Round 14 - NRMA Motoring & Services Grand Finale, Oran Park

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FRI: Practice
Pos Car Entrant Driver Vehicle Laps Fastest Lap Fastest Lap Time Gap
1 3 Sprint Gas Racing Jason Richards Holden Commodore VE 6 5 1:11.1006
2 25 Fujitsu Racing Jason Bright Ford Falcon BF 7 6 1:11.4247 0:00.3241
3 67 Supercheap Auto Racing Paul Morris Holden Commodore VE 5 4 1:11.6463 0:00.5457
4 51 Sprint Gas Racing Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VE 7 2 1:12.1143 0:01.0137
5 50 PWR Performance Products Andrew Thompson Holden Commodore VE 8 6 1:12.1620 0:01.0614
6 55 Rod Nash Racing Tony D'Alberto Holden Commodore VE 7 4 1:12.3415 0:01.2409
7 26 IRWIN Racing Marcus Marshall Ford Falcon BF 4 3 1:12.4366 0:01.3360
8 021 Team Kiwi Racing Daniel Gaunt Ford Falcon BF 8 7 1:13.4304 0:02.3298
9 777 Ausdrill Ford Rising Stars Michael Patrizi Ford Falcon BF 4 4 1:15.8799 0:04.7793
10 34 Garry Rogers Motorsport Michael Caruso Holden Commodore VE 1 1 2:38.2855 1:27.1849
11 12 Team BOC Andrew Jones Holden Commodore VE 3 1 2:39.8230 1:28.7224
12 14 Team WOW Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VE 1 1 3:09.9088 1:58.8082
16 Autobarn Racing Team Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VE



FRI: Practice
Pos Car Entrant Driver Vehicle Laps Fastest Lap Fastest Lap Time Gap
1 1 Toll Holden Racing Team Garth Tander Holden Commodore VE 12 4 1:10.6288
2 5 Ford Performance Racing Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BF 13 11 1:10.8174 0:00.1886
3 2 Toll Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VE 13 2 1:10.8336 0:00.2048
4 33 Garry Rogers Motorsport Lee Holdsworth Holden Commodore VE 13 2 1:10.8368 0:00.2080
5 4 Jeld-Wen Motorsport James Courtney Ford Falcon BF 13 6 1:10.8410 0:00.2122
6 88 Team Vodafone Jamie Whincup Ford Falcon BF 12 7 1:10.8811 0:00.2523
7 25 Fujitsu Racing Jason Bright Ford Falcon BF 9 8 1:10.9677 0:00.3389
8 14 Team WOW Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VE 8 7 1:11.0256 0:00.3968
9 120 Ford Performance Racing Steven Richards Ford Falcon BF 14 10 1:11.0370 0:00.4082
10 888 Team Vodafone Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BF 10 6 1:11.0373 0:00.4085
11 3 Sprint Gas Racing Jason Richards Holden Commodore VE 13 1 1:11.0812 0:00.4524
12 17 Jim Beam Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BF 14 3 1:11.0895 0:00.4607
13 7 Jack Daniel's Racing Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VE 14 3 1:11.0999 0:00.4711
14 16 Autobarn Racing Team Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VE 10 6 1:11.1838 0:00.5550
15 11 Jack Daniel's Racing Jack Perkins Holden Commodore VE 15 2 1:11.2553 0:00.6265
16 18 Jim Beam Racing Will Davison Ford Falcon BF 15 6 1:11.2555 0:00.6267
17 26 IRWIN Racing Marcus Marshall Ford Falcon BF 9 1 1:11.3624 0:00.7336
18 39 Supercheap Auto Racing Russell Ingall Holden Commodore VE 13 2 1:11.3636 0:00.7348
19 15 HSV Dealer Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VE 5 4 1:11.3903 0:00.7615
20 55 Rod Nash Racing Tony D'Alberto Holden Commodore VE 18 7 1:11.4440 0:00.8152
21 111 Glenfords Racing Fabian Coulthard Ford Falcon BF 13 7 1:11.5321 0:00.9033
22 67 Supercheap Auto Racing Paul Morris Holden Commodore VE 13 1 1:11.5676 0:00.9388
23 12 Team BOC Andrew Jones Holden Commodore VE 13 7 1:11.6597 0:01.0309
24 50 PWR Performance Products Andrew Thompson Holden Commodore VE 14 1 1:11.6718 0:01.0430
25 34 Garry Rogers Motorsport Michael Caruso Holden Commodore VE 11 6 1:11.7716 0:01.1428
26 51 Sprint Gas Racing Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VE 4 1 1:11.8873 0:01.2585
27 9 SP Tools Racing Shane Van Gisbergen Ford Falcon BF 12 11 1:12.2399 0:01.6111
28 021 Team Kiwi Racing Daniel Gaunt Ford Falcon BF 18 2 1:13.1731 0:02.5443


FRI: Practice
Pos Car Entrant Driver Vehicle Laps Fastest Lap Fastest Lap Time Gap
1 88 Team Vodafone Jamie Whincup Ford Falcon BF 25 19 1:09.5125
2 39 Supercheap Auto Racing Russell Ingall Holden Commodore VE 27 21 1:09.5920 0:00.0795
3 888 Team Vodafone Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BF 26 20 1:09.6215 0:00.1090
4 15 HSV Dealer Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VE 26 21 1:09.7618 0:00.2493
5 1 Toll Holden Racing Team Garth Tander Holden Commodore VE 26 22 1:09.9252 0:00.4127
6 120 Ford Performance Racing Steven Richards Ford Falcon BF 31 25 1:09.9672 0:00.4547
7 33 Garry Rogers Motorsport Lee Holdsworth Holden Commodore VE 27 20 1:09.9732 0:00.4607
8 4 Jeld-Wen Motorsport James Courtney Ford Falcon BF 24 18 1:10.0418 0:00.5293
9 5 Ford Performance Racing Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BF 32 30 1:10.1941 0:00.6816
10 25 Fujitsu Racing Jason Bright Ford Falcon BF 32 25 1:10.2121 0:00.6996
11 3 Sprint Gas Racing Jason Richards Holden Commodore VE 27 13 1:10.2335 0:00.7210
12 34 Garry Rogers Motorsport Michael Caruso Holden Commodore VE 24 19 1:10.2591 0:00.7466
13 2 Toll Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VE 27 22 1:10.4018 0:00.8893
14 18 Jim Beam Racing Will Davison Ford Falcon BF 28 22 1:10.4835 0:00.9710
15 9 SP Tools Racing Shane Van Gisbergen Ford Falcon BF 21 13 1:10.5435 0:01.0310
16 14 Team WOW Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VE 18 15 1:10.5458 0:01.0333
17 12 Team BOC Andrew Jones Holden Commodore VE 20 17 1:10.5922 0:01.0797
18 51 Sprint Gas Racing Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VE 20 16 1:10.6238 0:01.1113
19 7 Jack Daniel's Racing Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VE 24 15 1:10.6286 0:01.1161
20 55 Rod Nash Racing Tony D'Alberto Holden Commodore VE 22 18 1:10.6287 0:01.1162
21 17 Jim Beam Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BF 26 18 1:10.7018 0:01.1893
22 26 IRWIN Racing Marcus Marshall Ford Falcon BF 13 9 1:10.7200 0:01.2075
23 67 Supercheap Auto Racing Paul Morris Holden Commodore VE 25 19 1:10.8551 0:01.3426
24 11 Jack Daniel's Racing Jack Perkins Holden Commodore VE 28 18 1:10.9284 0:01.4159
25 111 Glenfords Racing Fabian Coulthard Ford Falcon BF 21 15 1:11.3391 0:01.8266
26 50 PWR Performance Products Andrew Thompson Holden Commodore VE 26 14 1:11.4070 0:01.8945
27 777 Ausdrill Ford Rising Stars Michael Patrizi Ford Falcon BF 20 19 1:11.7451 0:02.2326
28 021 Team Kiwi Racing Daniel Gaunt Ford Falcon BF 28 23 1:11.7803 0:02.2678................................

