http://inpitlane.com In Pit Lane Fri, 18 May 2012 15:37:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en http://inpitlane.com/archives/13610 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13610#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 15:37:27 +0000 Brett Ramsey http://inpitlane.com/?p=3610 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13610/feed http://inpitlane.com/archives/13606 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13606#comments Fri, 18 May 2012 00:28:24 +0000 Brett Ramsey http://inpitlane.com/?p=3606 As widely predicted in the Australian motoring media, Holden has announced a new export program, confirming that the Commodore will return to North America in late 2013. The car will be rebadged as the new Chevrolet SS performance sedan. The limited production derivative of the yet to be launched VF Commodore will arrive in North American showrooms late next year.  It will be the first time in 17 years that Chevrolet will offer a rear-wheel-drive sedan for sale in the US. The SS will also become Chevrolet’s next NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar debuting next year in its race configuration at the world renowned Daytona 500.]]> http://inpitlane.com/archives/13606/feed http://inpitlane.com/archives/13596 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13596#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 21:24:42 +0000 Brett Ramsey http://inpitlane.com/?p=3596 Austrian Formula One driver Christian Klien will co-drive with Russell Ingall at the V8 Supercar Endurance races at Sandown and Bathurst this year. Klien, who made 41 F1 starts for teams including Jaguar and Red Bull will drive the Supercheap Autos Commodore with the two time Bathurst winner. The 1000 kms enduro around the Mountain won't be Klien's first look at the famous track, earlier this year he drove a production Lotus at the famous circuit although that's a long way  from the 640 BHP that he'll need to deal with in the Commodore. Although he is best known in Australia for his F1 career, Klien has considerable endurance experience with a best result of a third place at Le Mans in the factory Peugeot in 2008. Klien had a secret test with Walkinshaw Racing recently and will drive the Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore in the enduro co-driver practice session at Phillip Island this Friday ahead of the weekend's fifth round of the V8 Supercar Championship, the Phillip Island 300.]]> http://inpitlane.com/archives/13596/feed http://inpitlane.com/archives/13564 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13564#comments Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:44:39 +0000 Brett Ramsey http://inpitlane.com/?p=3564 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13564/feed http://inpitlane.com/archives/13555 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13555#comments Sun, 29 Apr 2012 13:34:37 +0000 Brett Ramsey http://inpitlane.com/?p=3555 The glorious uncertainty of endurance racing played out once again as Jim Pollicina and Ryan Simpson took out the Phillip Island 6 Hour, round two of the Australian Manufacturers Championship. In a thrilling  duel to the end, Formula Ford star Simpson - chased down and passed - reigning champions Stuart Kostera and Inky Tulloch, to take the lead with just two laps to go. The winners had to do one more pitstop than the TMR prepared car, but still had the pace to pull off a remarkable victory. The father and son team of Tony and Klark Quinn started from pole position and stormed to an early lead. But their race ended in bizarre fashion when a trolly jack went through the driver’s side floor during a routine pit stop.]]> http://inpitlane.com/archives/13555/feed http://inpitlane.com/archives/13548 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13548#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:12:37 +0000 Brett Ramsey http://inpitlane.com/?p=3548 A field of 22 cars will face the starter for this weekend's Phillip Island Six Hour Endurance race. With entries representing most leading Australian car companies, the fight for the top step of the podium will be very keenly contested. The race is the second round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship as well as the opening round of the Australian Production Car Endurance Championship. Defending race and series champions Stuart Kostera and New Zealand's Ian ‘Inky’ Tulloch, driving the Team Mitsubishi Ralliart-prepared Evo X, are once again favourites for the race. But Jim Pollicina teamed with Ryan Simpson and the father and son pairing of Tony and Klark Quinn are also in the latest racing Class A Extreme Performance Mitsubishis and will match the TMR boys for pace while perennial placegetters Dylan and Dave Thomas should again be very consistent.]]> http://inpitlane.com/archives/13548/feed http://inpitlane.com/archives/13409 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13409#comments Sun, 18 Mar 2012 04:05:42 +0000 Michael Lamonato http://inpitlane.com/?p=3409 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13409/feed http://inpitlane.com/archives/13382 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13382#comments Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:13:50 +0000 Brett Ramsey http://inpitlane.com/?p=3382 New Zealand driver Steve Ross (McRae GM1) is set to claim the 2011/12 MSC F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series crown at Australia's biggest and most prestigious classic motor racing meeting this weekend. Ross and 27 other F5000 drivers are amongst the 500-odd entries for this weekend's Phillip Island Classic meeting at the 4.4km circuit an hour-and-a-half's drive south of Melbourne. After finishing second to series super-vet Ken Smith (Lola T430) for the past two years Ross crossed the Tasman earlier this week with an 88 point lead over fellow McRae GM1 driver Aaron Burson with Rotorua man Brett Willis (Lola T330) third. Though defending series champion Ken Smith will not be at the meeting the field includes Burson, Willis, Class A (for earlier cars) standout David Arrowsmith (Lotus 70) and former series champion Ian Clements (Lola T332). It also includes UK-based series regular Greg Thornton (Chevron B24) and two of the three US drivers who contested some of the New Zealand rounds of this season's MSC series, category original Eric Haga (Lola T190) and top US historic single-seater racer Harin de Silva (Surtees TS8). The growing strength of the category across the Tasman can also be seen in the strong domestic entry - with 15 cars led by series regulars Chris Lambden (McRae GM1) and John Bryant (Lola T140) in local hands.]]> http://inpitlane.com/archives/13382/feed http://inpitlane.com/archives/13364 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13364#comments Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:14:04 +0000 Brett Ramsey http://inpitlane.com/?p=3364 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13364/feed http://inpitlane.com/archives/13358 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13358#comments Sat, 25 Feb 2012 11:34:31 +0000 Brett Ramsey http://inpitlane.com/?p=3358 http://inpitlane.com/archives/13358/feed