With all the MINI CHALLENGE highlights we couldn’t forget Ben Tune’s rollover! Tune is a former Australian test rugby player and was part of the UBER-STAR CAR program at Round 3, held at Perth’s Barbagallo Raceway. This accident happened in Race 1 and while he did spend the night in hospital he was released with no serious injuries. A full statement from the MINI CHALLENGE organisers can be read HERE. Further commentary and a brief pre-race interview with the former Wallaby international can be seen HERE.
Tag: Ben Tune
Continuing our quest to bring you up to date with the first four rounds of the 2008 MINI CHALLENGE here are a couple of clips bringing you all the thrills and spills from Race 2 of the Round 3 action at Western Australia’s Barbagallo Raceway. This round, known as the Ben Tune Rollover Round, created a bit of controversy with UBER-STAR pole sitter Leanne Tander punted off before the first corner of Race 1. Then, of course, there was Tune’s accident, and you can see from his pre-race interview in the clip above that his comparisons of Test Rugby and motor racing were eerily accurate. Highlights and commentary of Ben’s accident are shown at the end of the first clip.
This category is still growing and with each race the racing gets tighter and more competitve. This still didn’t stop media personality Grant Denyer from having an interview during the race (see clip below), although, he was a bit short of breath at times showing that he was working damn hard.
A full wrap up of Round 3 results can be found HERE.
Keep your eyes peeled for some great MINI CHALLENGE action on your TV this weekend, including an exclusive interview on Channel 10 with Ben Tune about his roller coaster experience as a MINI CHALLENGE UBER-STAR CAR driver.
Channel 7 will also have a complete highlights package of all the Round 3 action from Perth’s Barbagallo Raceway. Read below for more detail and broadcast times.
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MINI Challenge – Round 3 Wrap up
Well, what a bonanza Barbagallo has dished up for this round of the MINI Challenge. More thrills and spills than anyone anticipated, or, in some cases, wanted, but alls well that ends well. The big talking point from the round was Ben Tune’s accident in Race one. The former rugby international came across the rise heading toward the final turn on the Barbagallo Raceway, before losing control on the damp circuit on lap seven. His MINI dug into the soft ground and rolled onto its roof. He was then rushed to Joondalup Hospital for precautionary scans where he stayed overnight. Earlier today he was released from hospital with no sign of serious injury. A big sigh of relief for Ben, his family and all followers of the MINI Challenge.
In the end Damien White became the third round winner in as many rounds when he swept to victory in the most hotly contested MINI Challenge race this season, while Gary Young (SALTA Constructions) scored his maiden MINI Challenge victory. Read on for more detail.
Media statement: 11 May, 2008
Best wishes to Ben Tune
Former Wallaby Ben Tune was discharged from hospital in Perth today in good spirits and is looking forward to returning home to Brisbane.
Tune was injured in a single car accident when his car rolled over in the MINI CHALLENGE round at Barbagallo Raceway yesterday (Saturday) afternoon. He was taken by ambulance to hospital for precautionary examination overnight and underwent other medical tests today before being discharged.
It’s just over a week until Round 3 of the 2008 MINI Challenge fires up and the off track action since the Wakefield Park round has almost been as frenzied as the on track thrills and spills with a series of moves taking place (read the full articles below for the latest news). Round 3 of the 2008 MINI Challenge will support the BigPond 400 at Barbagallo Raceway, May 9-11, the fourth round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series.
Race 2 of MINI Challenge from Barbagallo will be shown LIVE nationally on the Seven Network’s V8 Supercar coverage, with a 30 minute post-produced highlights package airing on May 31 from 1:30pm on the network.
Former Wallaby tackles MINI Challenge
Today MINI Australia announced that former test Rugby player Ben Tune will be taking the hot seat in the Uber-Star Car in Perth. “I’m definitely excited about it,” Tune said. “It isn’t every day you have an invitation to get behind the wheel of a racecar. I’m really looking forward to having a lot of fun while I’m in Perth, but also I hope to develop further as a driver.” Tune is a noted revhead and has business interests importing a range of accessories for the motoring market. The pun possibilities here are endless, haha. All the best to Ben, I’d love to be offered a drive like this, what a blast he will have!