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Dumbrell leaves practice for brother

Release date: 05/12/2008



HSV Dealer Team driver Paul Dumbrell left Oran Park Raceway early to tend to his younger brother, Lucas, who was involved in an accident during a Formula Ford race this morning (Friday).

Lucas, who celebrated his 19th birthday only four days ago, ran over the back of competitor Chris Goodman’s car and rolled just seconds after the safety car was deployed on lap two of the 12-lap race.

It took a while to get the youngster out of the car to ensure his safety, but he was conscious when he was extradited from his Mygale Formula Ford.

After being stabilised at the scene, Dumbrell was transported to Liverpool Hospital where Doctors have completed a number of scans to determine the extent of his injury.

The key area of concern for the medicos at this stage is pain in Lucas’ back. He will undergo surgery tonight to further understand the extent of injury.

It is expected that tomorrow morning, Lucas will be transported to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Dumbrell’s family – along with members of the Sonic Motor Racing Services team – are at his bedside and said in a statement that they are extremely thankful for the outpouring of support they have received today.

BigPond Sport has been advised that Paul was on the scene of the accident almost immediately after it happened, and was taken up to race control to keep him informed of his brother’s condition.

Paul remained at Oran Park Raceway for the first two V8 Supercar practice sessions and left before the third one to visit his brother in hospital.

The HSV Dealer Team has tonight advised that Paul, who this weekend debuts a new #16 Autobarn Commodore, will return to the track tomorrow to resume racing.

He was hoping to finish his first year at the HSV Dealer Team on a high, but his brother’s accident means his weekend has taken a devastating turn for the worse.

Lucas debuted in the Genuine Ford Parts Formula Ford Championship this year after completing the Victorian Formula Ford Series in 2007.

He began racing in the Aussie Racing Cars series in 2006.

As per standard protocol, stewards will conduct an investigation into the accident.


Illustrious V8 careers come to an end

Release date: 05/12/2008



Holden Racing Team driver Mark Skaife will be given a fond farewell at his last ever round as a fulltime V8 Supercar driver at Oran Park this weekend.

Fans are expected to turn out in droves to say ‘thanks for the memories’ as Skaife will be given a 15-minute tribute session between race two and three of Round 14 of the Championship on Sunday.

Oran Park Raceway Manager, Jeff Boulous, said a lot of the details for the tribute during the NRMA Motoring & Services Grand finale were secret.

“But it will be a massive tribute to Mark Skaife and there will be a parade lap,” he revealed.

“Oran Park has a bit of a history farewelling drivers from the Championship.

We had Dick Johnson’s last round of the Championship and Peter Brock’s, and I think it’s quite fitting it’s Mark Skaife’s given he’s a Wyong boy and this was his home track for a while.”

Skaife, who has five Bathurst wins and Touring Car/V8 Supercar Championships under his belt, has also won six rounds at Oran Park including four consecutive ones from 1999 to 2002.

He said he will view his last round as a celebration, but it will be tinged with sadness.

“There are parts of this weekend that I can foresee are going to be difficult; it’s always tough when you’re saying goodbye to something that has been such a massive part of your life for so long,” he said.

“But equally I’m looking forward to going out there and saying thanks to all of my fans and to my crew in the best way I can.”

Skaife said he had received many messages of support, letters and even drawings from his younger fans since he announced his retirement in October.

“I have been flattered and sort of humbled by not only people in red but people in blue who have come up and saying ‘well done, I’ve enjoyed watching you’,” he said.

Not only is it Skaife’s last round of V8 Supercars in the foreseeable future, but this weekend also marks the last ever time the V8s will visit Oran Park.

Ticket sales have exceeded organisers’ expectations – the grandstands are all but sold out – but general admission tickets will still be available at the gate over the weekend.


Championship wraps up

Release date: 03/12/2008

He might only need 67 points to take out the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship, but TeamVodafone’s Jamie Whincup is adamant that it is not over until the fat lady sings.

Whincup said everyone else was saying he will clinch the Championship at the NRMA Motoring and Services Grand Finale at Oran Park this weekend was a sure thing.

“But I can’t think like that, I’ve just got to assume it’s not over till it’s over,” the 25-year-old explained.

“That’s how I will go about it, like it’s just another race.

“A crash in qualifying or race one could really hurt us so it’s a matter of keeping focus.”

Whincup, who has won the last four rounds of the Championship and a total of six for the year, pointed out that this weekend was the last time the V8 Supercars would ever race at the Oran Park circuit.

“And it’s another opportunity for us to prove ourselves,” he said.

“We’re not going to go soft; we want to finish the year on a high.”

Ford Performance Racing’s Mark Winterbottom is the only driver in the field who could mathematically take the title from Whincup.

But he is trailing his rival by 233 points and is resigned to the fact he will finish second in the Championship points standings barring a major incident for Whincup.

“It’s still a great achievement to get second in the Championship and it’s disappointing we couldn’t bring the fight down to the wire, but we still gave it everything and Jamie’s done a great job,” he said.

“We need to finish on a good note and a win or a podium place would be good to go off to Christmas (with) and build momentum for next year.

“We don’t have to worry about third and winning is out of the question.”

It will be the first time since 1989 that a Ford has won both the Bathurst 1000 and the Championship in the same year.

It is only one of a number of historic events to take place at Oran Park this weekend.

2008 marks the last year the V8 Supercars will race at the circuit because the track closes down in 2010 and V8 Supercars Australia has chosen not to run a round there next year.

It will also mark the last fulltime appearance from Holden icon Mark Skaife in the V8 Supercar Championship.

Winterbottom said it will be sad to see the last of Oran Park because it held special memories for him.

“I did my first ever kart race there (in 1992),” he said.

“It’s a very tough circuit because it’s very slippery, but it’s one of those places that has a lot of meaning for me.”

Whincup agreed Oran Park would be sadly missed.

“Without a doubt,” he said.

“It’s a real driver’s circuit.

“The harder you drive, the faster you go and that’s quite unusual because with modern circuits it’s easy to overdrive and go slower.

“The massive kerbing on the inside really rewards the driver who attacks it the hardest, which is a really good feeling for a driver.”


