartening when you see the likes of Paul Dumbrell, who do the hard yards for a long time and then it call comes together? Does it help you remember that there can be light at the end of this sometimes difficult tunnel?

Yeah, that’s actually right. It’s like a rollercoaster, with a lot of lows, and just enough highs to keep you going.

But I do feel like I have a new lease of life. It restores your faith in motorsport, because it’s not an easy game. But we’ve caught a break with Wilson coming on board, and they can see we’re really trying to improve, and I’m hoping we can form a great partnership. motorsport news

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Dirk Klynsmith

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T

HAT shift you might have felt over the summer break was a seismic shift in V8 Supercar idealogy.

Since the dawn of time – 1993, anyway – there has been a fundamental architecture in V8 Supercars. They have a pushrod V8 motor at the front, a gearbox in the middle, a spooled diff at the back and the driver sitting on the righthand side. Sure, there have been changes along the way; the 18-degree Chevy is gone, so is the H-pattern gearshift and Project Blueprint changed the way that the cars are built.

But you can still see traces of what the Founding Fathers designed two decades ago.

The Car of The Future looks set to change all that. Having a rear transaxle is not a new concept, having been around 28

in various road and racing cars for generations, but it will represent a big change in V8 Supercars. The sequential 6-speed transmission part of the deal will continue, but the where and how it does so will be much different.

Will the spectators care?

Some will, some will not. A gearbox is not the sort of thing that people cheer for (when was the last time you met a Hewland fan?) but there will be those who see that this change will be one more step away from the built-in DNA that makes a Commodore a Commodore or a Falcon a Falcon. You cannot buy either road car with a rear-mounted transaxle and, to some people, that will be a telling change.

Does it matter? Do families care that their Aussie-built Falcon might have come with

sutton-images.com

THE SHIFT IN GEARS OPINION Phil Branagan – Executive Editor a ZF six-speeder behind a six built in Geelong? Holden is advertising that its Redline Edition Commodore comes with Brembo brakes, the inference being that they are better than the run-of-the-mill items on lesser models. So, how will those who don’t get a German-developed gearbox and Italian brakes feel about their cars – better or worse?

The COF means changes.

There will always be upsides and downsides to those, but change is the only constant in the sport.

One more thing. V8 Supercars has stipulated a

preference for Australiandeveloped items in the COF, so it may well be that the new cars will have locallydeveloped transmissions.

In all these years, we have rarely heard complaints about Holinger gearboxes (though beefy drivers have yanked out the odd gear lever) but on the other hand, drivers do not usually thank the company that supplies controlled items after a win.

Holinger Engineering have done a good job, and a pretty high bar has been set for whichever supplier comes next. motorsport news

WHEN THE WORLD DESCENDS ON NZ

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HREE Russians, two Englishmen, three Australians, a German, a Japanese and six New Zealanders will walk into a pit building this week.

No, it’s not the start of a joke, rather the breakdown of international interest in the 2011 Toyota Racing Series, which kicks off this weekend.

And it looks pretty cool, with lots of young talent, both known and unknown.

On one hand, the grid makeup resembles recent Australian Formula 3 seasons, with more international interest than domestic – just six of the 16 drivers on the latest entry list are Kiwis. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

In this day and age, in the wake of the global recovery meltdown, it can be hard for drivers, teams and categories to make things work. But, for a series, having a unique

www.mnews.com.au

selling point can help attract competitors.

The TRS’ point of difference is running through the Northern Hemisphere’s winter, where there is no racing and – especially during winters like the one many countries in Europe are currently experiencing – reduced scope to even go testing. So, if you’re a European driver looking for something to do to, your options are limited.

That’s where the TRS comes into it. Admittedly, it’s not strictly through the series’ design – the bulk of New Zealand’s racing takes place during summer each year – but it is a possible outlet for drivers to race a wings-andslicks open wheeler in January and February, before their regular campaigns kick into life.

Last year, Estonian driver Stan Pentus contested a few

rounds before heading back to Europe, where he won the opening round of the World Series by Renault.

This year, Russian youngsters Sergey Sirotkin, Ivan Lukashevich and Daniil Kvyat, English drivers Josh Hill and Alex Lynn, German Mario Farnbacher and Japan’s Kotaro Sakurai will follow in his footsteps, along with Australian Scott Pye and Kiwi Mitch Evans ahead of their 2011 European campaigns.

