COURTNEY PIPS BRIGHT IN V8 DESERT THRILLER

Defending series Champion James Courtney won a thrilling second race in the opening round of the 2011 Australi... sorry.. INTERNATIONAL V8 Supercar Series at Abu Dhabi. Courtney overcame a disastrous opening race to take the win from Team BOCs Jason Bright. The pair running  wheel to wheel for the last few laps, with  the lead changing three times in as many corners at one stage. It was Courtney’s first win for his new team, a brilliant podium to Bright and a third to current Championship leader Jamie Whincup who tore through the field from the back in the final stint.

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.

US MUSCLE CELEBRATES AUSSIE LEGEND

COMMODORE CUP CHAMP GUILTY OF SERIOUS ASSAULT

Reigning Australian Commodore Cup Champion Michael Tancredi has been remanded for sentencing after pleading guilty to a vicious street assault which left a Geelong man with serious head injuries. Tancredi and his then friend, Andrew Pamvouxoglou, both pleaded guilty in the Geelong County Court on Wednesday to a charge of  recklessly causing serious injury. According to Police, the assault, which took place back in 2007, occurred as the victim left the Eureka Hotel in Geelong and was waiting for a taxi. The victim was taken to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne where he remained in a coma for 24 hours with bleeding from the brain. He then spent a further six months undergoing rehabilitation.

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.