IMG LINK RAISES THE STAKES IN F1 BREAKAWAY

Website Grand Prix.com is suggesting that global sports management juggernaut IMG could be the people behind the promotion of an "alternative F1" series. IMG is one of the World's largest sports promotion and management companies and if anybody can rival Bernie Ecclestone for professionalism and global reach then it's IMG. IMG has a global portfolio that includes many of the worlds biggest sporting events and the company has plenty of motorsport experience including running a number of major street races including the Surfers Paradise Indy race and several Champcar rounds in the USA. It also has run Bathurst and the Sandown enduros here in Australia. Currently they are responsible for the media and marketing rights to events including the LeMans Series, NASCAR, NHRA Drag Racing and The World Speedway Grand Prix. Interestingly IMG is also a media partner of the Williams F1 racing team, one of only two current F1 teams to commit themselves to the traditional FIA series next year. FOTA is scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss the planning for their series, certainly, if as rumoured IMG is involved, then the chances of it happening and operating successfully just got a whole lot better.

FROSTY THE FORD MAN

MITSUBISHI DOMINATES BATHURST SHOWROOM SHOWDOWN

Mitsubishi Lancers have dominated the annual Bathurst 12 hour production car race at the famous Mount Panorama. Defending race champions Damien White & Rod Salmon were joined in their win by two time  Bathurst 1000 winner Tony Longhurst. Second place went to the Western Australian team of Sports Sedan star Tony Ricciardello and his fellow Western Australian team-mates Stuart Kostera and Glyn Crimp. “After four 1000km races, this was my first 12 Hour race and it was a great experience. Reliability wasn’t an issue all weekend and everything ran like clockwork,” said Ricciardello who normally pilots a 700 BHP V8 powered Alfa Romeo in the Australian Sports Sedan Championship. The final spot on the podium went to a late charging Jason Bargwanna for his ProDuct Motorsport team-mate Brad Jones with only a fuel issue in his final pit stop robbing him of what could have been a last minute attempt at second place after he fought to regain a lead lap position. The pair completed 19 pit stops throughout the race due to a fuel issue with their Mitsubishi Lancer, however, using all of their strategic experience to ensure they stayed in contention for the event.  “We just continued to circulate all day, stayed out of trouble, had 19 pit stops due to a fuel pick up problem, also had some boost and electrical dramas, so all in all it is very busy race but it was pleasing to get up here on the podium at Bathurst,” said Bargwanna. Race pole-sitter Steve Owen leading the field away as the 47-car field headed up the Mountain for the 6.30 am start, but his race came to a premature end when his Mitsubishi Lancer endured gearbox problems in the second hour of the race.

HAT-TRICK FOR LOWNDES & WHINCUP AS FORD WINS BATHURST

Ford drivers Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup took a hat-trick of wins in Australia's biggest race the Bathurst 100 at Mount Panorama. The Team Vodafone/Triple Eight team hit the front early in the race and despite a late race challenge from Holden driver Greg Murphy hung on to win by just under three seconds after 1000 kms of racing.

HOLDEN ON POLE FOR BATHURST 1000

Phillip Island 500 winners Garth Tander and Mark Skaife have firmed to equal favouritism for today's Bathurst 1000 after taking pole position for the Australian classic at Mount Panorama. Tander set the fastest time in Saturday's Top Ten shootout and despite a last place charge by  FPV driver Mark Winterbottom it will be Holden on pole. Tander's time  of 2 mins:07.2963 seconds was still off the record of New Zealand driver Greg Murphy of 2 mins: 06.8594 seconds during the 2003 top-10 shootout.

A MINI YOU SAID

It may seem  like a huge step down from a 750 BHP V8 powered NASCAR to a four cylinder 200 BHP Mini but when you're taking on one of the World's most challenging circuits it'll will be no walk in the park for American NASCAR star Boris Said. Said will join double British Touring Car Champion Matt Neal and New Zealand Mini challenge Champion Brent Collins, to spearhead an international all star cast for the Mini challenge at Bathurst next on October 10 -12. Said, the winner of the Nurburgring 24 hours and a semi regular on the NASCAR scene has never raced at  Bathurst but  he is renowned as a road course specialist in the United States where he won the 1997 & '98 Daytona 24 hour race as well as the 12 hour race at Sebring.

HUMMERS TO RACE AT BATHURST ?

A class for SUVs including Porsche Cayenne, Ford Territory and even Hummers is the surprise as the class structure and vehicle eligibility list is released by organisers of the Bathurst 12 hour Showroom Enduro. The final list has, according to organisers been prepared following extensive consultation with manufacturers, entrants and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) (just what they were drinking at the time is anybody's guess.) To be run at the Mount Panorama, Bathurst on February 20-22, 2009 ,  the Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro will feature a similar structure of classes to what was seen in this year’s Event with some minor changes following feedback from the motoring industry and competitors in the 2008 Event.

IT TAKES TWO AT TOLL FOR DISTANCE CLASSICS

The Holden Racing Team is counting on experience to maintain Garth Tander's lead in the Australian V8 Supercar series by teaming regular team drivers Tander and Mark Skaife together for the upcoming Endurance events at Phillip Island and Bathurst.