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KELLY BROTHERS GET WOOD

Friday, August 20, 2010

Victorian driver Dale Wood will complete the Jack Daniel’s Racing line-up for the upcoming V8 Supercar endurance events at Phillip Island and Bathurst. Wood has been a part of Kelly Racing right from the initial launch of the team in March last year, competing in the first five events of the 2009 season in the [...]

WHINCUP TAKES ROUND ONE FOR HOLDEN

Saturday, February 20, 2010

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Defending Champion Jamie Whincup showed the switch to Holden from Ford has had little effect on Triple Eight's dominance of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship with a win in the opening round at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi. In front of empty grandstands Whincup dominated the 43 lap race to lead home team mate Craig Lowndes and take an early lead in the defence of his Championship. "It's been a great day, we has a great strategy and it's really cool under these lights." said Whincup. Mark Winterbottom was the first of the Fords in third place overcoming a 10 second penalty after he failed to line up properly at the start of the race. Dick Johnson Racing's James Courtney finished fourth just ahead of Gary Rogers Motorsport driver Lee Holdsworth in the Commodore.

BUNDY RACING PAINTS IT BLACK

Thursday, January 7, 2010

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The 2010 V8 Supercar launch season has officially kicked off as Bundaberg Red Racing unveiled its 2010 livery and new team drivers Fabian Coulthard and Andrew Thompson. With the technical ennui of V8 Supercars, a change of paint scheme is considered pretty big news and the excitement of the assembled media was palpable as the covers came off the newly painted car. Grown men gasped and women swooned as the car emerged from under the sheets. "There's a lot more black' said one V8 Supercar hack desperately trying to recover from the surprise, "No one expected that!" said another. "Call the editor! Hold the Front Page!" said yet another, despite the fact that he works in television. As the shock of the new spread across inner Melbourne like a tsunami, medical staff were placed on high alert as Victorian Premier John Brumby called for calm. "I'd like to think that in this day and age that we as a society have grown enough to be able to handle this sort of thing." said Mr Brumby. "I'm just so very proud that today's launch has taken place here in Melbourne, the sporting and cultural capital of the world and way better than Sydney which just sucks puss big time." Bundaberg Red Racing lead driver Fabian Coulthard told the recovering media that he was confident that the challenge of the extra black would not pose a problem.

IT’S LOOKING BRIGHT FOR BRAD JONES RACING

Thursday, December 24, 2009

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Jason Bright will return to Holden with the news that he has signed on to replace Cameron McConville at Brad Jones Racing. Bright a veteran of 145 V8 Supercar starts spent several years behind the wheel of a Commodore including a time as a driver for the Holden Racing Team. Bright said that he is excited about the move to Brad Jones Racing. “BJR has all the ingredients to turn it into a very strong force. Its rate of progress up the field in the last couple of years has been impressive and the changes they’ve made internally, as well as their plans for the future with engines and engineering, were all deciding factors for me." he said.

HOLDEN TURNS THE MOUNTAIN RED AS HRT WINS BATHURST

Sunday, October 11, 2009

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HOLDEN TURNS THE MOUNTAIN RED AS HRT WINS BATHURST

Holden have ended a three year drought at the famous Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama with a sweep of the podium led by Garth Tander & Will Davison. Tander and Davison started from pole but it was far from an all the way win with several challenges through the day. The victory was the second on the mountain for Tander but the first for Davison, the grandson of former multiple Australian Grand Prix winner Lex Davison and the cousin of 2009 Indy lights series runner up James. Earlier it had looked like a dream win for Gary Rogers Motorsport pair David Besnard and Greg Ritter.

ACL IN LIQUIDATION: FAMOUS ENGINE BUILDER TO FOLD ?

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

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ACL IN LIQUIDATION: FAMOUS ENGINE BUILDER TO FOLD ?

Australian Automotive and aftermarket performance parts manufacturers ACL have gone in to voluntary liquidation. The company which was born out of the famous Repco brand - the people responsible for Sir Jack Brabham's world championship winning engine and Formula 5000 power units - filed for liquidation today leaving 200 jobs in doubt. The liquidation comes only two month after an injection of Seven Million dollars of taxpayer funds.

LOWNDES & WHINCUP COME HOME TO HOLDEN

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

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It's official. The Triple Eight team of Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes will race a Holden in 2010. Speculation had been growing that the British owned team would switch to the General Motors marque after Triple Eight was dropped from official Ford support earlier this year. In a press conference held at Holden's Port Melbourne headquarters this morning, the announcement was made that the championship team would be making the switch to Fords for 2010, Holden Executive Director Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, Alan Batey said that “Holden has a long and proud history in motorsport that stretches back over 40 years and today's’s announcement is an exciting step into the next chapter.” “Our commitment and passion for motorsport has not wavered. Today we are making a clear statement on how much we value this sport which is also a very smart, responsible sponsorship decision.... click headline for more.

