Speedcafe.com Race Guide - Tasmania Challenge

Tasmania Challenge, marCh 30-april 1

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Tech Preview

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Mark Winterbottom and Jamie Whincup duked it out at Symmons Plains last year, with the TeamVodafone driver eventually coming out on top.

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SYMMONSEDITOR:Stefan Bartholomaeus

DESIGN:Kirstie Fuentes

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IMAGES:Alexandre PrematBrad Jones RacingFord Performance RacingGarry Rogers MotorsportHolden MotorsportMichael PatriziStone Brothers RacingTaz DouglasTeamVodafoneTony D’Alberto RacingVIP Petfoods RacingWilson Security Racing

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Stefan Bartholomaeus

Journalist, Speedcafe.comEditor, Speedcafe Race Guides

Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Introduction

Predicting where the Tasmania Challenge will be slotted into the V8 Supercars Championship calendar is rarely an easy task.

Just three championship events have been held since the V8 Supercars last raced at the Symmons Plains circuit, continuing a tradition of date shuffling for the event.

Having had to endure a lengthy and rather public negotiation process between V8 Supercars and the government about whether the category would return at all in 2012, perhaps it’s just reward for the local fans that the event has come around again so soon.

It’s a good thing that the two parties have been able to make the economics work, because Symmons Plains brings its own unique charm to the calendar.It may not have the glamour of the street races, but it’s a cracking circuit to watch a V8 Supercar strut its stuff, particularly through the Turn 1-2 complex.

Racing wise, the short and sharp nature of Symmons almost makes it our version of NASCAR’s Bristol ‘bullring’.

The racing is super tight, and the possibility of going a lap down in the pitstop cycle is something that teams always have to factor in.

This weekend’s mixed tyre format will further increase the frequency of cars popping on and off the lead lap, and as always with the twin-compound races, Safety Car timing will be critical.

With Ford Performance Racing throwing down a major challenge to TeamVodafone across the opening two events of 2012, it’s set to be a cracking weekend of racing.

Back to the front

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This incident involving James Courtney, Jamie Whincup, Karl Reindler, David Wall, Taz Douglas and Russell Ingall at the Australian Grand Prix meeting required Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport’s Commodore to head from Albert Park to Symmons Plains via Triple Eight’s Brisbane workshop.

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New Territory

Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Cover Story

FPR heads to Symmons Plains as the team to beat

Ford Performance Racing finds itself in an unfamiliar position heading into the second round of the 2012 V8 Supercars Championship at Symmons Plains.

Having scored a one-two finish in Sunday’s second leg of the Clipsal 500, Will Davison and Mark Winterbottom arrive in Tasmania as arguably the pair to beat.

The factory Ford squad has not before left the opening round at the head of the points standings, and recently underlined its Adelaide performance with an overall victory in the non-points scoring Australian Grand Prix event at Albert Park.

Speedcafe.com’s Grant Rowley discussed the current feeling within the team with its principal Tim Edwards.

SPEEDCAFE: Ford Performance Racing is traditionally very strong in Tasmania. This year, you head there on top of the tables as the form team. Does that bring an extra level of pressure of this weekend?

TIM EDWARDS: It doesn’t bring any more pressure than we put on ourselves compared to any other round of the championship. Tassie has been a good stomping ground for us over the years, but the challenge with Symmons Plains is that it’s such a short lap, the whole field is so close, and you’ve only got to have the smallest thing go wrong in any area and it can have a big impact.

We’re going into Tassie what we’ve done in the last two events – doing all of the little things as best we can. We’re not going there thinking there’s more pressure because we’re at the head of the table. We’re not focused on that at all. We’re going there to do the best job we can and do the little things right.

SPEEDCAFE: Given that you’ve stamped your claim in the first two events of 2012, was it those little things in years gone by which have let the team down?

EDWARDS: You have to remember that championship is just so incredibly close. No one is doing a bad job. In every area, you are only looking for the little things. There’s no ‘silver bullet.’ There’s no moment when you sit back and say ‘there it is, that one thing that has turned us around’. It’s a combination of a bunch of little things.

For example, our pit crew is fitter than it has ever been. They are training four days a week, 6am in the morning, and they are doing that on their own accord. They are fitter than they’ve ever been, they’ve done more pit stop practice than they’ve done in the past.

There’s no one thing we’re doing better, it’s just a whole host of things.

SPEEDCAFE: If these results continue, you may end up in a situation where you have two drivers fighting for the title – not a bad

position to be in. Is that something you take race-by-race or do you have a plan?

EDWARDS: I couldn’t even comment on that at this stage. There’s a long way to go in the championship. It would be a wonderful position to be in, but that’s pie in the sky stuff.

We’re just focussed on everyone doing their job right – and that includes the drivers. If we come out at the race weekend and they’re both fighting for the race win, then that’s fantastic. If one finishes first and one second, then that’s the best possible scenario. The only better scenario would be that we finish first, second and third. And to be honest, I don’t mind which order they are in! That is eutopia, but we’re not quite there yet.

SPEEDCAFE: While you say you’re not getting too far ahead of yourself, it has been a great start to the year. What’s the vibe like within the team?

EDWARDS: Everybody is pushing as hard as they can, but to be honest, that is no different to where we were at 12 months ago. Now, I guess everyone has a little extra spring in their step.