Whincup to go hard despite conditions

Release date: 05/12/2008

Despite needing just 67 points to secure the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship, Jamie Whincup is determined not to take a conservative approach to this weekend’s final round.

The TeamVodafone Falcon driver blitzed the Oran Park circuit in today’s (Friday) practice, topping the timesheets with a 1min09.5125 lap, before claiming the Sydney circuit was slippery and rough.

“Practice and qualifying is all about getting up the grid as far as you can. The further up the front you are the less likely that you are going to get involved in an incident,” he said.

However, he did admit to having a scary off during practice.

“I had a huge moment at the Dog Leg. I had at least two wheels on the grass going over the hill; I thought it was all over there…”

But he is hell bent on not lifting his right foot and limping to the title.

“We are going to go hard; we are certainly not going to be conservative; we are going to go hard all of the way to the last lap on Sunday,” he said.

Whincup indicated he was concerned with the state of the Oran Park circuit, saying it was breaking up and becoming quite slippery.

“I must admit that I was a bit worried during that session that the track was so slippery; it was so bumpy; there was cracks and dirt all over the place,” he said.

However, he refused to openly criticise the organisers of the event for not providing a better racing surface.

“It’s the same for everyone… I will race anywhere regardless of whether it is dirt, speedhumps, jumps or rocks,” he said.

Whincup believes that it will be a lot more difficult to be consistently fast during the races than over a single practice or qualifying lap.

“It was a tough session. We were actually struggling a little bit with the first set of tyres, but when we put the greens on the car was fast,” he explained.

“It’s going to be one task to qualify on pole and another to be consistently quick in the races.

“There will be massive tyre degradation during the race.”

Whincup admitted that outside factors, such as the track conditions, made him nervous heading into the weekend where an unforseen incident is virtually the only thing that could stop him from wrapping up the Championship.

“I wish I could go back to Bahrain where the track is nice and wide and there is plenty of run off and great weather with no wind or rain; in Tasmania we got none of the above and in Oran Park we’ll probably get none of the above,” he said.

“It’s not an ideal scenario; if I make a small mistake I am in the wall and the weekend is over, but it’s the same for everyone and the best athletes rise to the occasion.”

Supercheap Auto Racing’s Russell Ingall (1:09.5920) was second fastest in his Commodore ahead of Whincup’s TeamVodafone teammate, Craig Lowndes (1:09.6215).

Ingall also agreed that the circuit was not up to standard.

“It is like driving around in the wet out there; it is unbelievably slippery,” he said.

“You can tell it is the last race here. I don’t think that there has been many bucks spent here for a while.

“It is certainly pretty rugged on certain parts; and it’s going to get worse during the race. There are bits of bitumen getting broken off, so it’s very slippery off line. It will no doubt be a very interesting race…”

Lowndes said he first noticed the track breaking up when he inspected it yesterday after the Group A and Group C historic touring cars had been for a run on it.

“There are jagged edges on the bitumen, so you are going to have to be careful where you run the car during the races otherwise you could easily puncture a tyre and that’s something you obviously want to avoid,” he said.

Qualifying is scheduled to start at 12:05pm tomorrow.

Practice Top Ten

Jamie Whincup, Falcon, 1:09.5125
Russell Ingall, Commodore, 1:09.5920
Craig Lowndes, Falcon, 1:09.6215
Rick Kelly, Commodore, 1:09.7618
Garth Tander, Commodore, 1:09.9252
Steven Richards, Falcon, 1:09.9672
Lee Holdsworth, Commodore, 1:09.9732
James Courtney, Falcon, 1:10.0418
Mark Winterbottom, Falcon, 1:10.1941
Jason Bright, Falcon, 1:10.2121
:):):):):)

Oran Park is safe for race


Release date: 06/12/2008

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Oran Park Manager Jeff Boulous has blasted comments made by V8 Supercar drivers in yesterday’s (Friday) post practice press conference that the Sydney circuit is breaking up and that racing will become a lottery because of the resulting track conditions.

“I don’t think the track is breaking up at all,” he told BigPond Sport.

“There are a few more cracks than what there were last year, but it’s certainly not breaking up.”

Boulous said the track was definitely safe for racing.

“We have passed all of our (safety) inspections. The stewards have inspected it and we have passed our CAMS inspection,” he said.

“There is no question that it is safe and if we didn’t think it was safe then we wouldn’t have allowed anyone to run on it.

“No one has come up to me in an official capacity and said that they have any concerns in terms of track safety.

“Yes, there are a few more cracks and bumps in it than last year, but nothing untoward. Oran Park has never been a billiard table flat surface. While it’s a little bumpier than last year, it is certainly not breaking up; I totally reject the words breaking up.”

Boulous also refuted claims that the circuit has been penny-pinching on track repairs due to the fact that this year will be the last time V8 Supercars race at the circuit, before it closes to make way for a housing development in 2010.

“I think you will find that we have spent more on the track surface this year than we have in previous years,” Boulous said.

“We will run a CAMS licence for this track next year and we will do anything required to meet the terms of that licence and make sure that the track is okay.

“I strongly reject that we are penny-pinching on the circuit… if anyone wants to come and see what we have spent on the circuit this year I will be more than happy to show them on a confidential basis.

“We put our hand up for a V8 Supercar event knowing what was required,” he said.

“We’ve gone around and built up our track edges like we do before every major event. They are built up to the requisite level. I don’t think there is any dramas there…”

The driver most vocal about the track conditions was Supercheap Auto Racing’s Russell Ingall, but Boulous said he wouldn’t take too much notice of The Enforcer.

“I don’t think it is as bad as Russell Ingall is making out. For Russell to say that there hasn’t been any money spent on it, he wouldn’t know,” Boulous said.

“I should point out that Russell Ingall has been making that same comment for about 10 years…”

V8 Supercar Race Director, Tim Schenken, supported Boulous’ comments.

“There are no problems in regards to (circuit) safety,” he said.

“If the track is slippery, then the track is slippery and driver should go around the corners a bit slower I guess.”

He said that if drivers continue to drive over the edge of the circuit then they have to deal with the consequences.

