Motorsport Downunder

A1GP World Cup of Motorsport heads to Malaysia this weekend for round three of the 2008/09 Season on 21 – 23 November, with home favourite Fairuz Fauzy looking to keep his team top of the leader board at the Sepang International Circuit.

A1 Team Malaysia is the first nation in A1GP history to head to its home event leading the series. Fauzy will be looking to give the crowds something to cheer about by repeating his first round success in Zandvoort and make it back onto the top step of the podium on home soil.

21 year old Victorian Ty Proctor, jetted home from England on Wednesday and then jetted straight to victory lane as the winner of Ivan Maugers Golden Helmet in its historic first ever running at Rolling Thunder Raceway.
Proctor was only beaten once throughout the night as he headed Long Track Champion Richard Sweetman and young Jackson Milne.

The new Wingless Sprints Australia (WSA), 410ci Wingless Sprintcar class had its second hit out last night (Novemebr 15th) at Rolling Thunder Raceway and the demonstration runs took on a more competitive nature with some “Rubbin’s racing” spirit between Tony Moule and a man who is used to racing wingless – David Crabtree.

Scott “Stumpy” Ellis continued his solid season form and lead from go to whoa to win the Action Series feature event at Rolling Thunder Raceway last night (November 15th). Ellis was quick all night as was Campbell Hughes who eventually scored the runner up position ahead of Mick Jackson and Paul Forrest.

Glenfords Tool Centres, the naming rights sponsor for the Paul Cruickshank Racing #111 Falcon, have announced they will not be renewing their sponsorship agreement for the 2009 season and that they are in fact intending to exit all motor sport sponsorship as of the end of 2008.

The announcement will see the end of a three year partnership with PCR that commenced in 2006. Glenfords played an integral part in the team being the first ever to graduate from the Development Series and establish themselves in the main Championship.

A HOT new Mitsubishi Lancer specially developed in Australia for tarmac rally drivers will make an exciting addition to the field of sports and exotic cars in Classic Adelaide next week.

A year after the all-new Lancer Evolution first appeared in the 2007 Classic Adelaide, the TMR SST Club-Spec version will make its public debut as the flagship of Mitsubishi’s 12th year as official vehicle supplier to the event.

The four-day rally starts next Thursday, after a prologue to determine starting order run on Wednesday up the iconic Eagle on the Hill road in the Adelaide Hills.

The Club-Spec will lead cars participating in the Regularity category across 34 special stages and more than 1000 kms of South Australia’s most challenging roads.

As reported in the latest edition of Speed Illustrated, The Gold Coast's Indy car race has been axed after the Queensland government and race bosses failed to reach an agreement on the event's future.

However, a motor racing carnival will still be held on the streets of Surfers Paradise next October, featuring V8 Supercars and a new event - the A1 Grand Prix series.

Queensland Sports Minister Judy Spence said the government had opposed moves by the Indy Racing League to move the event from October to March.

Australia’s most successful touring car driver, Mark Skaife, today announced he will retire from full-time driving at the end of the 2008 season.

Skaife, 41, said the decision had been difficult, but that it was the right time to move on. “I've always admired sportspeople who know when it's time to retire, rather than waiting to be told,” he said.

“Motor racing has been my life for the past 21 years and, as any professional sportsperson will attest, if you have a love and passion for what you are doing, for the competition and being on top of your game, then retirement is not something you ever easily consider.

“But the reality is that you do come to point in your career when you have a decision to make. I’m looking to the future for both myself and the Toll Holden Racing Team, and while this decision ends one phase of my career, I’m confident it will also open doors and exciting new opportunities.”