BRISCOE WINS ANZAC DAY ON THE GOLD COAST

Only hours before their respective Nations clash in the Rugby League World Cup Australian Ryan Briscoe and New Zealand's Scott Dixon fought out a thrilling Gold Coast Indy 300 and it was the Aussie that came out on top. Briscoe became the only Australian driver to win the race hanging on to beat the reigning Indycar Champion by less than a second. Briscoe took the lead after home town hero Will Power crashed out while leading. Back in the pits Power was gutted by his mistake. “It was a really bad mistake, the worst of my life.” he said. “It was a very bad day for me and I am very disappointed.”  Even Briscoe had some sympathy for his fellow Aussie. “ I really feel bad for Will Power. He had a real fast car.“ said Briscoe.

SUPPORT GROWS FOR DTM GOLD COAST RACE

Drivers in the popular DTM (German Touring Car Masters) have thrown their support behind Tony Cochrane's call for the series to replace the Indy Racing League on the Gold Coast. While most Australian media feel that Cochrane's call was a bit of publicity seeking mischief making, current DTM stars competing in this weekend's Hockenheim final are enthusiastically backing the idea. Speaking to the German website motorsport-total.com, drivers said they would love the chance to take to the streets of Surfers Paradise. “That would be fantastic ! It would be great to go overseas, said Mercedes driver Paul di Resta. “It (The DTM) is perhaps the greatest Touring Car Championship in the World. I believe we have the best cars. It would be great to show the Australians what great cars we have.” he said.

A1GP READY TO FILL THE GOLD COAST BEACH…UH, BREACH

The A1GP series has approached organisers of the Gold Coast Indy car race expressing an interest in replacing  the Indy cars should they decide not to return next year. Speaking to the local newspaper “The Sunday Mail”, former World Formula One Champion and A1GP team franchise holder Alan Jones said that the self proclaimed World Cup of Motorsport was eager to fill the breach should the American based Indy series pull out. “I have made no secret of the fact that we would love to take their place,“ said Jones. “Our cars lap three to four seconds quicker than the IRL cars going around the Gold Coast this weekend, We have 25 countries competing,... and many of the countries are in the preferred trading area for Australia – Asia and the Middle East.“ Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has said that an International Openwheel event was crucial to the events future but few International series of any note have shown interest in the Australian market with the exception of A1GP.

WILL POWERS TO PARADISE POLE

Local hero Will Power has given his home state fans something to cheer about setting the fastest time in qualifying for Sunday's Gold Coast Indy 300. It'll be a trans-tasman showdown with series champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner New Zealand's Scott Dixon alongside Power on the front row.   In a qualifying session hit by showers, Power timed his run perfectly to beat the Kiwi star to the pole by almost a full second. “It was quite a difficult session, to be honest.” said Power. “ I went out there and half the track was wet and half the track was dry. It was a matter of getting through each round and in the last round it was all dry. It was back to what I knew quite well. On the last lap, I backed off out and made sure I got a good run in. I'm very happy for the team. We turned up with a pretty good car out of the box and the guys did great work. Hopefully we can get it done this weekend, because that's what we've been trying to do for the last three years.“

MARTIN LEADS THE WAY ON THE STREETS OF SURFERS

Australian International John Martin continued his domination of the local F3 field with a second race win on the streets of Surfers Paradise.  Martin, fresh back from a year in the tough British F3 series and Australia's lead driver in the A1GP showed the gulf between himself and the local competition with a comfortable lights to flag victory on the narrow street circuit in his Dallara F307 Mercedes Benz. “I nailed the start – yesterday I didn’t want to stall so I didn’t get a good getaway but today was much better and I was able to establish a good buffer in the opening lap,” said Martin. Second was the Team BRM Dallara of new Australian Champion James Winslow. The Englishman again showed himself to be the class of the local series regulars but he had no answer for Martin.

AND ALL THAT (HONDA) JAZZ

It is common practice for any person who has an idol of any kind to ask for their idol’s autographs. Sports fans especially would do that all the time; asking their favorite sportspeople to sign items of interest such as caps, programs, photos or similar memorabilia.  Motor racing fans in particular may even ask their favorite  drivers to sign some unusual items such as car parts… or if you’re like THIS “mad bastard”… ask them to sign a whole car… Perhaps one may wonder… what drove me to ask Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson to sign my 2006 Honda Jazz?

SKAIFE: AND NOW THE END IS NEAR ?

Holden legend Mark Skaife is weighing up his future as speculation grows that the five time Bathurst winner is set to announce his retirement from V8 Supercar racing. Despite denials from current Dick Johnson Racing driver Will Davison that he is to join Garth Tander at the Holden Racing Team in 2009, insiders in the world of V8 Supercars are saying that the deal is done and Holden are waiting on Skaife's decision before any public announcement is made. 2008 has been a tough one for Skaife who currently sits in 12th place in the championship coming into this weekend's round on Queensland's Gold Coast. Skaife has been under considerable pressure from the media and fans for most of the year and after a disappointing Bathurst where he crashed the car at Forest Elbow the dogs have been barking that his illustrious career is over.

ALMS THE FINAL ROUND FROM SPEED TV

TWO CAR TEAM AUSTRALIA ATTACK

There will be a two-pronged attack from Team Australia on the Nikon Indy 300 with the green and gold livery of the Aussie Vineyards-backed team running on two cars at next weekend’s race around the streets of Surfers Paradise in Australia.  The cars of KV Racing Technology were unveiled in the pit lane of the Nikon Indy 300 circuit today, with Will Power on hand to unveil the cars.  Power, driver of the #8 Aussie Vineyards – Team Australia car, will be joined by team-mate Oriol Servia in the colours of Team Australia for the big event, held October 23-26.

AUDI FINISH ON A HIGH AT LAGUNA SECA

Another stunning come from behind win has given Audi its seventh win in the 2008 American Le Mans Series.  Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner celebrated a narrow victory in front of their team mates Christijan Albers and Emanuele Pirro. It was Pirro's final race for the team. Starting from row five of the grid, the Audi drivers were able to take advantage from the enormous torque of their TDI engine  at the many  restarts brought about after the Safety Car was deployed no less than twelve times – the most occasions all season.    Werner crossed the finish line the eventual winner only 1.941 seconds ahead of an emotional Pirro who had tears in eyes following his last race in the Audi R10 TDI.  It was the seventh outright victory for Audi in the eleven-round American Le Mans Series. Acura/Honda and Porsche each scored two victories. Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner celebrated their eighth win of the season in the LM P1 class. The two Germans had already secured the title in the LM P1 Drivers Championship. Pirro finished third in the Championship while Christijan Albers finished his first sportscar race on the podium.