We can’t rest on our laurels. Everyone needs to keep working hard. Nothing changes there. Are we more focused? I don’t think so. We are probably just a bit older and wiser 12 months on with the stability of the same

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10 Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Cover Story

group of people. The have the same group of guys working together that we didn’t have 12 months ago. Stability is a big thing, but winning a championship is still a million miles away ...

SPEEDCAFE: David Reynolds, driving The Bottle-O Racing Falcon entry, has adapted quickly and seems comfortable in his new environment. Is it a matter of ‘if’ or ‘when’ he’ll be challenging the likes of Frosty and Davo?

EDWARDS: It’s a matter of when, and our challenge is to keep him calm. He is seeing his team-mates on the podium, he wants to be there with them. He might finish sixth and he’s bitterly disappointed.

We’ve had to coach him a bit, telling him to learn the car and learn the team. It will eventually come to him.

He is doing a fantastic job at the moment, and our biggest challenge is to keep him calm. I’d say he’s impatient. We need to curb his enthusiasm, make sure he’s

doing a good job and not try to overdrive the car – just let it grow on him. He needs to recognise that he’s beating our expectations.

SPEEDCAFE: And your Dunlop Series driver Chaz Mostert isn’t letting the team down either. He is undefeated so far ...

EDWARDS: It’s the same mentality as our Championship campaign. Chaz won both races in Adelaide by over eight seconds, but he has his feet on the ground – he realises that every round is not going to be like that.

He is a well-grounded individual. At the moment, he’s just concentrating on his apprenticeship as a mechanic.

SPEEDCAFE: So, what’s your long-term plan for him?

EDWARDS: Our plan is that he’ll complete his qualifications with us and continue to drive for us ...

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www.clipsal500.com.au

12 Races 1 - Clipsal 500 I Showdown

13Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Circuit Info

Circuit Details:Location: Symmons Plains, Launceston, TASLength: 2.4-kilometresDirection: Anti-clockwiseAverage speed: 167km/hMaximum speed: 270km/hFastest Point: Back StraightSlowest Point: Turn 4 Hairpin

Circuit Description:The shortest on the V8 Supercars calendar, the Symmons Plains circuit provides two strong passing opportunities (Turn 4 and Turn 6), in addition to a complex opening sequence of corners (Turns 1-2) that often sees even Australia’s best drivers come unstuck. The surface is relatively smooth and high-grip, while strong braking and power-down characteristics are rewarded. The championship returns to Symmons Plains less than five months after its last visit, with the Tasmanian event having previously held the position as the 12th event on the calendar. This year marks the 40th occasion in which the Australian Touring Car Championship/V8 Supercars Championship visits Symmons Plains Raceway. The track hosted the championship for 30 consecutive years prior to a four year absence beginning in 2000.

V8 Supercars Qualifying Lap Record:Qualifying 2011 Paul Dumbrell (Ford Falcon FG), 51.3062s (2011)V8 Supercars Race Lap Record:Race 2009 Rick Kelly (Holden Commodore VE), 51.4713s (2009)

Event Format:Friday:Practice: 1 x 30 min (lower 50% of championship only)Practice: 2 x 20 min practice with 10 minute break in between (all drivers)Saturday:Practice: 1 x 30 min, Qualifying: 1 x 20 min, Race: 1 x 140kmSunday: Practice: 1 x 30 min, Qualifying: 1 x 20 min, Race: 1 x 200km

Tyre Format:Two sets of hard and four sets of soft compound tyres will be allocated to each car for the weekend. Drivers will have to use at least one set of each compound during the two races, and will be free to use either during the two qualifying sessions. Pre-marked hard tyres may also be used across the five practice sessions.

SyMMonS PLAInS InTERnATIonAL RACEWAy

14 Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Tech Preview

When we were here late last season we only had the soft tyres to think about, but this year we’ll be switching between the two which obviously has a big affect on strategy.

The 2012 mixed tyre format is quite different to what we’ve seen in the past, in that we’ll actually have quite a few softs to play with (four sets of softs, in addition to two sets of hards, to be spread across qualifying and racing).

The first race will be nine laps longer than last year (140km instead of 120km), which will mean 26 or 27 laps on hards at either end of the race. Then for Sunday’s 200km race we’ll see two stints on softs and one on hards.

The fuel windows mean that approximately a third

of the first race will be on hards, and the fun part will be choosing whether that’s going to be the first stint or the second stint.

Each team’s decision on that will be determined not only by their thoughts on the risk of Safety Cars, but also by their qualifying position. If you’re at the front then you risk being turned around starting on the hards, but if you’re a bit further back in the field then you’ve got to look at the potential for your softs to be wasted while you work your way through the traffic.

Something else to consider at Symmons Plains as well is the fact that, if we get to the point where there’s someone on softs and someone on hards for the first 20-odd laps, then we will see people

TECH PREVIEW withCAMPBELL LITTLE

The hard tyre will really throw a curveball into the Symmons Plains event this year.

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getting lapped. That has the potential to cause mass confusion if a Safety Car is called at the wrong moment, which is something we’ve seen there in the past.