While some of their 2011 rivals will be sitting back waiting for snow to clear, they won’t just be out on track, they’ll also be cutting handy racing laps. And then you

throw in the fact that racing in this part of the world is pretty cheap for Europeans, as the likes of Ben Barker, Joey Foster and James Winslow will attest ... It all adds up to good signs for the TRS. After a strong start a few years ago, numbers dropped off a bit, but the category may now have found itself a good place within the global landscape.

And it’ll be fascinating to see how the racing itself pans out, if only from afar. There are some known quantities on the entry list – i.e. Evans and Pye – alongside plenty of new names. We might just have some more ‘drivers to watch’ by the end of summer.

OPINION Mitchell Adam National Editor

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DAKAR 2011

VW’s Sand Castle Carlos Sainz looks like he is heading to another Volkswagen sweep in South America – but BMW has not given up hope of a Week 2 comeback

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sutton-images.com Weyans

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Volkswagen Motorsport

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HE second week of the 2011 Dakar is underway – and to no one’s great surprise, Volkswagen is dominating.

Carlo Sainz and his co-driver Lucas Cruz have led the way for the marque, having led from the start of the event in Buenes Aires. But Leg 7 from Arica to Antofagasta fell to their team-mates Nasser Al-Attiyah/ Timo Gottschalk, the Qatari driver taking advantage of following Sainz on the ‘road’ and closing the gap between himself and the Spanish legend to 1m22s overall.

“My co-driver Lucas did a fantastic job as we could very easily have lost more than two minutes today,” said Sainz at the end of the day.

“This wasn’t the case – which is why I more than happy with the result. Tomorrow it’s the other way around: My team mate Nasser Al-Attiyah must open the stage and we can tag along behind.”

To make matters even better for the VW team, Giniel de Villiers closed the gap to the best-placed BMW of Stephane Peterhansel. Tyre problems struck the XRaid driver on Friday, before the rest day, and reared their head again on Sunday, prompting a conservative approach.

Peterhansel’s team-mate Krzysztof Holowczyc also had problems with punctures today, but managed to retain fifth overall as the closest challenger, the Volkswagen of Mark Miller, also lost time with tyre dramas of his own.

The 2011 edition of the legendary event has been a baptism of fire for the MINI team, which has suffered a myriad of problems. The most embarrassing retirement among the ranks came when Guerlain Chicherit managed to roll his Countryman into retirement – while undertaking some practice in the car on Sunday’s rest day ...

Robby Gordon is out in his Hummer, having checked in late on Day 4 after wheel bearing trouble, but his teammate Eliseo Salazar is still going.

On two wheels, Marco Coma leads a KTM 1-2 from Cyril Despres, but the leaders are being chased hard by Aprilia’s Francisco Lopez. Argentina’s Tomas Maffei leads the quads, while an upset is brewing in the Truck division, with Firdaus Kabirov’s leading from Vladimir Chagin, but the third-placed Tatra of Ales Loprais threatens to end the Russians’ stranglehold on the event.

Life in the desert: Carlos Sainz, main pic, has led the Dakar from the start. Marc Coma leads the bikes, top, while the MINI team looked good but was out by the end of the first week. Bruce Garland was comfortably inside the top 20 when he crashed, above, while the Russians have a fight on their hands for Truck honours, left.

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NEW YEAR SERIES, ROUND 1 WILLOWBANK RACEWAY

The rains were there Queensland’s unseasonal weather all-but washed out the 2011 New Year Series at Willowbank Raceway. KEN FERGUSON was on hand for the first leg, which was cancelled midway through, while Round 2 has been abandoned altogether

MOTHER Nature was the only winner at Willowbank Raceway’s first round of their New Year Series on January 2 and 3.

The event was abandoned just as eliminations commenced for the ANDRA Pro Series rounds of Top Fuel and Top Alcohol on the second day of the two-day event, when a heavy storm hit the track as the third race of Top Fuel began. The only elimination races completed saw ‘Pommie’ Steve Read claim victory over Mark Mariani, and Darren Morgan 32

defeat Terry Sainty in the other race. Read had earlier grabbed pole in the eight car field with a 4.78s at 302mph, to edge out Andrew Cowin’s 4.86s at 306mph. The only points allocated for the event were low ET and top speed points for Qualifying. Read got the low ET points while Cowin received the speed points with his 306mph mark, and moves to within two points of series leader, Darren Morgan.

