CARRERA CUP RETURNING DOWN UNDER

It's official, The Carrera Cup is set to return to Australia's racetracks for 2011. In a media release issued late this afternoon, Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) announced that they would seek dates for a series, hopefully next year. The announcement means that PCA can now enter formal discussions with all key stake-holders for a possible return to the V8 Supercar calendar from as early as next year. Carrera Cup was introduced to Australia in 2003 and ran up to and including 2009 through a third party service provider. The reintroduction of Carrera Cup would this time be exclusively managed and operated in-house by PCA. “We have the chance for a fresh start, with an all-new race car and an all-new approach for Porsche Carrera Cup Australia,” says PCA Managing Director Michael Winkler.

THE PROFITS OF CAPTAIN PENSKE

Success on the racetrack is not the only source of good news for US racing legend Roger Penske. Penske’s US based Auto sales and dealer network, has reported an impressive $29.4 million second quarter operating profit. Penske Automotive Group Inc. is the United States’ second-largest dealer holding company, and it has seen a 16% rise in [...]

THE RETURN OF THE MOUNT BULLER SPRINT

The famous Mount Buller Sprint is ready to run, but only if competitors are ready to support it. The eighth annual race to the summit of the mountain in Victoria's alpine region is scheduled for September 3 - 5th, but organisers say it will only run if the tarmac rally community comes to the party. The Buller Sprint will again use the famous sixteen kilometre stretch of road from the foot of Mt Buller to the luxury resort centre on top of the mountain. With more than 132 corners separated by short bursts of straight and cambered tarmac, the sprint is arguably Australia's premier hillclimb and draws competitors from all over the country. The 2010 event has gained valuable sponsorship from Pacific Hire and RDA Brakes and is open to both Classic cars (pre-1982) and Modern cars (1982 onwards).

AMBROSE QUITS JTG DAUGHERTY: NASCAR FUTURE UNCERTAIN

The NASCAR future of Australian Marcos Ambrose is up in the air after the announcement that the Tasmanian will leave JTG Daugherty Racing at the end of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. “It has been a great five year journey for me and JTG Daugherty Racing,” Marcos Ambrose said. “I am proud of being their driver and of what we have been able to accomplish together. " Ambrose said that the decision to leave had been his as “After five years, I personally felt it was time for a change. Ambrose said that he had no firm plans for next year and has not ruled out a return to Australia and V8 Supercar competition. “I would like to continue in NASCAR and finish off what I started, but I have not discounted returning to Australia.

EASTERNATS HEADING TO WINTON

The popular Easternats Street Machine festival is heading North. Easternats promotor Jon Davison today announced a ten year deal to move the event to Winton Motor Raceway begining Easter 2011. The event which had been held at Sandown Raceway since 1997 was set to move to Calder Park after issues with the local council and circuit owners The Melbourne Racing Club, but  was cancelled due to regulatory issues. Mr Davison said the move to Winton was an exciting one for the event, “Winton can accommodate all the action that the EASTERNATS is famous for, including cruising, burnouts, street drags, stampede and go to whoa all complimented by extensive display areas, first class pit & garage facilities. Onsite camping is a further benefit with the potential to build the EASTERNATS into a full scale regional spectacular. The Benalla Auto Club are to be congratulated on the upgrades and improvements that have been made to the facility.” “Winton is perfect for the EASTERNATS and the participants will love it”. he said.

RICHARDS RUNS NEW CARRERA CUP CAR AT SANDOWN

A surprise visitor to the Sandown pits for today's open practice for round three of the Victorian State Circuit Racing Championship at Sandown. The new challenger of the reborn Carrera Cup series completed a handful of laps with Jim Richards behind the wheel. The new car features more advanced aerodynamics than the previous model with a wider rear wing and more pronounced front splitter. The new car is also more powerful than the car it will replace with power increased to 450 bhp. The car was entered for the day via Porsche Cars Australia who were testing the car for compliance with noise regulations. Porsche Cars Australia have made no secret of their desire to return the Carrera Cup to the local racing scene. The return to the V8 Supercar support calendar could cause some consternation in the ranks of the Australian GT Championship who have established for themselves a popular niche in several major V8 events.

DANDENONG COUNCIL DROP EASTERNATS CHARGES

The City of Greater Dandenong have withdrawn all charges against the company of former Sandown promotor Jon Davison in regard to alledged breaches of the council permit at the Repco Easternat staged at Sandown in April 2009. The charges against Davison and the event were the catlyst for the axing of the popular event from the Sandown calendar. The cancelation of the Easternats and the subseqent cancelation of a replacement event at Calder Park Raceway led to a riot at the Bob Jane T-Mart store in Chadstone in March this year. The City council has issued Mr Davison with six infringement notices for permit breaches at the 2009 event  including excessive noise levels and burnouts in places they were not permitted. According to a media release by Mr Davison the withdrawl of all charges was supported by the Magistrate at hearing today (July 21). The City of Greater Dandenong was not available for comment.

CAPPS CAPTURES NHRA NATIONALS

Funny Car driver Ron Capps ended a one-year winless streak Sunday with victory at the 23rd annual FRAM-Autolite NHRA Nationals at Infineon Raceway. Other winners at the 15th race in the 23-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season were Larry Dixon (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock) and Michael Phillips (Pro Stock Motorcycle). The owner of the NAPA Dodge Charger team, Don Schumacher, switched crew chiefs – bringing in John Medlen to replace Ed “Ace” McCulloch – in June and in the three races since the move Capps reached the quarterfinals in Norwalk, the final round in Seattle, and the Winner’s Circle in Sonoma. “It’s all confidence and confidence is built on success,” said Capps (4.169, 296.44), who defeated teammate Jack Beckman (4.210, 298.93) and the Valvoline/MTS Dodge Charger team in the final round for his first win since the Mopar Mile-High Nationals in July 2009. “It’s really a pleasure working with (John Medlen). His approach to racing is let’s have fun. Let’s win, but let’s have fun, too. I can’t even tell you how exciting that is for me.”

SPORTSCARS GO FLYING AT ALMS UTAH

MITSUBISHI WINS SYDNEY SIX HOUR

Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Australia has dominated the innaugural Australian Six Hour Production Car race at Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney. Warren Luff and Stuart Kostera dominated the event, starting from pole and leading home a Evo X one-two. The winners finished two-and-a-half laps clear of Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X stable mates Inky Tulloch and Steve Jones, with third place going to Peter Conroy and Mark Brame in another EVO X. Incredibly, the six hour long marathon went caution free, with the lack of a safety car intervention allowing the winning duo to walk away from the field. “It was a great day start to finish,” Warren Luff said.