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SAT: Qualifying

Pos Car Entrant Driver Vehicle Laps Fastest Lap Fastest Lap Time Gap
1 1 Toll Holden Racing Team Garth Tander Holden Commodore VE 15 13 1:09.4562
2 888 Team Vodafone Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BF 13 11 1:09.8709 0:00.4147
3 88 Team Vodafone Jamie Whincup Ford Falcon BF 18 16 1:09.9161 0:00.4599
4 5 Ford Performance Racing Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BF 22 19 1:09.9620 0:00.5058
5 39 Supercheap Auto Racing Russell Ingall Holden Commodore VE 13 12 1:10.1421 0:00.6859
6 120 Ford Performance Racing Steven Richards Ford Falcon BF 15 14 1:10.1594 0:00.7032
7 4 Jeld-Wen Motorsport James Courtney Ford Falcon BF 19 15 1:10.2049 0:00.7487
8 7 Jack Daniel's Racing Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VE 19 18 1:10.3222 0:00.8660
9 33 Garry Rogers Motorsport Lee Holdsworth Holden Commodore VE 24 19 1:10.4076 0:00.9514
10 18 Jim Beam Racing Will Davison Ford Falcon BF 29 26 1:10.4959 0:01.0397
11 15 HSV Dealer Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VE 11 7 1:10.3320 0:00.8758
12 14 Team WOW Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VE 23 22 1:10.3983 0:00.9421
13 25 Fujitsu Racing Jason Bright Ford Falcon BF 20 17 1:10.4329 0:00.9767
14 3 Sprint Gas Racing Jason Richards Holden Commodore VE 21 17 1:10.4703 0:01.0141
15 9 SP Tools Racing Shane Van Gisbergen Ford Falcon BF 21 17 1:10.5647 0:01.1085
16 2 Toll Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VE 20 17 1:10.6061 0:01.1499
17 17 Jim Beam Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BF 23 19 1:10.6901 0:01.2339
18 34 Garry Rogers Motorsport Michael Caruso Holden Commodore VE 13 7 1:10.6941 0:01.2379
19 50 PWR Performance Products Andrew Thompson Holden Commodore VE 22 16 1:10.7593 0:01.3031
20 55 Rod Nash Racing Tony D'Alberto Holden Commodore VE 24 18 1:10.8179 0:01.3617
21 67 Supercheap Auto Racing Paul Morris Holden Commodore VE 9 7 1:11.3725 0:01.9163
22 11 Jack Daniel's Racing Jack Perkins Holden Commodore VE 15 14 1:11.4414 0:01.9852
23 51 Sprint Gas Racing Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VE 12 11 1:11.4995 0:02.0433
24 111 Glenfords Racing Fabian Coulthard Ford Falcon BF 8 6 1:11.5220 0:02.0658
25 777 Ausdrill Ford Rising Stars Michael Patrizi Ford Falcon BF 13 11 1:11.6063 0:02.1501
26 26 IRWIN Racing Marcus Marshall Ford Falcon BF 13 10 1:11.6299 0:02.1737
27 12 Team BOC Andrew Jones Holden Commodore VE 12 10 1:11.7497 0:02.2935
28 021 Team Kiwi Racing Daniel Gaunt Ford Falcon BF 13 10 1:12.7317 0:03.2755
29 16 Autobarn Racing Team Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VE 2 2 1:12.8345 0:03.3783

SAT: Race 1

Pos Car Entrant Driver Vehicle Laps Race Time Fastest Lap Fastest Time
1 88 Team Vodafone Jamie Whincup Ford Falcon BF 46 56:12.2480 4 1:11.2437
2 888 Team Vodafone Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BF 46 56:18.8987 8 1:11.0496
3 39 Supercheap Auto Racing Russell Ingall Holden Commodore VE 46 56:20.8253 8 1:10.6998
4 120 Ford Performance Racing Steven Richards Ford Falcon BF 46 56:24.3870 4 1:11.3094
5 4 Jeld-Wen Motorsport James Courtney Ford Falcon BF 46 56:25.1869 8 1:11.5636
6 1 Toll Holden Racing Team Garth Tander Holden Commodore VE 46 56:25.3874 3 1:11.3589
7 7 Jack Daniel's Racing Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VE 46 56:33.1419 8 1:11.4786
8 34 Garry Rogers Motorsport Michael Caruso Holden Commodore VE 46 56:43.9055 27 1:11.9625
9 15 HSV Dealer Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VE 46 56:44.8900 8 1:11.2472
10 18 Jim Beam Racing Will Davison Ford Falcon BF 46 56:45.6335 12 1:11.4860
11 14 Team WOW Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VE 46 56:47.1782 12 1:11.7035
12 33 Garry Rogers Motorsport Lee Holdsworth Holden Commodore VE 46 56:47.9567 10 1:11.5008
13 25 Fujitsu Racing Jason Bright Ford Falcon BF 46 56:59.9575 17 1:11.9321
14 67 Supercheap Auto Racing Paul Morris Holden Commodore VE 46 57:02.1577 15 1:12.0737
15 17 Jim Beam Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BF 46 57:05.0774 10 1:12.2096
16 3 Sprint Gas Racing Jason Richards Holden Commodore VE 46 57:05.4222 9 1:11.9007
17 11 Jack Daniel's Racing Jack Perkins Holden Commodore VE 46 57:06.0614 3 1:12.3694
18 111 Glenfords Racing Fabian Coulthard Ford Falcon BF 46 57:06.9215 9 1:12.2322
19 16 Autobarn Racing Team Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VE 46 57:07.2874 11 1:12.3623
20 26 IRWIN Racing Marcus Marshall Ford Falcon BF 45 56:28.3265 11 1:12.3528
21 51 Sprint Gas Racing Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VE 45 56:39.7127 4 1:12.1368
22 021 Team Kiwi Racing Daniel Gaunt Ford Falcon BF 45 57:01.8655 15 1:12.9908
23 5 Ford Performance Racing Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BF 41 57:14.0708 10 1:11.2518
DNF 12 Team BOC Andrew Jones Holden Commodore VE 37 46:07.5995 8 1:12.4922
DNF 50 PWR Performance Products Andrew Thompson Holden Commodore VE 25 56:14.7678 23 1:12.6827
DNF 55 Rod Nash Racing Tony D'Alberto Holden Commodore VE 22 27:36.7770 9 1:12.1350
DNF 9 SP Tools Racing Shane Van Gisbergen Ford Falcon BF 11 13:25.5430 5 1:11.7078
DNF 2 Toll Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VE 10 30:35.2555 9 1:11.9580
DNF 777 Ausdrill Ford Rising Stars Michael Patrizi Ford Falcon BF 8 10:11.2338 4 1:12.8322

http://www.v8supercars.com.au/content/images/hero_news_folders/december08/tearful_whincup/files/20440/Tearful-Whincup.jpg
Whinners takes all


Release date: 06/12/2008

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TeamVodafone’s Jamie Whincup has clinched the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship in style by winning the first of three races at Oran Park for the NRMA Motoring and Services Grand Finale round today (Saturday).

Whincup has already won the Championship over Ford Performance Racing’s Mark Winterbottom by 309 points, and there are still two races to go tomorrow.

Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander, who started the race on pole, was deemed to have jumped the start and was handed a 10-second penalty, which he served on top of his compulsory pit stop.

Before Tander was told of his penalty, he and Whincup swapped the lead in the first few corners.

Whincup came off second best, and he later admitted that he probably shouldn’t have done it “but I can’t help myself”.

The 10-second penalty pushed Tander down the race order, leaving Whincup to lead for the second half of the race.

With tears in his eyes, an emotional Whincup earnestly told the media post-race: “I don’t cry, I’m a racing driver and an Aussie bloke. We don’t cry.”

But he said it felt amazing to be crowned a V8 Supercar Champion.

“The feeling is as good as I imagined,” he said, adding that it was a huge relief to have won the title.

“(Over) the last two weeks people were telling me it was going to happen, but to finally get over the line is unbelievable.

“The car was a rocket.