The Top Alcohol class saw the lowlight of the event, when a braking area accident

saw the demise of Debbie Reed’s Dragster. Reed had just recorded a 5.98s at over 220mph when her dragster impacted the wall, then the other, before flipping several times, and coming to rest deep in the braking area.

Read was treated by medical staff at the track before being transported to hospital for further tests, and is responding well to treatment and improving day by day.

Gary Phillips took the points honours in qualifying, taking both low ET and top speed points with his 5.63s at over

253mph in his new Mustang bodied funny car. With that, he draws a little closer to the Aaron Hambridge, who leads the championship on 244 points from Wayne Newby on 240, with Phillips back in third on 184.

Queensland’s inclement weather has also forced the cancellation of Round 2 of the New Year Series. The event was to be held this weekend, with Nitro Funny Cars, as well as ANDRA Pro Series rounds for Top Doorslammer, Pro Bike, Pro FX and a full field of Sportsman racing. motorsport news

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Ken Ferguson Ken Ferguson

Ken Ferguson

Andrew Cowin, main, set low ET in Top Fuel, while Steve Read, top right, and Darren Morgan, above right in his new Hungry Jacks livery, took the only two elimination wins before the rain arrived.

In Top Alcohol, Gary Phillips, right, took the spoils for low ET and Top Speed.

Ken Ferguson

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CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR RACING WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS

STARS AND STRIPES FORE

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Geoff Gracie

FOREVER www.mnews.com.au

There were plenty of winners throughout Speedweek, but Jason Johnson emerged the big winner.

GEOFF ROUNDS and PARIS CHARLES report

HE traditional World Series Sprintcars Speedweek again produced a mixed bag of results, with four different drivers winning inside seven days.

But it would be USA star Jason Johnson that emerged as the dominant force, when all points and races were decided at the final stop – Premier Speedway in Warrnambool.

Johnson amassed 1359 points to claim the Speedweek aggregate from David Murcott (1311), Brooke Tatnell (1291), Robbie Farr (1184) and Steven Lines (1157).

Tatnell opened the weeklong action on Boxing Day well, winning in convincing style in Adelaide, from Kerry Madsen and Murcott. Then, the series headed to Murray Bridge, where Steven Lines won the sixth round of the WSS. Johnson grabbed one of his two victories with a strong win at Mount Gambier on December 28, while Murcott again whipped them at Avalon, prior to Johnson notching his second victory inside four days at Warrnambool on Jan 1, 2011, to take out the series.

Johnson was quick to thank car owner Alan Haynes and the entire team for putting together a strong race package.

“Everybody has done a great job all week long,” Johnson said after his win at Warrnambool.

“It’s all about this race team and I have got a lot of good quality guys behind me.

“It’s special to win Speedweek, especially over five races, and to do it over seven days. It’s a credit back to the race team for working their tails off. Those guys don’t sleep much.”

– GEOFF ROUNDS 35

Paris Charles

TATNELL STARTS IN STYLE December 26: WSS R5, Speedway City

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S THE festive season celebrations spilled over into Boxing Day, a crowd of 11,000 race fans packed into Adelaide’s Speedway City for the fifth round of World Series Sprintcars, which doubled up as night one of the grueling Speedweek competition.

With a massive field of 45 competitors assembled in the pit area, competitors from all states of Australia, and two visiting Americans, took on the opening round of competition.

Brooke Tatnell wasted no time getting back into the groove in what was his first drive for the series after an extended time in America with his family commitments. With time trial qualifying playing an important role in setting up the rest of the event, Tatnell qualified fourth fastest behind Matthew Reed, Cameron Gessner and Trevor Green. After moving forward in his heat races, Tatnell qualified the Toyota Genuine Parts Cool in good position for the Pole Shootout event, which he went on to win, earning pole position for the 35-lap feature race.