Really, the pit windows in both races will come down to a combination whose got the best tyre degradation and who can stop the earliest (and still make it home on fuel). So it’s going to be about who’s the bravest in those two areas, as well as minimising how much you get held up in lapped traffic throughout the race.

QualifyingThe soft tyre allocation means we can have two green tyre runs in each qualifying session, but we rarely see tracks get slower as a qualifying session goes on, so as ever the second set should be the important one.

We saw in Adelaide that getting a clear lap is a bit of a circus, and it really comes down to chance. It’s normally worse in Tassie than in Adelaide, so we’ll wait and see if V8 Supercars steps in with any last minute instructions for the drivers. The new practice format (having sessions in the morning prior to qualifying) might have some effect on how qualifying plays out. Normally we see a lot of people going out in qualifying with new brakes and various bits and pieces, and in that first run doing three or four laps to get gearbox temp, diff temp, and brake temp up. That meant the first run was only ever really a banker in the past. We’ll see if that changes this weekend.

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DID YOUKNOW ?

Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Did you know

Will Davison currently leads the V8 Supercars Championship for the first time in his career.The Tradingpost FPR Ford driver holds a slender 18-point margin to reigning champion Jamie Whincup after his victory at the Clipsal 500 earlier this month.While Whincup has won seven races in his career at Symmons Plains, Davison is yet to score his first. His best result remains second on Sunday in 2009 (to Whincup) and second on Sunday last year (also to Whincup). Davison was, however, the top points scoring driver in the pair of races in 2009.

IRWIN Racing’s Lee Holdsworth and Jack Daniel’s Racing’s Rick Kelly will both rack up milestones this weekend.Saturday’s race will mark Holdsworth’s 200th and Kelly’s 300th V8 Supercars Championship race start.Holdsworth made his debut with Smiths Trucks Racing in the 2004 Sandown 500, and has two victories (Oran Park 2007 and Sydney Olympic Park 2010) to his name.

Kelly’s debut had come at the same venue three years earlier with the Holden Young Lions. The now 29-year-old has since clocked up 12 race wins, including the 2003 and 2004 Bathurst 1000s.Holdsworth and Kelly sit sixth and ninth respectively in the 2012 points standings after the opening event in Adelaide.

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Steven Johnson’s 10th place finish in Race 1 of the 2012 Clipsal 500 was his first top 10 race result since Queensland Raceway last August.The second-generation driver had a miserable second half of 2011, failing to qualify or finish in the top 10 from Phillip Island onwards. Earlier in the year he’d had two podium results and sat as high as fifth in points.Johnson is the best of the four drivers run by Dick Johnson Racing, 11th in the championship after the Clipsal 500. Steve Owen is 16th, Dean Fiore 17th and James Moffat 23rd.

While Symmons Plains is a long-standing venue in the history of the ATCC/V8SC, there is even more Australian Touring Car Championship history a short drive down the road from the circuit at Longford.The site of the single race that determined the 1962 ATCC, Longford hosted some of the world’s most famous drivers over its life span from 1953 to 1968, with Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Jim Clark and Graham Hill among them.It’s a shade over 50 years ago that Longford hosted the ATCC on March 3, 1962. Bob Jane won in his Jaguar 3.8, leading home Bill Pitt and Bill Burns in their 3.4-litre Jaguars in a 15-lap race around the 7.245 kilometre circuit.Most of the original track is now overgrown or inaccessible to the public, but importantly, the famous Flying Mile remains and was the scene last weekend of the Longford Revival Festival.

Former V8 Supercars Champion James Courtney sits last in the points after the Clipsal 500, and has a poor record at Symmons Plains.The #22 Holden Racing Team pilot had his best ever race result in Tasmania – fifth – back in the opening race of 2006. That was his very first race at the circuit.In the nine races held from 2008 onwards at Symmons Plains, Courtney had only had two top 10 finishes (which were both 10th places) in 2008 and on Saturday in 2011.Partially explaining his results, Courtney hasn’t qualified in the top 10 in Tasmania since 2009.

Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Did you know

18 Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I The Bag Man

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19Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Driver Profiles

Triple Eight

#1 Jamie Whincup

#888 Craig Lowndes

THE BAGMAn’S SAy...In all the buzz surrounding Ford Performance Racing’s recent

victories, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Jamie Whincup was the real pace-setter in Adelaide.

The Saturday race at the Clipsal 500 was one of the most convincing displays ever seen from the three-time champion, who also won both races here last year. It’s rarely a good idea to bet against Whincup, no matter what the opposition’s form is like.

Poor qualifying destroyed Craig Lowndes’ 2011 Symmons event, but the veteran was in fine one-lap form in Adelaide, and should push Whincup hard this weekend on a circuit he enjoys.

