2008 MINI Challenge – Round 7 Preview

Round 7 of the inaugural Australian MINI CHALLENGE series takes place in Tasmania this weekend at Symmons Plains, south of Launceston. The UBER-STAR CARS will be filled by Western Bulldogs AFL star, and 2001 Brownlow Medallist, Jason Akermanis and eight time PGA Tour event winner Stuart Appleby.

Akermanis will be making his motor racing debut and knows he faces a huge challenge, “I’m excited about the opportunity, for sure,” he said. “In many respects, lining up on the grid is totally different to being on the MCG in front of 90,000 screaming fans, but there are similarities between racing and AFL, too.

“Both sports are about passion and dedication. I don’t think anyone has ever questioned the passion that I bring to anything that I’ve done in the past and I’m approaching this exactly the same.”

Stuart Appleby, however, has embraced his need for speed through competing in Targa Tasmania the last few years and building an enviable garage full of exotica (including the world’s only BMW M5 ute), but climbing aboard the MINI Challenge UBER-STAR CAR is an altogether different proposition. “I have fond memories of competing in Tasmania through the Targa event, so to return with MINI Challenge is going to be an absolute thrill!” Appleby enthused.

This weekend will also see a strong local flavour with DecoRug Racing team driver Paul Stokell returning home. Stokell, currently fifth in the MINI Challenge standings, will go into the weekend red hot favourite having cut his racing teeth on the Apple Isle.

Adding to the local lineup will be Jason White, 2005 Targa Tasmania winner. Jason’s Melbourne Performance Centre-tuned car will be supported by Iron House Brewery, that is about to launch its first product to market and sees MINI Challenge as the perfect way to do that. White said, “With the live TV this weekend, it’s a great way to get the word out there about Iron House Brewery and, with the huge crowd that will get to the circuit, there will be plenty of locals who will be exposed to the brand as well.

“We’re hoping to do well at the weekend, even though I haven’t done a lot of circuit racing in recent years. I’ve checked some of the MINI CHALLENGE racing out on YouTube and it looks pretty exciting. I can’t wait to be in the thick of it!”

The battle for Series honours will continue to be fought out between current Series leader, Neil McFadyen (M3 Motorsport), Nathan Geier (DecoRug Motorsport), Paul Fiore (Shell Helix Ultra) and Stokell. Ending the run of former Bathurst winner, Jason Bargwanna (Trivett Classic MINI Garage/Matchmaster TV Reception Systems), who has been undefeated in the last three rounds of competition, will be the primary focus of the big MINI CHALLENGE field this weekend.

The MINI CHALLENGE concludes with Round 8, to be held at Sydney’s Oran Park from 4-7 December.

MINI CHALLENGE (Australia) SERIES Top 10

1. Neil McFadyen – 687 points
2. Grant Denyer* – 648
3. Nathan Geier – 633
4. Paul Fiore – 600
5. Paul Stokell – 588
6. Jason Bargwanna – 480
7. Gary Young – 438
8. Todd Fiore – 417
9. David Turner – 285
10. Scott Bargwanna, Nathan Callaghan – 243

*Grant Denyer is recovering from injury and will take no further part in this year’s series.

Television alert

Races one and three of MINI Challenge this weekend will feature as part of the Seven Network’s V8 Supercar coverage. The expected telecast times are (approximately) 3:25pm on Saturday and 3:35pm on Sunday.

(AUSmotive’s editor will be out of action this weekend, but stay tuned for a full wrap up of the round early next week. If you want to keep up to date with the action, keep an eye on the Natsoft Timing website.)