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Starting alongside Tatnell was the emerging local hero Matt Egel. As the green flagged dropped, the field screamed through the opening corners, and for the next few laps the lead duo were tightly bunched, with Egel edging into the lead before squaring his car up in front of Tatnell, who then pounced for the lead; as he went past, the two touched and it proved just enough to end Egel’s challenge.

At the restart, Tatnell again charged forward until the red lights blazed; this time it was the American Tyler Walker who had inverted the Q36 Titan Garages and Carports Maxim.

Walker had been on a solid charge, picking up a massive 10 positions as he stormed through the field. Unfortunately this was his second crash for the evening, and the team were left with no points.

Tatnell flew to the finish and was followed to the podium by Kerry Madsen and David Murcott.

Rounding out the top half dozen were Robbie Farr, Gessner and Green.

– PARIS CHARLES motorsport news

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LINES IN THE MUD December 27: WSS R6, Murray Bridge

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Geoff Gracie

HE following evening the field assembled at the Murray Bridge Speedway for the second night of Speedweek, where the racing again proved to be a hard fought affair.

After failing to make the top 20 A-Main event the night prior by just one solitary position, a determined Steven Lines took the bit between his teeth to turn in an all-inspiring drive to not only make the main event, but win it in dominant fashion, driving the Monte Motorsports Team’s W7 Miracle Recreation Equipment J&J. A strong qualifying performance in sixth position, and some solid runs through his heat events, catapulted Lines into the top eight Pole Shootout, however this discipline was won by David Murcott, who had set fast time at the beginning of the night.

Murcott lined up on pole position for the feature event alongside Brooke Tatnell, who again led the race until he was forced to retire with a flat tyre. As the race progressed, Murcott and Lines swapped positions. Then, Murcott dropped back to fourth and Lines took the lead to the finish.

Kerry Madsen proved consistent again finishing in second, while Trevor Green snuck into third. Robbie Farr again claimed fifth position and American star Jason Johnson rounded out the top six. While Johnson managed to go forward, the other American star Tyler Walker again crashed out of the event in an earlier heat race, and the team failed to ready the car for a run through the alphabet (C and B to make the A-Main).

With his third crash in two nights, Walker was released from his ride and sent back to America by team owner Reeve Kruck.

– PARIS CHARLES

JOHNSON HITS HIS STRAPS December 28: WSS R7, Mount Gambier

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Geoff Gracie

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HE series moved south east to the picturesque Borderline Speedway in Mount Gambier, where Jason Johnson became the third winner from as many nights of competition.

Despite qualifying back in 20th position, Johnson had an unbeaten run through his heat races, coming from the third row of the grid to win both of his heats, and from there he won the Pole Shootout, which set him up with pole position in the main event.

Johnson pounced to the lead, and from that point on the Haynes Labour Hire NQ47 Maxim was never headed in the non stop 35lap event.

Following Johnson to victory lane was Ian Madsen and Brooke Tatnell, who had come from 11th to take third position, and more importantly, a swag of points. David Murcott again turned in another consistent performance to claim his third top five in a row, this time in fourth, while Danny Reidy turned in his best performance to date on the Speedweek series to claim fifth ahead of Matt Egel.

– PARIS CHARLES 37

Geoff Gracie

MURCOTT TAKES OVER

December 30: WSS R8, Avalon

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AVID Murcott’s WSS intentions were crystal clear when he won the eighth round at Avalon.

Everything went right for the Point Cookbased driver, winning the feature, setting a new one-lap record, and grabbing the WSS championship points lead heading into Warrnambool on January 1.

In the previous rounds, Murcott loomed, only to be denied. This wasn’t the case at a venue where he has had so much success at over the years. He started on pole for the 35-lap final, and was never headed, beating home Brooke Tatnell, Steven Lines and crack American pilot Craig Dollansky.

Murcott said the win was made more special 38

by having his wife Sally and young son Ryan in attendance.

“I am really lucky to have a supporting and beautiful wife and beautiful family,” he said.

“I am so glad they were here to see that.

“We are really happy with that [win] … this team has worked really hard.”

Tatnell did challenge, but offered little to speedy Murcott after replacing an engine and missing the Gold Top 4 Shootout.

“We just didn’t have enough time to focus on the set-up,” Tatnell said.

“Congratulations to David, he has done a good job all year. He is always tough when you come to this place.’’

