IPLVideocast Sandown VSCRC Rnd. 2

BRABHAM BLASTS TO WINTON WIN

Matthew Brabham has continued his recent run of good form with his first win in the Australian Formula Ford Championship at Winton Motor Raceway. Brabham, the current leader in the Victorian State Championship, dominated the first race of the weekend from pole position to lead home a Team Sonic white-wash with Garry Jacobson and Cameron Waters [...]

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD ANNOUNCES 2011 CALENDAR

The Australian Formula Ford Championship will join the Shannons Nationals for two rounds after the confirmation of the 2011 calendar. The series will take in the Nationals rounds at Sandown and Eastern Creek, marking a return to NSW after a two year absence. Phil Mahoney, Media Manager for the Championship told In Pit Lane that although the NSW laws that prohibit drivers under 16 year old from taking part still existed. The Championship was hoping that by the July round most of their younger drivers would have reached the minimum age. "We have a few young drivers but we think by the time of the round at Eastern Creek most of the guys will be 16." he said. Mr Mahoney said that any driver still under that age could apply for a special dispensation as had been granted to New Zealand Formula 3 driver Mitch Evens.

TRANS TASMAN BATTLE FOR TOYOTA CROWN

As Australian Motorsport goes into a bizarre Summer hibernation across the Tasman the New Zealand scene is already in full swing. A highlight of the season is the annual Toyota Racing Series. This year the battle will be between the young hot shots of New Zealand and a group of slightly older Aussies making the step up from Formula Ford. Initial interest will centre round 2010 Champion and Australian Formula 3 runner up, local driver Mitch Evans. The 16-year-old New Zealander will again be racing for Stephen Giles Auckland-based team alongside yet another talented young Kiwi in 16 year old Nick Cassidy from Auckland’s North Shore. Evans will compete for the first time in an identical car against 20 year old Aussie Scott Pye, the 2009 TRS Rookie Champion and current British Formula Ford champion. Pye, who made a strong impression in Britain this season, will be teamed with Wellington teenager Jamie McNee in the Australian-based ETEC team run by Trevor Shuemack. Both Evans and Pye will soon announce plans to race in major European single seaters championships later in 2011 and will have high expectations for the New Zealand races. Evans already has the support of Australian Formula One star Mark Webber and is expected to race for Webber's team in GP3 in 2011. Also confirmed for the series will be 18 year old Australian Nick Foster who finished third overall in this year’s Australian Formula Ford Championship. Two other young Australians will also test at Manfeild this week in preparation for the series. Jordan Oon, a 19 year old from Perth finished third in the 2010 Formula BMW Pacific series in Asia, while 19-year-old Jordan Skinner from Wallaroo in South Australia, has just returned home after winning the National Formula Ford 1600 title in Britain.

In Pit Lane September 14 (Full Audio) Luke Ellery

<podcast>http://www.archive.org/download/PitlanePR_RMITVINPITLANESeptember14LukeEllery/IPLShow140910.mp3</podcast>

AUSSIE FORMULA FORD GETS NZ TV DEAL

The Australian Formula Ford Championship has secured a deal that will see the series broadcast on New Zealand free to air channel TV3. TV3 will broadcast rounds two through to seven of the championship beginning on Sunday July 18 with the combined Round 2 and 3 show. The deal comes on the back of an increased presence of New Zealand drivers in the Championship, with no fewer than four Kiwis competing over the past two years. “We’re incredibly pleased to be able to announce that the Australian Formula Ford Championship will be broadcast in New Zealand thanks to TV3,” Margaret Hardy, Category Manager said.

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A CAMS RISING STAR

The Confederation of Australian Motorsport has opened nominations for the 2011 CAMS Rising Star Program. Once again, Australia’s brightest young stars will be able to nominate themselves to be considered for the 2011 Program. Those selected to participate in the Program will compete in either state or national level Formula Ford. The self nomination approach has been chosen to encourage young talented drivers to be proactive in their pursuit of a national or international motor racing career. Graduates of the CAMS Rising Star Program include Scott Pye, John Martin, Ashley Walsh and Daniel Erickson. Scott Pye is currently competing in the British Formula Ford Championship as part of the AMSF International Rising Star Program. The CAMS Rising Star Program aims to identify and fast-track the development of young Australian drivers from the junior ranks to national and international competition through clearly defined and supported pathways.

In Pit Lane Videocast 055

EVANS’ PERFECT WEEKEND

Mitch Evans, the 15 year old New Zealand whiz-kid, stamped his authority on Queensland Raceway today when he won the third and final race of round six of the Australian Formula Ford Championship. Sitting on pole, Evans once again launched a perfect start to maintain the lead into turn one and from there on lead the race to become the youngest driver in Australian Formula Ford history to taste the success of a national championship round win. “I’m stoked with how this weekend has turned out,” Evans said. “From first practice the car was fast, so it was just up to me to learn the track as quickly as possible ... everything just fell into place – I wish every round was like this,” he added. “Becoming the youngest driver to take out a round was the icing on the cake ... if you told me I’d be a round winner at the start of the year I would have thought you were joking.”

NO SPLIT IN F1, MOSLEY GONE! IT’S GOOD NEWS WEEK!

The great Formula One breakaway crisis is apparently over with FIA President Max (hurts so good) Mosley finally falling on his sword and doing what he should have done this time last year. Mosley announced to the World Motorsport Council meeting in Paris today that he would not be standing for re-election. Mosley told reporters after the meeting that there will be no split. "We have agreed to a reduction of costs," he said. "There will be one F1 championship in 2010 but the objective is still to get back to the spending levels of the early nineties within two years." It is believed that Mosley's position became untenable after meeting with long time supporter Bernie Ecclestone and [FOTA] chairman Luca di Montezemolo. It is believed that Ecclestone warned Mosley that if he did not stand aside then Ecclestone would join with FOTA in staging an alternative World Championship. The new agreement means that the teams must call off the breakaway series and sign up to a new Concorde Agreement until 2012. A unified Formula One, and we get rid of Mosley. all in all a job well done. I think Champagne is called for.