Category: Motorsports

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MINI Motorsports

Paul Stokell looks forward to new Wakefield success

MINI Challenge racer Paul Stokell is looking forward to an “unpredictable” round at Wakefield Park this coming weekend (4-6 April). Stokell has plenty of experience at the tight 2.2 kilometre circuit just outside of Goulburn, including stints in a Lamborghini Murcielago in the Nations Cup and a Volkswagen R32 in the Australian Production Car Championships. When Round 2 of the MINI Challenge series kicks off he will be behind the wheel of the DecoRug Motorsports MINI. Leading up to the event Stokell said, “It’s a nice little racetrack and being front-wheel drive, the MINI Challenge racecars should be perfectly suited to the circuit.”

Both Stokell and series leader Neil McFadyen will be burdened with extra weight, or “success ballast” on account of their good form at round 1 held at Eastern Creek. Stokell will carry and extra 15kg and McFadyen will have 25kg ballast added to his M3 Motorsports team MINI. In what will be a new experience for McFadyen he commented, “It will be the first time I’ve driven in a class with success ballast, so I have no idea yet how it will affect my times or driving. I know what having a passenger in a racecar does to the handling, whilst it won’t be quite that dramatic, I have no doubt the 25kg will alter the way in which we approach the weekend.”

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BMW Formula 1

A closer look at the BMW F1.08

The big improvers at the start of the 2008 Formula 1 season so far have been the BMW Sauber team. Robert Kubica all but took pole position in Melbourne and Nick Heidfeld followed up this promising sign finishing the race in second place. The following weekend in Malaysia, the team continued their good form with Kubica taking second place and Heifeld placing in the points in sixth place.

This promo clip from the excellent BMW-web.tv site gives a small insight into the BMW F1.08. Okay, it’s a fluffy promo piece with little in terms of technical detail, but it is worth a look!

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News Targa Tasmania

Targa Tasmania upsets locals as Domain stage drives on

A recent article in the Tasmanian rag the Mercury has given the opportunity for a couple of Hobart Alderman to voice their complaints over the impending Targa Tasmania event. The piece, titled Targa racers just ‘hoons and bandits’, details a plan by the aldermen to have the Domain stage of the event cancelled. Opponents to Targa Eva Ruzicka and Bill Harvey hit out with Harvey stating, “It’s organised hooning, and we’ve a problem with hooning on our streets, Targa actively encourages that behaviour.” In support of those comments Rizicka claimed, “It encourages hooning and I get increasingly angry that Targa would appear to result in the attitude of young drivers thinking they can drive their cars like Targa competitors drive theirs,” she said. “After Targa has been, you can see and hear more of it going on, screaming cars late at night.”

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Chevrolet Nissan Porsche Targa Tasmania

Three icons to make world debut at Targa Tasmania

The iconic nameplates of Porsche GT2, Nissan GT-R and Corvette Z06 will all make their worldwide tarmac rally debuts at the 2008 Targa Tasmania, held from 15-20 April. The newly launched R35 Nissan GT-R, to be driven by Tony Alford, is one of the most keenly anticipated new cars in recent years and Australia is very lucky to be having the car running in such a high profile local event.

The Corvette will be driven by Neil and Daniel Ford, and there will also be a second Z06 to be used as a support vehicle. I wonder how many spare parts will be removed from that car before the event is over!

The other big name, the Porsche GT2, will see Targa Porsche stalwarts Jim Richards and Barry Oliver in the cockpit. Expect this experienced team to be fighting for outright honours. The GT2 and GT-R will most probably be duelling in this event just as they have been trading Nürburgring Nordschleife lap times. Just another interesting sidenote to this year’s Targa.

Stay tuned for some detailed reports on the event from AUSmotive, more on that later.

Categories
Formula 1

David Coulthard’s Melbourne Grand Prix outburst

The 2008 Melbourne Grand Prix was a bit of a procession with Lewis Hamilton sweeping all before him. One highlight, for those enjoying the view from their couch, was David Coulthard’s outburst towards Felipe Massa after the two collided, forcing Coulthard to retire from the race. DC’s spray was captured live by ITV, and here it is for your viewing pleasure (language warning applies).

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MINI Challenge

R56 MINI Challenge makes worldwide racing debut in Australia

This weekend saw the world racing debut of the new R56 MINI Challenge cars. The 2008 Australian series kicked off at Sydney’s Eastern Creek and Neil McFadyen from the M3 Motorsports team has taken the round win. McFadyen claimed the chequered flag in Race 1 and Race 3, with Race 2 being won by Grant Denyer. The first clip above is the intro segment from the TV coverage, broadcast just before Race 3 went to air.

See below for clips of the race.

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MINI Challenge

MINI Challenge secures great TV package

MINI ChallengeThis is one of those rare articles on AUSringers that has a solely Australian focus. In some great news for MINI fans, the 2008 Australian MINI Challenge has secured a superb free to air TV package with Channel 7. There will be a total of seven hours of programming, with the majority being broadcast LIVE into households across Australia. The first event will be at Eastern Creek in just a few weeks with race 3 on Sunday 9 March attracting live coverage.

Read the official press release and broadcast dates below for more information.

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