“We just got the position back, great pit stop and… not only did we win the drivers’ Championship, but we wrapped up the teams’ Championship which is a big deal.”

Teammate Craig Lowndes finished second after the new Champ and Supercheap Auto Racing’s Russell Ingall finished third for the race.

Lowndes overtook Ingall for the place on lap 39 of the race, much to the chagrin of The Enforcer who said he had pace at the start but then ran out of steam.

“I saw this other Vodafone car looming up and I thought ‘bloody Lowndes, here we go again’,” he said.

“I tried to put up a bit of a fight but there wasn’t much there.”

While TeamVodafone and Supercheap Auto Racing enjoyed the spoils of the race, many other teams were not so lucky.

Tander’s teammate Mark Skaife, who retires from fulltime driving at the end of this round, clashed with Ford Performance Racing’s Mark Winterbottom in pitlane during their pit stops.

The incident bent the steering arm of Winterbottom’s car and also damaged Skaife’s car, forcing them both into their pit garage.

Both drivers ended up getting their cars back out for the race, but Winterbottom’s run at Oran Park went from bad to worse as he was given a 10-second pit lane penalty for the incident and for selecting reverse gear in pit lane.

But Tander, who returned to the race in 11th spot after serving his penalty for jumping the start, managed to claw his way back to finish the race in sixth.

Race One Top 10

Jamie Whincup, Falcon
Craig Lowndes, Falcon
Russell Ingall, Commodore
Steven Richards, Falcon
James Courtney, Falcon
Garth Tander, Commodore
Todd Kelly, Commodore
Michael Caruso, Commodore
Rick Kelly, Commodore
Will Davison, Falcon


Lucas Dumbrell undergoes surgery

Release date: 06/12/2008

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Brother of HSV Dealer Team driver, Paul Dumbrell, Lucas - who was seriously hurt in a Formula Ford crash at Oran Park yesterday (Friday) - last night underwent surgery at Liverpool hospital to both further examine and stabilise injuries he received in the accident.

Doctors spent many hours stabilising the injuries and gaining a better idea of the extent of the damage to Lucas' spinal cord.

It has been confirmed that whilst Lucas' spinal cord has been 'compromised', importantly it has not been severed.

The Dumbrell family said in a statement that they would like to thank the many well wishes and messages of support for Lucas that have been flooding in since the crash...........................

[Carby650]

Its been a rough year for the Red team.
Lets hope we have some more luck next year.
Wincup deserves the title this year. If it wasn't for the NZ round the championship would be over ages ago.
Cheers
Carby650

[hoon69]

NRMA Motoring + Services Grand Finale - V8 Supercars Rnd 14
ORAN PARK MOTORSPORT CIRCUIT

V8 SUPERCARS - RACE 2

Event R20 46 Laps
Scheduled Start 11:10
PROVISIONAL RESULT




Page 1 Issue 1 SOP24B
Start Sun Dec 07 11:13
Elapsed Time 57:04

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________
Pos Car Competitor/Team Driver Vehicle Cap CL Laps Race.Time Fastest...Lap

1 1 Toll Holden Racing Team Garth Tander Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:04.0467 10 1:10.6732
2 39 Supercheap Auto Racing Russell Ingall Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:04.5667 6 1:10.9510
3 120 Ford Performance Racing Steven Richards Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:05.1758 6 1:10.8268
4 15 HSV Dealer Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:09.0118 7 1:10.6961
5 888 Team Vodafone Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:10.4681 6 1:10.7389
6 4 Jeld-Wen Motorsport James Courtney Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:11.2554 11 1:11.2832
7 25 Fujitsu Racing Jason Bright Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:15.3372 6 1:11.1918
8 7 Jack Daniel's Racing Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:24.7458 11 1:11.5297
9 17 Jim Beam Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:27.4517 15 1:11.7346
10 111 Glenfords Racing Fabian Coulthard Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:28.1224 2 1:11.8084
11 34 Garry Rogers Motorsport Michael Caruso Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:28.7978 6 1:10.9130
12 5 Ford Performance Racing Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:29.4825 11 1:11.5663
13 9 SP Tools Racing Shane Van Gisbergen Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:31.6353 19 1:11.5646
14 67 Supercheap Auto Racing Paul Morris Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:32.4267 16 1:11.3894
15 18 Jim Beam Racing Will Davison Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:38.4807 11 1:11.6603
16 16 Autobarn Racing Team Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:38.9183 16 1:11.6314
17 51 Sprint Gas Racing Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:42.5445 9 1:11.7777
18 3 Sprint Gas Racing Jason Richards Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:42.8182 6 1:11.6670
19 14 Team WOW Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:48.9877 11 1:11.9953
20 12 Team BOC Andrew Jones Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 58:00.8667 13 1:11.8556
21 777 Ausdrill Ford Rising Stars Michael Patrizi Ford Falcon BF 5000 45 57:37.1896 12 1:11.8822
22 26 IRWIN Racing Marcus Marshall Ford Falcon BF 5000 45 57:53.1846 14 1:12.3614
23 50 PWR Performance Products Andrew Thompson Holden Commodore VE 5000 45 58:05.3252 13 1:12.3231
24 021 Team Kiwi Racing Daniel Gaunt Ford Falcon BF 5000 44 57:56.6771 12 1:13.8516
25 33 Garry Rogers Motorsport Lee Holdsworth Holden Commodore VE 5000 36 57:06.8407 5 1:12.6518
DNF 2 Toll Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VE 5000 38 48:39.5055 10 1:11.3636
DNF 55 Rod Nash Racing Tony D'Alberto Holden Commodore VE 5000 34 43:19.3969 10 1:11.9461
DNF 88 Team Vodafone Jamie Whincup Ford Falcon BF 5000 11 14:47.6401 6 1:10.5408*
DNF 11 Jack Daniel's Racing Jack Perkins Holden Commodore VE 5000 1 2:05.8001

1 Safety Car Periods With A Total Of 2 Laps
Fastest Lap Av.Speed Is 134kph
Current Race Lap Record Is 1:08.0631 Set On 05/09/1999 By Craig Lowndes In A Holden Commodore VT
R=under lap record by greatest margin, r=under lap record, *=fastest lap time


NRMA Motoring + Services Grand Finale - V8 Supercars Rnd 14
ORAN PARK MOTORSPORT CIRCUIT

V8 SUPERCARS - RACE 3

Event R24 46 Laps
Scheduled Start 15:25




Page 1 Issue 1 SOP26C
Start Sun Dec 07 15:28
Elapsed Time 57:03

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________
Pos Car Competitor/Team Driver Vehicle Cap CL Laps Race.Time Fastest...Lap