– GEOFF ROUNDS motorsport news

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JOHNSON WRAPS IT UP AT PREMIER January 1: WSS R9, Premier Speedway

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ASON Johnson produced an impressive come-from-behind win, and grabbed his fourth January 1 win at Premier Speedway in the past six years.

Johnson, of Louisiana, won from fellow compatriot Craig Dollansky and former local boy Max Dumesny.

The dominant January 1 run of Johnson’s started when he claimed wins on the opening night of 2006, 2007 and again in 2009.

The triumph not only lifted Johnson up to eighth in the WSS standings, but secured consecutive Speedweek victories – a separate points standing for five race meetings in seven nights over the festive season – and his third in five years.

“Awesome,” he said of the winning feeling moments after climbing from the cockpit.

“It’s the best one this year. It is really a great way to start the year.”

Johnson, who started the 35-lap final from position three, settled in to second position as Dollansky made the early running on the high-line. Dollansky opened a significant advantage before the race was halted after seven laps, with former Australian champion Kerry Madsen coming to grief in Turn 3. He revealed that he had his car set up for the end of the race.

“On the restarts I could see he (Dollansky) was struggling to get out of the corners,” Johnson said.

Dollansky said his new team was working hard, and had learnt from the experience ahead of their return for the annual Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic later this month. He said his set-up was good for the first five laps.

“But it started getting loose, and we were way too loose and we were struggling from after 10 laps,” he added.

Dumesny slid under Dollansky through Turns 3 and 4 with 16 laps to go, as the American was baulked by slower cars. But a re-start four laps later brought Dollansky on to Dumesny’s tail. Dumesny and Dollansky dueled for a lap before the US star kicked clear.

When this round was completed, Robbie Farr had grabbed a narrow six point lead in the WSS championship standings from David Murcott and Steven Lines.

– GEOFF ROUNDS

Geoff Gracie

www.mnews.com.au

Round 10 of the 2010/11 WSS, scheduled for last Friday in Brisbane, was cancelled due to bad weather.

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CHRISTMAS / NEW YEAR RACING TYREPOWER SYDNEY SPEEDWAY

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Stars and Stripes shine in Sydney American aces dominated Sprintcar action at Tyrepower Sydney Speedway over the Christmas and New Year period, GREG BOSCATO reports

John Morris / Mpix

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December 27: Australian Sprintcar Grand Prix

Locals strike first

SIX-TIME Australian champion Garry Brazier took out a hard fought victory in the annual Sprintcar GP meeting held at the Tyrepower Sydney Speedway, defeating NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart to kick off the venue’s high-profile Christmas and New Year stretch of events.

It was certainly a brilliant race with Stewart, Donny Schatz

and Brazier trading positions during the evening’s A-Main.

Stewart was the early leader, then Brazier took control before Schatz moved into the lead.

In lapped traffic, Brazier forged back into first, relegating US stars Stewart and Schatz into the minor podium places. Rounding out the top six were local aces Mitchell

Dumesny, Marty Perovich and Ben Atkinson. Former TSS track champ Ian Loudoun was fast early in the race, but retired after a touch with Brazier.

The first of the ‘international’ races saw three US stars in Stewart, Schatz and Brian Montieth take on 33 Australians with Brazier, Perovich, Max Johnson, Craig Morrison, Brent Aprile, Schatz, Stuart Williams

and Sam Walsh sharing the heat race victories. In the BMain, Warren Ferguson was the winner over Jon McCorkindale and Martin Lawes.

The Sprintcar GP was run over two nights after the annual Boxing Day date was hit by rain just before the second round of heats. New track manager David Lander made the next day free to all spectators.

John Morris / Mpix

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December 29: Tyrepower Sydney Speedway International

Saldana gets US on the board

John Morris / Mpix

THE Tyrepower Sydney Speedway International held on December 29 saw World of Outlaws star Joey Saldana take out a sensational victory over fellow Outlaws Champ Donny Schatz, with his team-mate Tony Stewart third.

Americans made up the top five finishers with Craig Dollansky and Jason Sides following, with the first local – opening night winner Garry Brazier – sixth. The 35-lap feature went flag to flag with young American sensation Cody Darrah leading for most of the race.