I CAN FEEL PR SPIN COMING ON

Friday, June 19, 2009

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V8 Supercars Australia (VESA) have been unable to attract manufacturer support for their safety car programme due to their insistence on the carrying of alcohol sponsorship. Nissan Australia withdrew their support for the safety car programme after the company's Nissan GTR was adorned with logos from Queensland beer brand XXXX Gold. It was only six months into a two-year contract. An approach to HSV to use their W427 Supercar was also refused again due to the beer sponsorship issue. The new safety car unveiled at Darwin's Hidden Valley Raceway is a Holden Commodore supplied by suspension and car repair company Pedders. In what is clearly a public relations move to try and stave off criticism of the Beer sponsorship, the car will carry road safety messages and feature in XXXX Gold's new ‘Know When to Slow Down’ campaign. A V8SA statement said Pedders will support the “generic” Safety and Course cars “before a further announcement in the coming weeks regarding a unique concept for the XXXX Gold Pedders Safety Car Program”. XXXX Gold has taped a 30-second television advertisement with V8 drivers Jamie Whincup, Garth Tander, Mark Winterbottom and Greg Murphy. According to XXXX GOLD Category Director, Andrew Coates, said that “Know When To Slow Down not only works from a V8 Supercar and Safety Car perspective, but it’s a great fit for a mid-strength product.” He said that the campaign echoes the brand’s mateship values and is consistent with the company's V8 Mates promotional theme. Mr Coates said the Safety Car and TV commercial will allow XXXX Gold to spread the really important message about slowing down, taking responsibility and making sensible decisions. Meanwhile after two weeks of internal turmoil, VESA have finally had some good news to report with the announcement the the taxpayers of the Northern Territory will continue to support VESA's mid Winter flight from the cold for another nine years. V8 Supercar supremo and colourful Broadway impresario Tony Cochrane told a delighted media that their annual Baramundi fishing expedition will continue. “It’s no secret that Darwin... is a favourite amongst our drivers, teams and our staff,” he said. “Year after year we can’t wait to get back to the special feeling of the Top End and this particular weekend. Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson said that the event was loved by Territorians and visitors alike. “The V8 Supercars weekend has become a great celebration of our Territory lifestyle – starting with the truck convoy through the city on Thursday and ending with great music on Sunday night – this year with the Presets,” he said. Mr Henderson claimed that the race injects more than $8 million into the local economy.

HOLDEN: V8 SUPERCAR PROTEST WILL BE HEARD

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

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HOLDEN: V8 SUPERCAR PROTEST WILL BE HEARD

The protest by Holden teams against the controversial front splitter mountings on the all conquering Team Vodafone Falcons will now be heard. The Confederation of Australian Motorsport's V8 Supercar National Court of Appeal, has upheld an appeal lodged by Walkinshaw Performance and will now allow an official protest. The appeal was lodged against the decision by Stewards at the Symmons Plains round on 29 May, not hear the protest regarding the legality of the Team Vodafone splitter mount and the decisions and conduct of the V8 Supercar Category Technical Director, Campbell Little. In a statement released yesterday (June 9 2009) the Court of Appeal ruled that: 1. That the Appeal be allowed; 2. The time limit for lodging of the Protest by Walkinshaw Performance, dated 22 May 2009, be extended to 22 May 2009; 3. Direct that CAMS reconvene, for the purpose of Hearing the Protest by Walkinshaw Performance alone, the Stewards of the Meeting held on the 1-3 May 2009 at Winton Motor Raceway, or appoint other Stewards as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Rule A10.1.3.14; 4. That the Appeal Fee be refunded to the Appellant; 5. Direct that the Protest Fee be reinstated; 6. Direct that CAMS give notice of this decision to Triple Eight Race Engineering Pty Ltd and inform that person that they have a right to be heard at the Hearing; 7. Direct that the Stewards conduct the Hearing promptly; 8. Liberty to the parties and Triple Eight Race Engineering Pty Ltd to apply for further orders if necessary. The V8 Supercar National Court of Appeal said that it will give its full decision regarding this matter in writing within 14 days. The controversy over the splitter mounting has led to the resignation of V8 Supercars Technical Director Campbell Little. In a statement issued last Monday Little said that he had arrived at the decision in recent weeks.

LOWNDES ON TOP AS TANDER HITS OUT

Saturday, May 2, 2009

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It was no surprise that a Triple 8 Falcon crossed the line first in today's V8 Supercar championship race at Winton, what was surprising is that it wasn't Jamie Whincup. Craig Lowndes drove a superb tactical race to lead home his team-mate as Fords took the top three places. In the debut race for the new soft option tyres Lowndes and his team picked the perfect strategy, starting on the normal control tyre before switching to the new option tyre late in the race. The move allowed Lowndes to move from fifth though to the lead late in the race as Whincup who switched tyres on the opening lap of the race struggled for grip. "We spent about one and a half or two hours last night trying to figure out what the best strategy would be because no one knew." Lowndes said after the race. Third place went to Ford Performance Racing driver Steven Richards who also chose to switch to the option tyre late in the race and it nearly paid off as he just missed out on second place. Rick Kelly was the first Holden home in fourth place. Kelly started on the option tyre before switching to the control tyre late in the race. Despite missing the podium he was relatively happy with his race. "... when you finish fourth it’s always extremely frustrating because you're so close to getting a podium and it would have been fantastic to get the first ever podium for Kelly Racing here today. he said. “Not to worry - we should be happy with the job we've done and we’ll do our very best to make sure we're in the top 10 again tomorrow."