1 15 HSV Dealer Team Rick Kelly Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:03.6766 21 1:10.9868
2 1 Toll Holden Racing Team Garth Tander Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:04.8280 21 1:11.1247
3 888 Team Vodafone Craig Lowndes Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:09.5112 11 1:10.9847*
4 4 Jeld-Wen Motorsport James Courtney Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:10.9877 8 1:11.0681
5 9 SP Tools Racing Shane Van Gisbergen Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:11.8098 23 1:11.2548
6 33 Garry Rogers Motorsport Lee Holdsworth Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:12.7802 10 1:11.3171
7 25 Fujitsu Racing Jason Bright Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:23.4710 13 1:11.4958
8 111 Glenfords Racing Fabian Coulthard Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:25.7515 9 1:11.6997
9 67 Supercheap Auto Racing Paul Morris Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:26.5981 10 1:11.4408
10 34 Garry Rogers Motorsport Michael Caruso Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:36.1796 10 1:11.6589
11 39 Supercheap Auto Racing Russell Ingall Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:36.6059 9 1:11.5551
12 2 Toll Holden Racing Team Mark Skaife Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:37.1163 7 1:11.7152
13 16 Autobarn Racing Team Paul Dumbrell Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:37.3828 9 1:11.4352
14 3 Sprint Gas Racing Jason Richards Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:39.4178 13 1:11.7220
15 50 PWR Performance Products Andrew Thompson Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:42.0908 10 1:12.0192
16 17 Jim Beam Racing Steven Johnson Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:49.1816 8 1:12.3407
17 120 Ford Performance Racing Steven Richards Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:50.9046 4 1:11.7356
18 5 Ford Performance Racing Mark Winterbottom Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:51.0860 8 1:11.6537
19 55 Rod Nash Racing Tony D'Alberto Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:51.2891 6 1:11.5110
20 11 Jack Daniel's Racing Jack Perkins Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:55.8918 7 1:11.7571
21 18 Jim Beam Racing Will Davison Ford Falcon BF 5000 46 57:57.4235 6 1:12.2046
22 14 Team WOW Cameron McConville Holden Commodore VE 5000 46 57:58.4189 12 1:11.7685
23 88 Team Vodafone Jamie Whincup Ford Falcon BF 5000 45 57:54.8023 7 1:11.5990
24 26 IRWIN Racing Marcus Marshall Ford Falcon BF 5000 45 57:55.6992 33 1:12.6820
25 777 Ausdrill Ford Rising Stars Michael Patrizi Ford Falcon BF 5000 44 58:12.4968 10 1:11.9927
DNF 12 Team BOC Andrew Jones Holden Commodore VE 5000 24 32:17.7435 8 1:12.8474
DNF 021 Team Kiwi Racing Daniel Gaunt Ford Falcon BF 5000 15 28:56.3597 8 1:12.0842
DNF 51 Sprint Gas Racing Greg Murphy Holden Commodore VE 5000 4 5:06.3822 2 1:13.6244
DNF 7 Jack Daniel's Racing Todd Kelly Holden Commodore VE 5000 2 3:01.0797 2 1:32.8158

1 Safety Car Periods With A Total Of 3 Laps
Fastest Lap Av.Speed Is 133kph
Current Race Lap Record Is 1:08.0631 Set On 05/09/1999 By Craig Lowndes In A Holden Commodore VT
R=under lap record by greatest margin, r=under lap record, *=fastest lap time........................

[hoon69]

Kelly wins final Oran Park race

Release date: //--T

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Teams

* Toll HSV Dealer Team

Drivers

* PaulDumbrell
* RickKelly

Rounds

* Grand Finale, Oran Park, Sydney

Circuits

* Oran Park Raceway

Kelly wins final Oran Park Race and finishes year with a podium

Rick Kelly delivered his HSV Dealer Team with the result they have been looking for all year, taking out the third and final Race victory at Oran Park in superb fashion. Kelly got off to a blinding start in the final 46 lap race, putting his #15 HSV Dealer Team prepared Commodore in first position on the track, where he led the field for most of the race.

Kelly pitted mid way through the compulsory window, the HSVDT crew performing one of the smoothest pit stops under enormous pressure. Kelly led former team-mate and Toll Holden Racing team pilot Garth Tander, who just couldn’t match the power of the #15 car. Kelly not only sealed the race win but also finished on the podium collecting 236 Championship points which put him third - his first Championship Round podium since the Sandown 500 last year.

The #16 Autobarn driver and Kelly’s team-mate Paul Dumbrell put in a remarkable effort in the final race. Dumbrell started from 16th in the third race, having made up position in the second race earlier today. He was caught up in a first lap scramble which left him wide and in the dirt at the first corner. Dumbrell was pushed to second last but was able to recover to 13th by the end of the race and finished just behind Mark Skaife, in his last appearance.

Dumbrell adopted an early pit strategy coming in around lap 8 to take on two fresh rear tyres. Dumbrell then made his way up the field, taking on each car one by one, getting past Steven Richards, Steven Johnson and Jason Richards. He managed to settle into rhythm in 13th where he finished the race.

Earlier in Race 2 Kelly made up a considerable number of positions finishing just outside the top three in fourth position. He found himself embroiled in a battle with Ford’s Craig Lowndes towards the end of the race, managing to defend his fourth placing and putting himself in a healthy position for the third and final race for the weekend.

Dumbrell drove consistently in the second race, trying to regain position after yesterday’s disappointing results. Dumbrell made up 10 positions during the first race and in the second race this morning managed to pick up an additional three spots to finish 16th. He started off well moving up to 18th on the opening lap and made it up to 15th as the pit stops started to unfold, pitting for tyres as Championship winner Jamie Whincup retired from the race. He looked set to gain another position but ran out of laps to be able to make a move on Davison. He was a mere 0.4 seconds behind the Ford driver.

Holden’s Garth Tander took out the second race win with fellow Holden driver Russell Ingall in second. Steven Richards filled the final spot in the top three.

Kelly’s final race win gave him third for the Round, with Craig Lowndes finishing second and the Toll Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander in first spot – collecting his fourth Round win for the year.

Kelly made it up to seventh in the Championship points table after his podium this weekend. Dumbrell collected 114 points to finish 21st on the leader board.

The NRMA Grand Finale completes the V8 Supercar season for 2008 and marks the end to the full time driving career of Holden’s Mark Skaife. The V8 Supercar field paid tribute to Skaife earlier today during the drivers’ parade.

Skaife has been one of the most decorated drivers of the modern era.

The first Round of the 2009 season is the Clipsal 500 on the streets of Adelaide from March 19 – 22.

#15 Rick Kelly (Race 2: 4th, 1:10.6961; Race 3: 1st, 1:10.9868):

“It was a fantastic race, it was a bit greasy on the first lap. We got off to a great start and managed to make our way up to the front. The pace the car had was unbelievable, we built a little bit of a gap and I was quite surprised because we started on tyres that were a little older than the ones we eventually used after pitting.

“I am pretty happy, we had our new car back for the weekend, obviously since the crash at Bathurst and it was great to end the year on a high for the whole team.”

“On and off the speed was there, we had a few misfortunes throughout the year and I guess 2006 and 2007 for us were two fantastic years and unfortunately 2008 wasn’t quite as good. That is the way it is and hopefully 2009 is a better year.”

#16 Paul Dumbrell (Race 2: 16th, 1:11.6314; Race 3: 13th, 1:11.4352)


We are the best: Lowndes

Release date: //--T

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Rounds

* Grand Finale, Oran Park, Sydney

Circuits

* Oran Park Raceway

Craig Lowndes has given an ominous warning to the V8 Supercar Championship Series field with a ‘catch us if you can’ challenge in 2009, on the day that Australian sporting great Mark Skaife called it quits.