Darrah held off an early challenge from Stewart, before the NASCAR racer had to defend from Schatz. Schatz was on a mission and took second-place mid-race, while Stewart held out Saldana with Ian Loudoun and Brazier the first Aussies in the 24-car pack. Darrah was impressive in leading, and had built up a sizable gap from Schatz who had the 21-year-old in his sights.

With just nine to go, Schatz was on Darrah’s tail while Saldana – after taking Stewart for third – was closing on the top two.

When Darrah slid wide,

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Schatz shot into the lead, with Darrah dropping to eventually finish eighth. Schatz now had to contend with a fastfinishing Saldana, as the pair traded places through the lapped traffic.

In a thrilling finish, Saldana retook the lead in the final corner to take out a slender but sensational win with Schatz right on his tail and Stewart following in third.

The second Sydney International meeting saw Americans Saldana, Darrah, Dollansky and Sides joining the other three US stars, giving the Wednesday December 29 meet a 47car field. With slicker track conditions than the Sprintcar GP meeting, the eight heats saw wins go to Schatz, Stewart, Loudoun, Brazier, Max Johnson, Saldana, Darrah and Brett Morris.

Heat 4 saw Mitch Dumesny retire with a damaged frontend while Stewart Williams rode a wheel and flipped over entering Turn 1 during the final heat, ending his night.

Other winners were Matt Young, who took out the C Main, while James Thomson defeated Mitch Dumesny and Roddy BellBowen to claim the B Main.

30/11/2010 13:16:43 Sill Advert v3 Final OL Digital.indd 1

30/11/2010 13:14:21

January 7-8: Scott Darley Classic

Donny’s on Cloud Nine

John Morris / Mpix

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WORLD of Outlaws superstar Donny Schatz took out his ninth Scott Darley Classic at Tyrepower Sydney Speedway last Saturday night, in what was one of the most dramatic finishes ever seen in the $50,000 to win event.

Schatz reclaimed the lead on the final tour to just beat home fellow American Craig Dollansky with Shane Stewart in third. Making the 40-lapper an all-American top six were Joey Saldana, Tony Stewart and Jason Sides, with NT star Ben Atkinson the first Aussie home.

Schatz had to come from seventh while early race pacesetter Shane Stewart built up a good break over Dollanksy, before the latter took control mid-race. The only stoppage was on Lap 6 after Jeremy Cross spun in Turn 4, but from there the pace was fast with tyres the deciding factor.

With Dollansky leading from Shane Stewart, that other Stewart, NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart, had his own battles after staring from pole.

First, it was with Sides, then team-mate Schatz as the then eight-time winner started to look a real threat.

Schatz had earlier fought 21-year-old Cody Darrah.

Darrah was up on the highline trying to get past the multiple Outlaws and Knoxville champ, also trading places with Saldana. The Rush team

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of Schatz, Tony Stewart and local Atkinson were on harder compound tyres and as the race wore on these tyres looked to be the winning combination.

For the locals, Garry Brazier was up early but Atkinson was impressive, moving to be the best local while Roddy BellBowen and former Sydneysider Lynton Jeffrey were impressive just behind the yanks.

With 13 laps to go, Dollansky was way ahead of Schatz with Shane Stewart, Saldana, Sides, Tony Stewart and Atkinson, while Darrah had now dropped off the pace. Schatz was closing on Dollansky and with seven to go he was on his tail before blasting into the lead and powering away.

Schatz looked to have it won but a spin by Darrah saw Schatz slow, allowing Dollansky back into the lead with a two laps remaining.

A fired up Schatz hounded Dollansky until the final corner when he forced his way by to score his ninth $50,000 victory, leaving Dollansky to pick up second with Shane Stewart further back in third.

“It was a fun race,” Schatz told eNews.

“Leading the race is not always easiest thing to do sometimes running second is better. Craig was leading so I could gauge myself the distance. I was just seeing

where he was at and where he couldn’t move, so I was able to move around to see where my car was better, gauge myself as I caught him.

“You always need traffic and lapped traffic definitely helped us.”

“Well, you never have won it until the checkered flag falls but I knew I had a good run going there for quite a while until Donny got past,” Dollansky lamented.

“It looked like he was pretty strong and started pulling away then Cody Darrah spun out and he got off the track, that gave us another shot at him. It was close but I was getting loose as the race went on. It was down to tyre choice, Donny ran a little harder tyre than us.”

