SPEED TV ALMS WRAP UP 2008

DRAG RACING SHOCK: STEVENS QUITS, A V8 SUPERCAR FUTURE ?

In a shock announcement  one of the biggest names in Australian professional Drag Racing, Brett Stevens has announced he will retire from full time race driving and cease operating his team at the end of 2008.   Stevens, 43, leaves the sport as one of the most successful and influential professional racers in it’s history. Over a career spanning 18 years, he has multiple National Championships, World Records, National Records and Strip Records to his and his team’s name. In addition to his on-track presence, Stevens also single-handedly changed the face of the sport with his new levels of showmanship and professionalism off the track that have helped make him into an Australian motorsport icon. Stevens said that the decision had been an extremely difficult one to make. “This is one of the biggest decisions of my life and it has not come easily. I’ve put a lot of thought into it and for those that know me and my passion for the sport, my fans, my team and my sponsors would know how difficult this has been.” “I am extremely proud of what I have accomplished as a professional racer and I am at the point of my career where I am at the top. Retirement is not something that I have considered until recently however I have always promised myself that if I wasn’t enjoying myself and the challenges that the sport presented I would step aside.” “Over many years I have also been the subject of many malicious and false rumour and innuendo, including personal attacks and threats on myself, my family, employees and sponsors which are taking an unprecedented toll on both my personal and professional wellbeing.” “I have made a decision now though to look to the future for both myself and my family, and while this decision ends one phase of my career, I’m confident it will also open doors to many new opportunities.”

QUEENSLAND’S SUNCOAST RALLY CANCELLED

The 2009 Suncoast Classic tarmac rally has been cancelled with organisers blaming the world financial crisis for a lack of entries. The management team of Silverstone Events, which planned to stage the rally on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast between 22 and 26 July, said that a smaller than expected number of registrations had resulted in its cancellation. Silverstone Events Director David Edwards said it appeared the world financial crisis has taken its toll on motorsport events like the rally. He said that while the number of enquiries for the second Suncoast Classic was high, those early registrations of interest had not translated into official entries. “Unfortunately, we have not received the number of entries we expected by this point,” Mr Edwards said.

HONDA OUT, AUDI CUT BACK. WHO’S NEXT!

Honda's decision to leave Formula One is just an early taste of the schism about to hit international motorsport worldwide. As the US based sub-prime economic meltdown hits, Honda will be the first of many to reassess the wisdom of spending millions of dollars on cars going round and round in circles. Already major NASCAR teams are laying off staff and as the US big three put out the begging bowl to US taxpayers one wonders how any sensible Government will view any public funds being ploughed into things like NASCAR, NHRA and the American Le Mans Series. In the week when Audi announced its commitment to building a new diesel powered sports prototype for Le Mans, they also announced a complete pull out from both the European Le Mans series and the ALMS. Toyota, who have probably the biggest exposure of all the Japanese car makers to the collapsing US economy have issued a statement saying that they remain committed to F1. No, sorry that is “currently” committed to F1. Unlike Honda, Toyota have had some limited success at F1 level and also unlike Honda they have the backing of a major naming rights sponsor in Panasonic. But their press release does give very clear indication that unless ways are found to dramatically cut the huge cost of F1 then they too could be the next to go.

FERRARI WINS SANDOWN BUT LAMBORGHINI TAKES THE TITLE

The Ferrari team of Nick O'Halloran and Alan Simonsen took out the Sandown GT classic last weekend. Held over two one hour heats the black Ferrari crossed the line over 16 seconds ahead of the Viper of Ross Lilley and former Nations Cup Champion Greg Crick. Tony Quinn making his debut in the ex Peter Hackett Aston Martin DBRS9 led the race at various times but fell back to third late in the race. The Lamborghini team of Ted Huglin and John Bowe came through to finish fourth with former F1 driver Ivan Capelli impressing everybody with his speed in the Maserati Trofero. Max Twigg in a Porsche GT3 Cup Car was sixth to take out Class B over the team of Michael Locisano and Marc Cini with high profile Hollywood actor Eric Bana also in a Porsche in third. Only 13 cars finished the race which was dealt a blow on Friday when the cars of Championship Contender John Kaias and Kim Bourke came together during private practice. With Kaias out Mark Eddy in the Lamborghini became the Australian National GT Champion after a seventh place finish.