Base: Banyo, QueenslandCar: Holden Commodore VEIIChassis: Triple Eight Race EngineeringEngines: KRE Team principal: Roland Dane

Team: TeamVodafoneBorn: 6 February 1983V8SC debut: Queensland, 2002Starts: 247 Wins: 54Career Highlights: 2008, 2009 & 2011 V8 Supercars Champion, 1st 2006, 2007 & 2008 Bathurst 1000, 2002 Australian Formula Ford Champion

Team: TeamVodafoneBorn: 21 June 1974V8SC debut: Calder Park, 1996Starts: 443 Wins: 82Career Highlights: 1996, 1998 & 1999 V8 Supercars Champion, 1st 1996, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 Bathurst 1000, 1993 Australian Formula Ford Champion

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Walkinshaw Racing

#2 Garth Tander

#22 James Courtney

#66 Russell Ingall

Base: Clayton, VictoriaCar: Holden Commodore VEIIChassis: Walkinshaw RacingEngines: Walkinshaw RacingTeam principal: Steve Hallam

Team: Toll Holden Racing TeamBorn: 31 March 1977V8SC debut: Phillip Island, 1998Starts: 412 Wins: 50Career Highlights: 2007 V8 Supercars Champion, 1st 2000, 2009 & 2011 Bathurst 1000, 1997 Australian Formula Ford Champion

Team: Toll Holden Racing Team Born: 29 June 1980V8SC debut: Sandown, 2005Starts: 191 Wins: 9Career Highlights: 2010 V8 Supercars Champion, 2001 British Formula Ford Champion, 2002 Jaguar F1 test driver, 2000 British Formula Ford Champion

Team: Supercheap Auto RacingBorn: 24 February 1964V8SC debut: Eastern Creek, 1996Starts: 477 Wins: 27Career Highlights: 2005 V8 Supercars Champion, 1st 1995 & 1997 Bathurst 1000,1st 1998 Sandown 500 & 1999 Queensland 500, 1993 British Formula Ford Champion

THE BAGMAn’S SAy...Little seems to have changed over the off-season at the Holden

Racing Team, with Garth Tander continuing to put his team-mate in the shade during the first two events of 2012.

Mechanical failure cost Courtney dearly in Adelaide, while a minor misjudgement at the Grand Prix triggered a major accident and a barrage of criticism of the 2010 champion’s driving.

Courtney’s record at Symmons Plains is poor, and qualifying inside the top 10 will be a significant achievement.

Conversely, Tander’s driving style suits Symmons to a tee, and the #2 Commodore could well prove the only one able to hang onto the back of the TeamVodafone/FPR battle.

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Stone Brothers Racing

#4 Lee Holdsworth

#9 Shane van Gisbergen

#47 Tim Slade

Base: Yatla, QueenslandCar: Ford Falcon FGChassis: Stone Brothers RacingEngines: Stone Brothers RacingTeam principal: Ross Stone

Team: IRWIN RacingBorn: 2 February 1983.V8SC debut: Sandown, 2004Starts: 199 Wins: 2Career Highlights: 1st 2010 V8 Supercars Race 26 (Sydney), 1st 2007 V8 Supercars Round 8 (Oran Park), 3rd 2009 Bathurst 1000, 7th 2010 V8 Supercars Championship

Team: SP Tools RacingBorn: 9 May 1989V8SC deubt: Oran Park, 2007 Starts: 136 Wins: 2Career Highlights: 1st 2011 ITM400 Hamilton (Race 6), 1st 2011 Skycity Triple Crown (Race 12), 2005/06 NZ FFord Champion, 2nd 2006/07 Toyota Racing Series

Team: Lucky 7 RacingBorn: 3 August 1985V8SC debut: Adelaide, 2009Starts: 81 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 2nd 2005 Australian Formula Ford Championship, 7th 2008 V8 Supercars Development Series, 9th 2011 V8 Supercars Championship

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THE BAGMAn’S SAy...Stone Brothers Racing’s 2012 season got off to a quiet start in

Adelaide, with all three of its cars proving unable to match the outright speed, or fuel consumption, of the leading contenders.

All three drivers scored solid points in Adelaide regardless, with Lee Holdsworth impressively taking a top five on debut.

Shane van Gisbergen took a race win at Albert Park, but a repeat performance will be a tough ask going on last year’s Symmons form. That said, all three drivers are capable of sneaking into the top five.

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24 Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Driver Profiles

Ford Performance Racing

#5 Mark Winterbottom

#6 Will Davison

#55 David Reynolds

Base: Campbelfield, VictoriaCar: Ford Falcon FGChassis: Ford Performance RacingEngines: Ford Performance RacingTeam principal: Tim Edwards

Team: Orrcon Steel FPRBorn: 20 May 1981V8SC debut: Sandown, 2003Starts: 246 Wins: 17Career Highlights: 1st 2006 Sandown 500, 1st 2003 V8 Supercars Development Series, 2nd 2008 V8 Supercars Championship, 2nd 2002 Australian Formula Ford Championship

Team: Tradingpost FPRBorn: 30 August 1982V8SC debut: Winton, 2004Starts: 196 Wins: 7Career Highlights: 1st 2009 Bathurst 1000, 1st 2009 Phillip Island 500, 2nd 2009 V8 Supercars Championship, 2001 Australian Formula Ford Champion

Team: The Bottle-O RacingBorn: July 1985.V8SC debut: Sandown, 2007Starts: 51 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 2007 Australian Carrera Cup Champion, 2004 Australian Formula Ford Champion, 4th 2008 V8 Supercars Development Series

THE BAGMAn’S SAy...Ford Performance Racing is currently in the form of its life, with

Will Davison leading the team to a one-two result at the Clipsal 500, and Mark Winterbottom taking the overall victory at Albert Park.