After rain washed out the previous weekend’s attempt, light showers on Friday forced the opening night of the meeting to start late and despite a date clash with Brisbane’s WSS round, a quality 44-car field with seven American’s – including both Dollansky and Sides who returned to Sydney after the Wednesday and Thursday Brisbane shows were rained out – were on hand for Sydney’s biggest shootout of the summer.

Friday night qualifying saw Darrah fastest with a record-breaking 11.564s lap with Shane Stewart, Schatz,

Tony Stewart, Saldana and local Marty Perovich the top six. Heat race wins went to Saldana, Tony Stewart, Dollansky, Andrew Wright and Brazie.

The C Main saw Peter Bourke take the win over Domain Ramsay and Craig Geering while Warren Ferguson was too strong, winning the B Main from Matt Young and Kelly Linigen.

In Friday’s preliminary A Main, Perovich was fast and impressive, leading until the last seven laps when Sides took control, with Saldana also passing him for second. They were followed by Darrah – a real standout of the weekend – Shane Stewart, Dollansky, Tony Stewart, Brazier and Jeffrey.

That gave Saldana the points lead over Tony Stewart and Sides going into Saturday’s final night.

The Americans continued their domination, with heat wins going to Schatz, Darryl Campbell, Sides, Ian Loudoun and Saldana. James Thomson won the B Main from Cross, Grant Tunks and Campbell all making the 40-lap Scott Darley Classic A Main final.

Sprintcars return to the TSS this Wednesday night, January 12, making up for the washed out meetings and again on Saturday, January 15, with Schatz and friends making their last appearances before flying back to the States.

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Pestka takes breakthrough victory SPEEDWAY

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a feature race win in the championship thus far.

Caruso notched up his first win of the series with a commanding drive over the reigning Australian Champion Allan Barlee, who had travelled from Darwin to begin his defence of the national title. Meanwhile V8 Supercar driver Tim Slade, below, continues to show

improvement in Sprintcars.

Having started from 11th position in the A Main, Slade worked his way up to sixth by the completion of the 20-lap event.

Shane Hendry continues to lead the 360 Sprintcar point score with 714 points, a clear 18 points ahead of his nearest rival Tregan Gates.

– PARIS CHARLES

Paris Charles

DANIEL Pestka notched up his maiden Open Sprintcar race win, becoming the sixth competitor to visit victory lane in as many rounds as he claimed Round 6 of the Revolution Racegear Track Championship Series at Adelaide’s Speedway City.

In the 360ci Sprintcar Championship Series, Mark Caruso also claimed his first feature for the season to be the fifth victor in the fifth round of that series. With a total of 11 different winners from as many feature races, the results indicate that the level of competition is wide open and on any given night almost any driver can step up to claim victory.

Making the most of a front row start, 18-year-old Pestka, far right, bolted to open a handy break over the rest of the field. The next three positions were hard fought for, with Luke Dillon claiming second after an epic threeway dance with Jamie Cobby and Northern Territorian Warrenne Ekins. Ekins spent much of the race in second

before falling back to fourth against the race-fit locals who have just contested the majority of World Series Sprintcars’ Speedweek.

At the completion of six rounds, Cobby and Pestka are locked on 828 points with Dillon just six points behind and Brad Keller only a further four in arrears. All four competitors have claimed

motorsport news

race

WILSON WINS NZ SUPERKART TITLE SUPERKARTS

Paris Charles

www.mnews.com.au

KARL Wilson had a successful January 9, when Manfieid hosted the 2011 New Zealand Superkart Championship and Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old took out both the International title and the Grand Prix, driving an Anderson/Viper machine.

It was Wilson’s maiden New Zealand SuperKart Championship. He achieved

the feat in style, taking pole position ad winning all four heats for the International title, before taking out the Grand Prix title race.

A number of Australians contested the event, with Gary Pegoraro leading the way. Pegoraro took second in the Grand Prix and International Class, ahead of Wayne Sproston and Ryan Urban.

Above pic (l-r): Gary Pegoraro, Karl Wilson & Wayne Sproston

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Porsche 993 Race Car

Jacer F2k3

Race Car Transporter

Jacer F2k3, just had brand new engine fitted built by David Cutts, only run in on Dyno, New AIM EV04 PRO digital dash and timing system, 2 sets of wheels & tyres. 100mm longer for large drivers. $28,500. 0438 390 315

Race car transporter currently used for Commodore and spares.

