inpitlane.com | Archive | Australia/NZ News

AUSSIES ON TOP IN FUNNY CAR CHALLENGE

3. January 2010

Australian Funny Car driver Damien Harris came out on top in the opening round of the USA vs AUS Nitro Funny Car Challenge at Queensland's Willowbank Raceway. The challenge is part of the two-round International New Year Drag Racing Series with Harris and fellow Aussie Ricky Steffens taking on American Jack Wyatt. Harris was clearly the star of the evening with a series of strong runs highlighted by a 4.968s at over 300mph on his first run of the evening, the first 300mph Nitro Funny Car pass by an Aussie racer at the track. Steffens was also strong with two full passes with a five (5.768s at 186.59mph) and six second pass (6.520s at 148.87mph) for the Regency Downs racer. Wyatt struggled with set up all night , running a 7.150 at 155.74mph and a 7.049 at 126.67mph after having to lift off the pedal at intervals during both runs. “We just kept smoking the tyres and also struggled a bit with the tune up, but we think we know what the issue is now and are confident we will be on the pace come January 16,” he said....

IT’S LOOKING BRIGHT FOR BRAD JONES RACING

24. December 2009

Jason Bright will return to Holden with the news that he has signed on to replace Cameron McConville at Brad Jones Racing. Bright a veteran of 145 V8 Supercar starts spent several years behind the wheel of a Commodore including a time as a driver for the Holden Racing Team. Bright said that he is excited about the move to Brad Jones Racing. “BJR has all the ingredients to turn it into a very strong force. Its rate of progress up the field in the last couple of years has been impressive and the changes they’ve made internally, as well as their plans for the future with engines and engineering, were all deciding factors for me." he said.

NO THREAT TO SYDNEY GT RACE

22. December 2009

The Australian GT Championship have denied rumours that they would not be on the grid for the Sydney street race in 2010. A post on an Internet forum had claimed that the GTs had been replaced for Sydney, a story denied by Australian GT Director Rachael Wagg. "I don't know where they'd get that one from." she said. "Our calendar for next year is almost set and at this stage the only date not confirmed is a planned race at Phillip Island." Ms. Wagg said that it was possible that the GT series could run it's own meeting at the Island if nothing suitable could be found.

FORMULA ONE: AS SEEN ON TV

11. December 2009

Australian free to air television network "Network Ten" have announced a five-year extension of its exclusive Australian broadcast rights to Formula 1. The new agreement commences at the start of the 2011season and extends through to the end of 2015. The new agreement with Formula One Management will see the network continue it's live F1 coverage on the digital only ONE HD Sports channel as well as with delayed coverage on TEN. The Australian Grand Prix race will also be broadcast live simultaneously on TEN as is required under Australia's anti-siphoning rules. For the first time the new deal also covers online, mobile and IPTV rights as well. Network Ten's general manager – sport, David White, said: "Formula 1 has always had a large, passionate and loyal following in Australia."

MELBOURNE’S NEW DRAG STRIP ? 4 LANES, NO WAITING

11. December 2009

After almost a decade in the Drag racing wilderness, details have been released of an ambitious project to build a brand new dedicated Drag Racing facility for Melbourne. According to a media release from ANDRA (The Australian National Drag Racing Association) a group calling itself "Motorvate Melbourne" have unveiled the plans which would feature Australia's first Four Lane Drag Stip. Plans for the track also feature areas for burnouts and a two kilometre long "sprint" circuit. The new website http://www.motorvatemelbourne.com gives little information about those behind the plan, with the only information being that they are "a collection of stakeholders that support the work that the ANDRA Project Team and many other motor enthusiasts are doing."

WIN TICKETS TO HISTORIC SANDOWN

4. November 2009

With a record 420 competitors taking part, this weekend’s 18th Nationallube Historic Sandown (November 6-8) can claim the largest entry ever seen at the popular Melbourne circuit since it opened in 1962. As well as capacity fields in most categories, some 100 V8-engined historic touring, sports and open wheeler racing cars will compete in 16 races over the weekend. A highlight of this year’s meeting is the final and deciding round of the 2009 Biante Touring Car Masters series, with former Bathurst winners Jim Richards and John Bowe again locking horns in their Falcon Sprint and Chevrolet Camaro respectively. Three generations of the Brabham family will also be on track for a unique Speed Comparison, with Victorian Historic Racing Register Patron Sir Jack dropping the flag on his Le Mans 25-Hour race winning son Geoff in a BMW M3, his grandson and rising Formula Ford star Matthew aged 15 and four times Australian champion John Bowe in a racing GT40 replica.

EASTERNATS TO CALDER PARK

28. October 2009

The popular Easternats auto festival is moving across town to Calder Park. Easternats promoter Jon Davison announced today that a long term agreement has been negotiated with Bob Jane, to stage the event at the Keilor based venue commencing 2010. The move comes after Sandown Park owners the Melbourne Racing Club [MRC] terminated the Licence Agreement in June. Negotiations with both the MRC and the City of Greater Dandenong proved fruitless, whilst the benefits of moving to Calder Park became increasingly obvious.

A1 GOLD COAT GP: THE FARCE IS OVER (for now)

17. October 2009

The charade is over. Only two days before they were scheduled to test at Queensland raceway and a week before the first race the A1 GP on the Gold Coast has been terminated. The Queensland Government will now showcase the popular tourist venue to the World via four 150 km V8 Supercar races. SuperGP General Manager Greg Hooton said that whilst it was obviously disappointing that GCMEC has had to terminate the contract with A1GP, plans have been put in place to ensure a full, new-look, program when the 2009 Nikon SuperGP commences next Thursday October 22. “GCMEC and the Minister have worked with V8 Supercars, to develop the new race program which will now be rolled out at the event,” said Hooton.

AUSSIE A1, SUPER GP, SUPER FARCE

15. October 2009

Gold Coast "Super GP" General Manager Greg Hooton has addressed the Australian Media regarding doubts over the A1 GP event scheduled in only seven days time. In a prepared statement Mr Hooton emphasised the fact that the meeting would go ahead with the V8 Supercars as the main attraction. “I need to make it clear that this event is happening next week. Do not lose sight of the fact that I’m standing in V8 Pit Lane where next week the V8 Supercars will for the first time ever have two, 200km races. The V8 Supercars are absolutely a major aspect of this event and will be here in force next week,” said Hooton. Mr Hooton did acknowledge that their were doubts over the appearance of the A1 GP and his statement did little to inspire confidence that the situation had changed. “There are certainly rumours surrounding the appearance of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport at the Nikon SuperGP at this time, there is no question about that. “At this point in time, I need to make clear that A1GP has not breached any terms of contract with GCMEC (Gold Coast Motor Events Company*). “The current situation is as follows:

HOLDEN TURNS THE MOUNTAIN RED AS HRT WINS BATHURST

11. October 2009

Holden have ended a three year drought at the famous Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama with a sweep of the podium led by Garth Tander & Will Davison. Tander and Davison started from pole but it was far from an all the way win with several challenges through the day. The victory was the second on the mountain for Tander but the first for Davison, the grandson of former multiple Australian Grand Prix winner Lex Davison and the cousin of 2009 Indy lights series runner up James. Earlier it had looked like a dream win for Gary Rogers Motorsport pair David Besnard and Greg Ritter.