The factory Ford squad appeared to have the complete package at those two events, with car speed matched by strong fuel economy and quick pitstops.

Last year’s Symmons Plains event was one of FPR’s strongest for the season, although on-track intra-team squabbling arguably cost them a race victory.

With David Reynolds already showing plenty of promise in the team’s third car, managing all three entries may again prove vital this weekend.

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Kelly Racing

#7 Todd Kelly

#11 Karl Reindler

Base: Braeside, VictoriaCar: Holden Commodore VEIIChassis: Kelly RacingEngines: Kelly RacingTeam principals: Rick and Todd Kelly

Team: Jack Daniel’s RacingBorn: 9 October 1979V8SC debut: Eastern Creek, 1999Starts: 358 Wins: 19Career Highlights: 1st 2005 Bathurst 1000, 1st 2003 Sandown 500, 2nd 1998 Australian Drivers’ Championship, 2nd 2006 Bathurst 1000, 2nd 2006 Bathurst 1000

Team: Fair Dinkum Sheds RacingBorn: 18 April 1985V8SC debut: Bathurst, 2008Starts: 58 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 2004 Australian F3 Champion, 8th 2008 V8 Supercars Development Series, 3rd 2006 A1GP Shanghai Feature Race

THE BAGMAn’S SAy...Kelly Racing has made a late change to its driver line-up for the

Tasmania Challenge, with its Development Series driver David Russell replacing an injured Greg Murphy.

Russell has six previous V8 Supercars Championship starts to his name but is yet to tackle a solo event. On that basis, out-pacing either Todd Kelly, who himself struggled with a foot injury at Albert Park, or Karl Reindler will be a great result.

Todd Kelly enjoyed one of his best events of the season here last year - matching the pace of brother Rick Kelly.

With tyre life and fuel consumption both suspect, a top 10 for any of these cars will be a good performance.


#15 Rick KellyTeam: Jack Daniel’s RacingBorn: 7 January 1983V8SC debut: Queensland, 2001Starts: 299 Wins: 12Career Highlights: 2006 V8 Supercars Champion, 1st 2003 & 2004 Bathurst 1000 , 2001 Australian Drivers’ Champion, 2nd 2000 Australian Formula Ford Championship

#51 David RussellTeam: Pepsi Max CrewBorn: 4 January 1982V8SC debut: Bathurst, 2003Starts: 6 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 3rd 2009 and 2011 V8 Supercars Development Series, 3rd 2008 Australian Carrera Cup, 5th 2010 V8 Supercars Development Series

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Brad Jones Racing

#8 Jason Bright

#14 Fabian Coulthard

#21 David Wall

Base: Albury, VictoriaCar: Holden Commodore VEIIChassis: Walkinshaw RacingEngines: Noonan Race EnginesTeam principal: Chris Clark

Team: Team BOCBorn: 7 March 1973V8SC debut: Symmons Plains, 1997 Starts: 385 Wins: 30Career Highlights: 1st 1998 Bathurst 1000, 1995 Australian Formula Ford Champion, 1997 Australian Drivers’ Champion, 1st 2006 Sandown 500

Team: Lockwood RacingBorn: 28 July 1982V8SC debut: Oran Park, 2004Starts: 158 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 2005 Australian Carrera Cup Champion, 2001 NZ Formula Ford Champion, 3rd 2004 Australian Carrera Cup, 4th 2000 NZ Formula Ford Championship

Team: Wilson Security RacingBorn: 1 January 1983V8SC debut: Phillip Island, 2009Starts: 8 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 2009 & 2010 Australian GT Champion, 3rd 2007 Australian GT Championship, 11th 2011 V8 Supercars Development Series

THE BAGMAn’S SAy...Fabian Coulthard was undoubtedly one of the positive stories

both at Adelaide and Albert Park, with the Kiwi jagging strong results at both circuits. A mixed tyre event at Symmons Plains in 2009 handed Coulthard the only podium finish of his career so far, and with strategy calls one of BJR’s key strengths, more top 10s could be on the cards.

Team-mate Jason Bright was forced to pull out of last year’s Symmons event halfway through due to a shoulder injury, and has endured a horror start to 2012 with major shunts at the opening two events. The 1998 Bathurst winner will be keen to re-establish his role as team leader at Symmons, but challenging the top teams looks unlikely.


Dick Johnson Racing

#12 Dean Fiore

#17 Steven Johnson

Base: Yatla, QueenslandCar: Ford Falcon FGChassis: Triple Eight Race EngineeringEngines: InoV8 (Roger Higgins)Team principal: Dick Johnson

Team: Jim Beam RacingBorn: 1 December 1983V8SC debut: Adelaide, 2009Starts: 82 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 2nd 2008 Australian Carrera Cup Championship, 4th 2005 Australian Formula Ford Championship, 5th 2007 Australian Carrera Cup Championship

Team: Jim Beam RacingBorn: 6 September 1974V8SC debut: Oran Park, 1994Starts: 387 Wins: 3Career Highlights: 1st 2001 Queensland 500, 1st 2001 Canberra 400, 5th 2001 V8 Supercars Championship, 6th 2009 V8 Supercars Championship

THE BAGMAn’S SAy...All four Dick Johnson Racing Falcons have proven off the pace so

far this year, and there’s nothing to suggest that fact may change this weekend.

