FROSTY THE FORD MAN

TANDER FASTEST IN PRE-SEASON V8 TESTING

Holden driver Garth Tander has set the early pace for in pre-season testing for the 2009 Australian V8 Supercar championship at Victoria's Winton Raceway. Tander in the Walkinshaw Performance Commodore edged out the Garry Rogers Motorsport pair of Lee Holdsworth and Michael Caruso also in Commodores. Fastest of the Fords in the early going was Mark Winterbottom in the new Ford Performance Racing FG Falcon. The test was delayed by over 30 minutes after a big crash involving Commodore driver Macus Zukanovic. Zukanavic's car left the track at turn 11 and made heavy contact with the wall, he was extracted from the car by the safety team and taken to hospital with unspecified but aapparently non-life threatening injuries. More Updates later in the day.

JUST FOR OUR DIRECTOR: HEMI HEAVEN FROM SPEED TV

F1′S FUTURE, A BRAVE NEW WORLD OR MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING?

The long awaited statement from the Formula One Teams Association was released last Thursday with teams united in a call for a radical cut in costs, a new points system and better access to teams and drivers for the public and media. The announcement called for an immediate change in the points system to provide more incentive for a win. Also proposed are changes to technical regulations to extend the working life of engines, and limitations on the use of exotic materials and a cutback in wind tunnel and CFD modelling. Teams have already agreed to cuts in some areas for this year with Wind tunnel use restricted this year, and teams only allowed to use 60% models and maximum speeds of 50m/s. For 2009 teams will limit engine use to eight engines per driver for season, and the engines will be limited to a 18,000rpm maximum.  There will be a restriction of the number of parts or updates per year for the chassis with one single specification per year for wheels/survival cell/roll structures and front and rear impact structures. Modifications will be limited to two homologation versions for suspension assemblies and skid blocks , three specs for engine cover, sidepods, diffuser, floor and air ducts and five for wings, where trimming will be allowed." FOTA will be put in place a three-year homologation period for transmissions, meaning no development or new gearbox design from 2010 to 2012. There will be four gearboxes per driver per season and teams will be able to buy a gearbox package for 1.5 million Euros. One of the more controversial proposals is that FOTA is aiming to have a standard KERS for 2010 and that it will be put out to tender. This would seem to contradict the idea that competition between manufacturers to build better, lighter and more efficient KERS would provide a direct and tangible benefit to the main stream auto industry. Race distances have also been put under the spotlight with a call for a reduction in race distances to 250km or a maximum of one hour 40 minutes. The public perception of Formula One as aloof and inaccessible will be targeted with a number of proposals to increase interaction between fans and teams.

HOLDEN BOSS CALLS FOR V8 SUPERCAR DIVERSITY

Holden Managing Director Mark Reuss has questioned the long term future of V8 Supercar racing in Australia if it continues with just two brands. Speaking at the Melbourne International Motorshow Reuss told In Pit Lane that the series needed to expand both it's makes and models to survive. "the first weekend I spent here (in Australia) was at the Clipsal 500 which is  a great race and a lot of fun" he said. "it's a great sport but, I think the sport needs more, and I think that having (just) two brands in a race is something... I've been around a lot of racing in the United States where you have two brands and eventually people lose interest in that." Mr Reuss said that the sport needed different cars and different makes to survive.

KELLY BROTHERS GET THE JACK

V8 Supercar brothers Todd and Rick Kelly have unveiled their new Jack Daniel’s Holden Commodores the new Kelly Racing headquarters in the Melbourne suburb of Braeside. Todd Kelly will drive the #7 Jack Daniel’s Commodore while brother Rick will have the familiar #15 on the side of his Jack Daniel’s Holden. Both cars will make their race debuts at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on March 19-22. A common team and naming rights sponsor means that the Kelly brothers will not only have a major presence on track all season, but will also combine to form one of the strongest driver pairings for the annual endurance events at Phillip Island and Bathurst. Rick Kelly, who won the V8 Supercar Championship in 2006, believes that 2009 will be a “new beginning” for everyone involved with Kelly Racing. “The support we have had from Jack Daniel’s as we have gone through the tough months of establishing our own team has been incredible,” said Rick. “This is obviously an exciting year for our entire family because we have the responsibility of our own team, Todd and I get to race together as team-mates in V8 Supercar and we have all that to share with Jack Daniel’s and everyone associated with the brand. “Todd and I will be racing each other as hard as ever, but from now on I guess we will be a little happier if the other one manages a big result.” The partnering of Todd Kelly and Rick Kelly in 2009 provides the opportunity to further reinforce the ‘Pace Yourself. Drink Responsibility’ message, which is the core element of the Jack Daniel’s Racing Platform said Jack Daniel’s Australia Managing Director, Michael McShane. “The ability to have high profile sportsmen Todd and Rick Kelly, to assist in promoting the importance of drinking responsibly is critically important and we are thrilled to be able to reinforce this message thorough our association with Kelly Racing,” said McShane.