The day after his TeamVodafone team-mate Jamie Whincup won his first Championship at the NRMA Grand Finale, Lowndes believes the team will only go from strength to strength.

“He (Jamie) is the best out there,” Lowndes said.

“When Jamie came into the team (three years ago) he was able to push us along. His maturity this year has been amazing, he learns from everything and it has been great to have him as a teammate, each lap he pushes at 110%. If we break something, the team goes away and works out how to make it better.

“For us as a future, we are in better shape than ever before.”

For Skaife it was not all the memories he wanted of his last race but he had a cracking very last race when he pushed into 12th from 26th. It included a skirmish with his old mate and nemesis Russell Ingall.

“I would have given my right arm to push up inside of Russell and spin him around,” Skaife said. “I wouldn’t have speared him off though, I’m not Russell.

“But I was having a ball out there. There’s nothing better than being a race car driver and doing what we do.”

Skaife kept his emotions in check during a tribute to his career but admitted he choked up on the grid prior to his final race.

“The parade lap wasn’t too bad. I was probably more emotional on the grid. It takes a whole career to even have Ford fans waving at you.

“Then (wife) Toni and my son Mitch came out on the grid. I almost needed wipers on the inside of my helmet when I saw them.”

In contrast Paul Morris – who at one stage spun Whincup around in the last race – was not too phased about also heading into retirement from full-time racing.

“I’m not that stressed about it. It’s only a car race, not a big deal. I’ve got plenty of other things to do and I haven’t got the same record as Skaifey so it’s less emotional for me.”

Whincup won the title despite not even starting the Hamilton 400 in April after a big crash in qualifying. Despite the fact that at the time it may have stopped him from winning the title, he in fact said it helped him win it.

“Mistakes and setbacks make you better. Without Hamilton we may not have won the Championship. It made us so much more determined.,” Whincup said.

“After Phillip Island I promised myself not to make any more mistakes this season, and I’m going to race hard to the end and I’m looking forward to not breaking that promise and not to make a blue.”

“I’ve always had faith in my ability, there is a lot of guys with the potential who don’t get the opportunities to show what they can do. I’ve got plenty of critics out there and hopefully this will silence a few of them.”

Whincup is sure to have a headache tomorrow after revealing that after winning 10 of the last 11 races before yesterday and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 that the team had not yet celebrated.

“We’ve got a lot of celebrating to do, after Bathurst it was just a few lemon squashes and then Indy was quiet too, which was hard at my home race. We’ll do some celebrating tomorrow night, this has been an amazing year.”

The V8 Supercar Championship Series re-commences at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide next March and includes new races the Sydney 400 and the Townsville 400.


Second for Frosty

Release date: //--T

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Teams

* Ford Performance Racing

Drivers

* StevenRichards
* MarkWinterbottom

Rounds

* Grand Finale, Oran Park, Sydney

Circuits

* Oran Park Raceway

SECOND FOR FROSTY BUT DISAPPOINTMENT FOR RICHO

Mark Winterbottom has secured second place in the V8 Supercar Championship Series despite some dramatic twists and turns for Ford Performance Racing at Oran Park today.

The Orrcon Steel Ford Credit FPR Falcon driver started from P23 in the first race of the day after yesterday’s pit lane penalty cost him a top ten finish. He battled to 12thbut Garth Tander, who was snapping at Frosty’s heels for second in the championship, took victory piling the pressure on for the final race of the year.

Frosty surged off the start and made good progress but an untimely safety car period saw him parked behind team-mate Steve Richards as the Castrol FPR Falcon stopped for tyres and a ten-second jump-start penalty. Frosty eventually finished 18th, securing second in the championship by 31 points.

Richo, meanwhile, seemed to be heading for fifth in the championship after a podium finish in the day’s first race, when he was just edged out of second by Russell Ingall in the dying laps. He leapt off the start and into the lead of race three but was judged to have moved too early and received a ten-second penalty. That saw him finish the race in 17th and relegated to eighth in the championship.

The V8 Supercar Championship Series will return next March for the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

Mark Winterbottom

Orrcon Steel Ford Credit FPR Falcon

“Starting from the back is always a worry; when you put yourself with those guys there’s a fair risk you’ll get crashed off so I had to drive cautiously. We made a lot of spots off the start but I just fought to the end and got enough points to secure second, which is nice.

“Jamie Whincup had a dreadful day today, only scoring 24 points from two races; if he’d had that kind of luck yesterday we might have been in with a chance. Having said that, we had the same sort of day. We weren’t good enough, it’s that simple; no ifs, no buts, he’s just been too good. We’ve got three months to up our game and that’s what we’re going to do. We’ll come back with two shiny new cars and be as hungry as ever.”

Steve Richards

Castrol FPR Falcon

“At the end of the day we didn’t get the result we wanted and I’m disappointed with the way this season finished.

“Russell Ingall gave me a punt in race two and that’s how he gained the second place position; that’s the fact of the matter. Of course rubbing is part of racing but the difference is he deliberately punted me wide and gained a position. There’s rubbing and there’s punting and he punted me.

“In the third race I just hooked up and took off the start line and into the lead. I’m sure I didn’t jump the start; I’m positive, but that sealed the deal. That call cost us fifth place and a potential podium; it changed our whole weekend.

“I’m looking forward to next year; I can see so much promise in what we’ve got so I can’t wait."


Stop whinging and get on with it:Ingall

Release date: 07/12/2008

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The Enforcer is back! Supercheap Auto Racing’s Russell Ingall is back at the pointy end of the field and in his typical ‘no nonsense’ style he has fired a salvo at “factory drivers” who whinge after a little rubbing during a race.

His comments followed an incident involving Ford Performance Racing’s Steven Richards in race two at Oran Park today (Sunday). Ingall passed Richards for second place and the FPR driver was less than impressed with the way he pass was implemented.

“I’m not upset that he passed me; (it was that) he gave me a shove to get past me,” Richards told BigPond Sport.

Ingall implied that ‘rubbing is racing’ and was concerned that Richards and FPR Team Principal Tim Edwards were complaining about the incident.

He believes that if some teams and drivers had their way that they would turn V8 Supercars into a non contact sport, and that, he claims, would be detrimental to the popularity of the sport.

“It’s absolutely disgusting that a factory team and a professional driver like Richo is carrying on like a stuffed chook because he made a mistake,” Ingall said.

“It’s typical of the way that this category is going at the moment. The majority of the teams are to blame.

“There are only a couple of teams up and down pitlane who actually get it, but they (the others) will find out when the factory money dries up; when the dough runs out, because the category is not doing very well because the racing is boring and there is no entertainment for the crowd and the journos have got nothing to write about, and the media falls away from it.

“They will learn when they are all out of a job; and we’ll see where they end up then.”

Ingall is determined to claim his first round win with a good result in race three this afternoon.

“It would be nice to go out with a round win before the season is out,” he said.

“I said to the boys that it would be good to win one before the end of the year. I thought that might be hard work, but maybe not; we might give it a real run.”