Although the mixed tyre races will provide more of opportunity for a surprise result than Adelaide, the team’s slump has proven hard to break regardless of the race or tyre formats since taking hold midway through last year.

The team did not manage to get any of its drivers into the top half of the field in qualifying at the Clipsal 500- a feat that, if repeated this weekend, will make things very difficult on the tight Symmons layout.


#18 James Moffat

#49 Steve Owen

Team: Team Norton DJRBorn: 18 June 1984V8SC debut: Phillip Island, 2010Starts: 32 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 2nd 2009 V8 Development Series, 3rd 2008 Australian Carrera Cup Championship, 3rd 2007 Australian Formula Ford Championship

Team: VIP Petfoods RacingBorn: 18 December 1974V8SC debut: Bathurst, 1999Starts: 136 Wins: 1Career Highlights: 1st 2008 & 2010 V8 Supercars Development Series, 1st 2010 V8 Supercars Race 20 (Gold Coast), 2nd 1999 Australian Formula Ford Championship

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Tekno Autosports

#19 Jonathon Webb

#91 Michael Patrizi

Base: Stapylton, QueenslandCar: Holden Commodore VEIIChassis: Triple Eight Race EngineeringEngines: KRETeam principal: Jonathon Webb

Team: Tekno AutosportsBorn: 10 December 1983V8SC debut: Sandown, 2006Starts: 63 Wins: 1Career Highlights: 1st 2009 V8 Supercars Development Series, 3rd 2005 Australian Carrera Cup Championship, 2010 V8 Supercars Race 26 winner

Team: Tekno AutosportsBorn: 4 May 1984V8SC debut: Adelaide, 2008Starts: 32 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 2nd 2005 Formula BMW Asia,, 8th 2006 Formula BMW UK, 18th 2007 Formula 3 Euroseries, 6th 2011 Australian Carrera Cup Championship

THE BAGMAn’S SAy...Jonathon Webb will be itching to get back into his own car

this weekend after competing at the Grand Prix event with a car borrowed from Paul Morris Motorsport.

Webb went from hero to zero in Adelaide - qualifying a stunning fourth on Saturday, before crashing out of the weekend in a qualifying accident on Sunday morning.

The 28-year-old ran strongly here last year in his Triple Eight Ford, and may again prove a top 15 threat.

For team-mate Michael Patrizi, continuing to quietly gather points the way he did in Adelaide will mark a successful weekend.


Garry Rogers Motorsport

#33 Alexandre Premat

#34 Michael Caruso

Base: Knoxfield, VictoriaCar: Holden Commodore VEIIChassis: Garry Rogers MotorsportEngines: Walkinshaw RacingTeam manager: Pierluigi Orsi

Team: Fujitsu Racing GRMBorn: 5 April 1982V8SC debut: Adelaide, 2012Starts: 2 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 2008 Le Mans Series Champion, 1st 2005-06 A1 GP Series (Team France), 1st 2004 Macau Grand Prix, 1st 2004 Masters of F3

Team: Fujitsu Racing GRMBorn: 25 May 1983V8SC debut: Bathurst, 2006Starts: 122 Wins: 1Career Highlights: 2003 Australian Formula 3 Champion, 3rd 2009 Bathurst 1000, 1st 2009 V8 Supercars Race 10 (Hidden Valley), 2nd 2007 V8 Supercars Development Series

THE BAGMAn’S SAy...Alexdre Premat has performed admirably in his early V8 Supercars

outings. The Frenchman qualified in the 20s for both races in Adelaide, but proved undeterred by racing in the at times ferocious midfield battle. Staying out of trouble will be an even more difficult task at Symmons Plains however - a circuit that contrasts greatly with the European venues he is most used to.

Caruso meanwhile would have had higher hopes for his start to the year - a top 10 qualifying effort on Sunday in Adelaide coming to naught with a first lap spin.

Top 10 results will again be tough as the team focuses on bringing Premat up to speed.

35

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Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport

#30 Taz Douglas

Base: Nunawading, VictoriaCar: Holden Commodore VEIIChassis: Triple Eight Race EngineeringEngines: KRETeam principal: Lucas Dumbrell

Team: Lucas Dumbrell MotorsportBorn: 11 February 1985V8SC debut: Phillip Island, 2009Starts: 7 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 1st 2010 V8 Supercars Development Series Sandown Race 2, 8th 2007 Australian Formula Ford Championship, 9th 2009 V8 Supercars Development Series

Tony D’Alberto Racing

#3 Tony D’Alberto

Base: Knoxfield, VictoriaCar: Ford Falcon FGChassis: Ford Performance RacingEngines: Ford Performance RacingTeam principal: Al D’Alberto

Team: Tony D’Alberto RacingBorn: 9 December 1985V8SC debut: Sandown, 2005Starts: 124 Wins: 0Career Highlights: 1st 2007 V8 Supercars Development Series, 6th 2007 Bathurst 1000, 5th 2005 V8 Supercars Development Series, 9th 2011 Bathurst 1000

THE BAGMAn’S SAy...Tony D’Alberto could well be on for a career best weekend

in Tasmania. The Victorian qualified well among the top 10 on Saturday at Symmons Plains last year, and should again benefit from a highly competitive FPR package.