Pan 8.6 meters long with Tail Gate Loader. Tyre racks, winch, fridge, internal lighting & power, marine carpet floor. Clean truck in excellent condition ready to go racing.

No GST payable, private sale. $54,000. 0447 772 030

www.my105.com/3562

Porsche Twinplug Motor and Gearbox Porsche 3.5L motor Motec management, new cams, plus 915 gear box, both just o/hauled, only one meeting old, still in car hear running.

Motor & gearbox price. $25000.

Contact Rick Ph. 0418 202 100 www.my105.com/3623

www.my105.com/3616

Price reduced 1995 Porsche 911. 993 race car, LHD, stripped lightweight body, 3.6L, ceramic coated pistons, Unichip ECU, RSCS 6 spd gearbox, 993 turbo brakes, Tilton brake bias, Tilton pedals, twin oil coolers, proflex shocks, 60/40 LSD, 2 sets wheels, parts, email for details.

Near offers considered. $45,000. 0418 955 785 www.my105.com/2703

Aussie Car

FRP Gooseneck Race Trailer Professionally built 11.5m race trailer by Cooks Bodyworks.

Sides made from single sheet of FRP. Aluminium extrusions.

Cantilevered full length awning.

Tri-axle H/D Alko axles, solar cell, dual winches, cabinets, fridge, sink, water tank, engine gantry, vinyl floor. Many extras and had little use. $28,500. 0418 576 257. www.my105.com/3649

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30

2008 Elfin MS8 Streamliner EVO VII RS Evo VII RS 2001 model. Ideal specification for Early Modern Class LSD rear end, 17" wheels, Brembo brakes, standard condition.

Perfect for Targa events.

Imported for road compliance and full registration. $19,800.

03 9720 9300.

One of a kind - Two tone black paint with black leather interior, two door two seat roadster with upgrade V8 motor, 8 cylinder unleaded multi-point injected 5.7L (5665cc) 6spd manual.

Reg: ELF008. $69,500.

0418 395 577 www.my105.com/3559

Falcon AU Aussie car ready to race complete with 2 spare engines and many spares. Quick sale. $20,000 will assist with delivery.

0407 602 389 www.my105.com/3648

GET IT SEEN GET IT SOLD Coloured ad spaces available now.

www.my105.com/3563

motorsport news

rear of grid

t o p S d Od

Sun of a gun!

BARTON Mawer has spent plenty of time on the sidelines in recent years, but he kicked 2011 off by setting a Guinness World Record.

In conjunction with the University of New South Wales’ Solar Racing Team, Mawer became the fastest ever driver of a solar-powered vehicle last week. The former F3 and Carrera Cup pilot drove the UNSW team’s latest creation – the battery-less Sunswift, built from scratch – at Nowra in country New South Wales to break a 22-year-old benchmark set by General Motors.

In 1987, GM’s Sunraycer clocked 78kmh. Last Friday, Mawer put Sunswift into the record books with a top speed of 88.738kmh before cloud cover hampered further attempts.

“They had the guy from the Guinness World Records from London there; he had the hat and shirt on and everything!” Mawer joked.

“Obviously my role was just driving, there’s a team who’ve built it up. For this small team to achieve it, they’ve put in a lot of late nights, it’s very special. They want me to drive it in this year’s World Solar Challenge, which is coming up in October. If I can’t be making noise on the track, at least I can be in harmony with the sun!”

No go for Russo

VETERAN Funny Car racer Peter Russo’s long awaited return to Australian drag racing has been delayed with the forced cancellation of this weekend’s second round of Willowbank Raceway’s New Year Series.

The four-time Australian Champion had secured last minute support from leading Australasian retailer Supercheap Auto for his homecoming after periodically racing in the US for the past 12 years.

“It’s been a long, long time since we last raced at home and I was looking forward to firing our Supercheap Auto nitro Funny Car,” Russo said.

“It’s disappointing the meeting has been cancelled but with the current weather situation and the long term forecast looking bleak it was a good, early call by Willowbank management.” www.mnews.com.au

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