Ingall promised that, if nothing else, he planed to make the final race of the season entertaining.

“(In) the last race of the year, you have to have a big go,” he said.

“We’ll either win it or you’ll have plenty to write about. It will be one of those two things I can guarantee it!”

..........

[hoon69]

.....................
Tander goes out on a high

Release date: 07/12/2008

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TeamVodafone’s Jamie Whincup may have taken his crown away from him at this weekend’s Grand Finale at Oran Park, but Toll Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander will go down in history as claiming the last V8 Supercar round ever held at the Sydney circuit.

Tander finished sixth in Race One after a 10-second penalty for jumping the start, a remarkable victory in Race Two, and a workman-like second in the last race of the season despite making an ordinary start from pole position.

HSV Dealer Team’s Rick Kelly made a blinding start in Race Three, along with Ford Performance Racing’s Steven Richards; however, the latter was pinged by the stewards for jumping the start.

Kelly went on to win the last race ever at Oran Park and he subsequently finished third for the round.

Supercheap Auto Racing’s Russell Ingall, who started Race Three from the outside of the front row, went backwards after he flat-spotted a tyre due to massive understeer.

Whincup’s teammate, Craig Lowndes rounded out the Race Three podium and was second for the round.

Tander was pleased to salvage the final round win of the season despite having to hand his title to Whincup.

“Oran Park hasn’t been kind to me in my time in V8 Supercars and I thought after yesterday that it was going to happen again,” Tander said.

“The car was very good in Race One yesterday after we took that penalty and to get back to sixth really set us up for Race Two this morning.

“I didn’t quite have the speed to chase Rick down (in Race Three) and I didn’t know until the last lap about the situation with Russell when the boys told me on the radio that I had won the round.”

Tander said it was a real privilege to win the last ever V8 Supercar round at Oran Park.

“It is very special to win the final round here at Oran Park; I won my Formula Ford Championship here in 1997, so to get the final V8 Supercar round here at Oran Park is a great honour,” he said.

As for the 2008 Championship, he said that the last five rounds of the series cost him dearly.

“We had a great season up until the Saturday night at Bathurst, but then it all went pear-shaped,” he said.

Kelly, meanwhile, was happy to claim the last ever V8 Supercar race win at Oran Park.

“I got a fantastic start. I managed to work my way to the front and the pace that the car had was just unbelievable,” he said.

“I’m pretty happy. It was a new car for the weekend since the crash at Bathurst. It was good to end the year on a high for the whole team.”

Kelly lamented a poor season, but is looking forward to better results next year.

“2006 and 2007 were great years, but unfortunately 2008 wasn’t; unfortunately that is just the way it is. I hope 2009 is a great year for us,” he said.

The final top three for the 2008 Championship was Whincup, Ford Performance Racing’s Mark Winterbottom and Tander.

Ironically Whincup had a shocking day after wrapping up the 2008 V8 Supercar Championship yesterday (Saturday). His TeamVodafone Falcon suffered an uncharacteristic mechanical breakdown in this morning’s race when a differential failed.

“It was just one of those freaky things… you want your bad luck to happen at the right time, and that timing was perfect,” Whincup said referring to the fact his differential broke after he had secured the title.

He also paid tribute to his team members for their efforts this season.

“I wish the whole team could have been on the (Championship) podium, but there is only enough room for one,” he said.

Tander’s teammate, the retiring Mark Skaife, finished his final race in 12th place.

It was also Paul Morris’ final V8 Supercar sprint race.

Race Three Top 10

Rick Kelly, Commodore
Garth Tander, Commodore
Craig Lowndes, Falcon
James Courtney, Falcon
Shane Van Gisbergen, Falcon
Lee Holdsworth, Commodore
Jason Bright, Falcon
Fabian Coulthard, Falcon
Paul Morris, Commodore
Michael Caruso, Commodore

Oran Park Round Top 10

Garth Tander, Commodore
Craig Lowndes, Falcon
Rick Kelly, Commodore
Russell Ingall, Commodore
James Courtney, Falcon
Steven Richards, Falcon
Jason Bright, Falcon
Michael Caruso, Commodore
Fabian Coulthard, Falcon
Paul Morris, Commodore

Final Championship standings

Jamie Whincup, Falcon, 3332
Mark Winterbottom, Falcon, 3079
Garth Tander, Commodore, 3048
Craig Lowndes, Falcon, 2871
Will Davison, Falcon, 2495
James Courtney, Falcon, 2446
Rick Kelly, Commodore, 2430
Steven Richards, Falcon, 2416
Russell Ingall, Commodore, 2236
Steven Johnson, Falcon, 2163

Tander fires warning shot

Release date: 07/12/2008

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“Watch out we are coming to get it back!” was the only advice Toll Holden Racing Team driver Garth Tander had for 2008 Champion elect, TeamVodafone's Jamie Whincup.

The reigning Champion will hand over the title to his rival at the end of this weekend.

Whincup wrapped up the Championship in race one at Oran Park Grand Finale yesterday (Saturday), while Tander will still be defending third place in the 2008 Championship with Whincup's teammate Craig Lowndes during today's two races.

Tander congratulated Whincup on his title victory, saying he deserved to win the Championship, but warned the Falcon driver to keep an eye over his shoulder in 2009.

“They (TeamVodafone) have been the form team since Bathurst and when you consider that he (Whincup) didn't score any points in Hamilton (New Zealand), then they have done a fantastic job,” Tander said.

“To come back from that and win it with two races to go is a fantastic effort.

“Since Bathurst he has been the man to beat. We didn't have a good Bathurst and we haven't had a great finish to the year. He has certainly taken his opportunities when they have arisen. He has had plenty of speed so good on him.”

Mark Winterbottom, who will most likely finish this weekend as the 2008 Championship runner-up, also doffed his cap to the Champion elect.

“At Bathurst we still had a chance, but each round 888 just gradually got away from us; before that we had the run and before that HRT had the run. Everyone's had a crack, but 888 did it at the time that counts,” Winterbottom said.

He said that he would also be gunning for Whincup's title in 2009.

"This is the first year I've really felt in contention and it gives you confidence to be a genuine front runner. You feel like you're driving it to its limits. We've got to work on everything as a whole to make sure we get everything right next year,” he said.

FPR Team Principal, Tim Edwards, also believes his team will be a force next season.

"All credit to Ford and 888 on a great victory,” Edwards said.

"We still need to take a lot of positives out of the year; this is the closest we've ever come and we'll learn and come back stronger."

YouTube - Jamie Whincup - 2008 V8 Supercar Champion - Victory Burnout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCrG_pMJcl0)
YouTube - Jamie Whincup - V8 Supercar Championship Podium Presentation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9lkuFzu8Uc)
YouTube - Jamie Whincup - 2008 V8 Supercar Champion - Victory Burnout (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCrG_pMJcl0&feature=related)
YouTube - Jamie Whincup - V8 Supercar Champion for 2008 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr8V4fsPGPU)

[Carby650]

Nobody will beat Ingalls donut work the year he won the C'ship.