The #3 Falcon narrowly missed the top 10 in qualifying for both races in Adelaide, and heads to the second points scoring event a solid 15th in the standings.

THE BAGMAn’S SAy...Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport’s Commodore has headed from

Albert Park to Symmons Plains the hard way. The Triple Eight chassis was repaired in Brisbane following the multi-car Race 3 crash that saw the #30 Commodore out for the weekend.

Coupled with a crash in the opening of the season in Adelaide, it’s been a horror start to the season for rookie Taz Douglas and the team.

It hasn’t been all bad however, who qualified 23rd and 24th for the two Adelaide races in a team that is used to being at the very back of the grid.

Finishes in the 10-20 bracket are a realistic goal, especially in these mixed tyre races.

37Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Race Stats

CHAMPIonSHIP STAnDInGSPos Driver Team Car Pts

1 Will Davison Trading Post FPR Ford Falcon FG 288

2 Jamie Whincup TeamVodafone Holden Commodore VE 270

3 Garth Tander Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE 258

4 Mark Winterbottom Orrcon Steel FPR Ford Falcon FG 222

5 Craig Lowndes TeamVodafone Holden Commodore VE 206

6 Lee Holdsworth IRWIN Racing Holden Commodore VE 201

7 Fabian Coulthard Lockwood Racing Holden Commodore VE 186

8 Shane Van Gisbergen SP Tools Racing Ford Falcon FG 174

9 Rick Kelly Jack Daniel’s Racing Holden Commodore VE 168

10 Tim Slade Lucky 7 Racing Ford Falcon FG 147

11 Steven Johnson Jim Beam Racing Ford Falcon FG 132

12 Russell Ingall Supercheap Auto Racing Holden Commodore VE 132

13 Todd Kelly Jack Daniel’s Racing Holden Commodore VE 126

14 Michael Patrizi Tekno Autosports Holden Commodore VE 123

15 Tony D’Alberto Tony D’Alberto Racing Ford Falcon FG 111

16 Steve Owen VIP Petfoods Racing Ford Falcon FG 111

17 Dean Fiore Jim Beam Racing Ford Falcon FG 105

18 Alexandre Premat Fujitsu Racing GRM Holden Commodore VE 105

19 David Reynolds The Bottle-O Racing Ford Falcon FG 96

20 David Wall Wilson Security Racing Holden Commodore VE 93

21 Karl Reindler Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing Holden Commodore VE 90

22 Michael Caruso Fujitsu Racing GRM Holden Commodore VE 78

23 James Moffat Team Norton DJR Ford Falcon FG 60

24 Jason Bright Team BOC Holden Commodore VE 57

25 Jonathon Webb Tekno Autosport Holden Commodore VE 36

26 Greg Murphy Pepsi Max Crew Holden Commodore VE 33

27 Taz Douglas Team iSelect Holden Commodore VE 33

28 James Courtney Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE 30

38

RECEnT SyMMonS PLAInS RACE WInnERS

Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Race Stats

year Driver Team Car

2011 Jamie Whincup TeamVodafone Holden Commodore VE

Jamie Whincup TeamVodafone Holden Commodore VE

2010 Mark Winterbottom Orrcon Steel FPR Ford Falcon FG

Craig Lowndes TeamVodafone Holden Commodore VE

2009 Jamie Whincup TeamVodafone Ford Falcon FG

Garth Tander Toll Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE

2008 Jamie Whincup TeamVodadone Ford Falcon BF

Jamie Whincup TeamVodafone Ford Falcon BF

Todd Kelly Jack Daniel’s Racing Holden Commodore VE

2007 Jamie Whincup TeamVodafone Ford Falcon BF

Jamie Whincup TeamVodafone Ford Falcon BF

Garth Tander Toll HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VE

2006 Garth Tander Toll HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VZ

Garth Tander Toll HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VZ

Jason Bright Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon BA

2005 Garth Tander HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VZ

Garth Tander HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VZ

Garth Tander HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VZ

2004 David Besnard WPS Racing Ford Falcon BA

Marcos Ambrose Stone Borthers Racing Ford Falcon BA

Rick Kelly K-Mart Racing Holden Commodore VY

1999 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT

Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT

Greg Murphy Wynns Racing Holden Commodore VT

1998 Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS

Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS

Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing Ford Falcon EL

1997 Greg Murphy Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS

Greg Murphy Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS

Peter Brock Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS

1996 Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VR

Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VR

Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VR

1995 Peter Brock Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VR

John Bowe Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon EF

1994 Mark Skaife Winfield Racing Holden Commodore VP

Mark Skaife Winfield Racing Holden Commodore VP

1993 Alan Jones Glenn Seton Racing Ford Falcon EB

Alan Jones Glenn Seton Racing Ford Falcon EB

1992 Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing Ford Sierra RS500

Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing Ford Sierra RS500

1991 Jim Richards Nissan Motorsport Australia Nissan Skyline GT-R R32

1990 Dick Johnson Shell Ultra-Hi Racing Ford Sierra RS500



1987 George Fury Peter Jackson Nissan Racing Nissan Skyline DR30

1986 Robbie Francevic Volvo Dealer Team Volvo 240T

39

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40 Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Race Stats

year Driver Team Car

2011 Jamie Whincup Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden Commodore VE

2010 James Courtney Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon FG

2009 Jamie Whincup Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon FG

2008 Jamie Whincup Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon BF

2007 Garth Tander Toll HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VE

2006 Rick Kelly Toll HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VZ

2005 Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon BA

2004 Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon BA

2003 Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon BA

2002 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VX

2001 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VX

2000 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VT

1999 Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS/VT

1998 Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VS/VT

1997 Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing Ford Falcon EL

1996 Craig Lowndes Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VR

1995 John Bowe Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon EF

1994 Mark Skaife Gibson Motor Sport Holden Commodore VP

1993 Glenn Seton Glenn Seton Racing Ford Falcon EB

1992 Mark Skaife Winfield Team Nissan Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R

1991 Jim Richards Gibson Motor Sport Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R

1990 Jim Richards Gibson Motor Sport Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R, R32 GT-R

1989 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Sierra RS500

1988 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Sierra RS500

1987 Jim Richards JPS Team BMW BMW M3 E30

1986 Robbie Francevic Volvo Dealer Team Volvo 240T

1985 Jim Richards JPS Team BMW BMW 635CSi

1984 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon XE

1983 Allan Moffat Peter Stuyvesant Racing Mazda RX-7

1982 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon XD

1981 Dick Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon XD

1980 Peter Brock Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Holden Commodore VB

1979 Bob Morris Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing Holden Torana LX SS A9X

1978 Peter Brock Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Holden Torana LX SS A9X

1977 Allan Moffat Moffat Ford Dealers Ford Falcon XB GT, XC

1976 Allan Moffat Allan Moffat Racing Ford Falcon XB GT

1975 Colin Bond Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Holden Torana LH SL/R 5000 L34

1974 Peter Brock Marlboro Holden Dealer Team Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1, LH SL/R 5000

1973 Allan Moffat Ford Motor Company Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III

1972 Bob Jane Bob Jane Racing Team Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1

1971 Bob Jane Bob Jane Racing Team Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1

1970 Norm Beechey Shell Racing Team Holden Monaro HT GTS350

1969 Ian Geoghegan Mustang Team Ford Mustang



1966 Ian Geoghegan Total Team Ford Mustang

1965 Norm Beechey Neptune Racing Team Ford Mustang

1964 Ian Geoghegan Total Team Ford Cortina GT

1963 Bob Jane Bob Jane Jaguar 3.8 Litre Mk II

1962 Bob Jane Bob Jane Jaguar 3.8 Litre Mk II

1961 Bill Pitt Bill Pitt Jaguar 3.4 Litre

1960 David McKay David McKay Jaguar 3.4 Litre

PAST ATCC/V8SC CHAMPIonS

41

BAMTours.indd 1 14/02/12 5:53 PM

www.bamtours.com.au

42 Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Event Schedule

Schedule of EventsFriday

Start Finish Category Duration Session

0900 0930 Formula 3 30 minutes Practice 1

0940 1000 V8 Utes 20 minutes Practice 1

1010 1030 Formula Ford 20 minutes Practice 1

1040 1100 Targa Invitational’s 20 minutes Practice 1

1120 1140 V8 Utes 20 minutes Practice 2

1150 1220 Formula 3 30 minutes Practice 2

1230 1250 Formula Ford 20 minutes Practice 2

1300 1330 V8 Supercars 30 minutes Practice - Part 1

(Lower 50%)

1340 1400 Targa Invitational’s 20 minutes Qualifying 1


(All Drivers)


(All Drivers)

1510 1530 V8 Utes 20 minutes Qualifying 1

SaturdayStart Finish Category Duration Session

0930 0945 Formula 3 15 minutes Qualifying 1

0950 1000 Formula 3 10 minutes Qualifying 2


(All Drivers)

1055 1115 Targa Invitationl’s 20 minutes Race 1

1130 1150 V8 Utes 20 minutes Race 1

1205 1225 Formula Ford 20 minutes Qualifying 1

1240 1300 Formula 3 20 minutes Race 1

1325 1345 V8 Supercars 20 minutes Qualifying

1400 1420 Targa Invitational’s 20 minutes Race 2


1510 1530 Formula Ford 20 minutes Race 1

1610 V8 Supercars 59 Laps Race 3 - 140km

SundayStart Finish Category Duration Session



(All Drivers)




1300 1320 V8 Supercars 20 minutes Qualifying




1535 V8 Supercars 84 Laps Race 4 - 200km


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43

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT CONVENIENCE STORE

Pauls Full Cream Milk 2Lt plus Buttercup & Local Bake 650-700g Bread (White, Thick, Wholemeal or Multigrain). While stocks last. Available at

participating stores.

$5 +Lucky 7 RacingTim Slade“Lucky 7 is My Store with More”

For your nearest store visit www.luckyseven.com.au

www.luckyseven.com.au

44

Craig Lowndes was the man to catch at Symmons Plains in 1998, taking two of the three races on his way to the round victory. While his career record stood at five wins from six starts after the event, the now TeamVodafone driver has tamed Tasmania just once in 24 subsequent attempts.

FLASHBACKRaces 3/4 - Symmons Plains I

45

www.pirtek.com.au

46

www.speedcafe.com

Documents

Speedcafe.com Race Guide - Tasmania Challenge