The Australian Racing Drivers Club

For members and guests

Major Events

Hi-Tec Oils Figure-8 Drift Series Round 1 wrap up

Round 1 of the Hi-Tec Oils Figure-8 Drift Series is run and done, with big crowds, great atmosphere and some great driving.

James Abbott from Blaze Unit took out the number 1 spot in the 3 FINGERS NEAT S15 Silvia, Brad Tuohy in the D2D Customs S13 took 2nd and Michael Prosenik, up from Victoria, took 3rd place.

Twenty-two drivers made it to Round 1, which would be the first time a competition had ever been held on the Figure 8 track at Sydney Motorsport Park.

It was also the first time that four cars were allowed on track at once during the tandem practice sessions, giving drivers more track time, and spectators more action.

Practice allowed drivers who had never been on the Figure 8 track to learn it, and those who had, to remfamiliarise themselves with it and learn to drive it with clipping points and zones for the first time.

Having a proper track layout and some great drivers in a professionally judged competition gave the Figure-8 a new lease on life. Combine the action on track with a DJ and Bar off track as well as Motive DVD trade stand, cars on show and a monster trade stand form the guys at Hi-Tec Oils, and it made for a great night out.

Qualifying was the first chance for the drivers to try the course from a standing start, taking off from a run-up start line under instruction from the lights. The judges for this event were 2012 ADGP champion, Rob Whyte, and Travis Roberts.

Both judges commented on how the facility lent itself well to this type of event, and had a great atmosphere. They also commented on some of the great driving, especially from number one qualifier, Gavin Edwards, who put down a near-perfect run.

Brad Tuohy qualified in 2nd place, Michael Prosenik in 3rd and James Abbott in 4th. Once the battles started, things really started to heat up. Ferds and Anthony Bilic showed promise in Qualifying, but Anthony didn’t make it to the start grid due to car dramas, and teething problems in Ferds’ car meant he lost to Matt Hill in the 180SX in the Top-16. Schembri was blazin’ hard but a small mistake in the Top-8 had him out early.

The Top-4 qualifiers were looking unstoppable, and all of them made it to the Top-4 for the fiercest battles of the night. Number 1 qualifier Gavin Edwards lost to Jabbott but then went in to battle for third place. Brad Tuohy won the battle of the V8 Silvias, defeating Michael Prosenik, and then took on Jabbott in the finals. Brad put up a great fight, but Jabbott was super aggressive on the chase, and the crazy entry that no-one thought he would hold gave him the win.
Round 2 is scheduled for Friday the 16th of August, with the same location and schedule. It is set to be even bigger and better both on and off track, with a massive All Stars car meet, more trade stands and even more drivers.
ROUND 1 FINAL STANDINGS
1 James Abbott 3 FINGERS NEAT Nissan S15 Silvia 100
2 Brad Tuohy D2D Customs Nissan S13 Silvia 93
3 Michael Prosenik SCR Nissan S13 Silvia 85
4 Gavin Edwards 3 FINGERS NEAT R32 Skyline 79
5 Mitchell Jeffery Federal Tyres, Micks Motorsport Nissan 180SX 72
6 Scott Schembri 3 FINGERS NEAT Nissan 180SX 69
7 Mathew Hill Nissan 180SX 66
8 Phillip Searle Toyota Corlla 63
9 Anthony Bilic Drift Racing Industries Nissan S13 Silvia 58
10 Fernando Weirhl Project D Nissan R32 Skyline 55
11 Brian Campbell 666 Racing Nissan S14 Silvia 52
12 Jim Turner ART Nissan 180SX 49
13 Alex Sciacca W3SLIDE Nissan S14 Silvia 46
14 Benjamin Toyer Nissan 180SX 43
15 Mathew Trevena Toyota Corolla 40
16 Glen Atkins Driving Sports Mazda RX-7 37
17 Andrew Callaghan GCG Toyota Soarer 33
18 John Ferguson Driftmob Nissan 180SX 32
19 Mitchell Mahaffey Foytt Auto Nissan 180SX 31
20 Tyler Jay Markman 999 Automotive Nissan R31 30
21 Michael Spencer 666 Racing Nissan S14 Silvia 29
DNF Al Bennett Slide Industries Nissan S13 Silvia 2

 

Shannons Nationals event wrap

EVENT RELEASE: The most controversial finish in the recent history of the Australian Manufacturers Championship has clouded results after Sunday’s three-hour race at Sydney Motorsport Park.
On track to take a strong one lap victory but running on fumes and driving without the benefit of pit-to-car communication or a working dashboard, Stuart Kostera (sharing with car owner, Dylan Thomas) brought the CXC Global Mitsubishi lancer in to pit lane for a desperate splash-and-go fuel stop, at the end of today’s three-hour race.
However, uncertainty surrounding the end of the timed race and the displaying of the checkered flag saw the car classified as a non finisher, due to being in pit lane at the end of the race.
The CXC team believes that they are the rightful victors given their car crossed the control line after the completion of the timed race – even if it was in pit lane.
His nearest rivals believe that because the car was in pit lane and never actually received the checkered flag, the car should not be classified.
The fact that the Kostera / Thomas car was a lap clear of their nearest rivals adds to the confusion.
Beric Lynton and Tim Leahey (BMW 1M) have been classified the winners pending a protest from the Mitsubishi team.
Having led the early running, the Pro Duct Mitsubishi driven by Glenn Seton and Bob Pearson developed a clutch drama in the second hour that saw the team unable to select fifth gear, the team eventually retiring to the garage when the dramas became too severe.
Garry Holt and Ryan McLeod were classified third, the Michael Benton / Geoff Russell FPV GT fourth and the class D Honda Integra of Jake Williams and Brendan Stone scored a remarkable fifth outright.
Results are officially provisional pending a protest lodged by the CXC Global team, with a hearing to be held at Queensland Raceway in three weeks.
Despite having a group of top-flight international drivers thrown at him, Radical Australia Cup dominator Neale Muston continued his command of the sports car class by winning the First Neon 250 endurance event today.
Muston won the opening 45-minute leg comfortably over Ash Samadi and Richard Kimber, and then went on to defeat the pro drivers in the second to wrap up another round victory.
Pro drivers were assessed a drive-through handicap as part of their status this weekend though that scarcely changed the result; when leg two leader James Winslow pitted for his brief visit to pit lane Muston was already running second on the road.
Samadi finished second overall – based on combined points from both legs – whilst SR3 pilot Simon Haggarty finished third.
Winslow smashed the existing Sydney Motorsport Park RAC lap record, lowering the benchmark to a stunning 1m25.7027s in his V8-powered SR8.
Jack LeBrocq today completed a perfect weekend in the Australian GT Championship presented by Pirelli, sweeping to another victory in his Erebus Motorsport Mercedes Benz SLS AMG.
The young Victorian now has four race wins in a row to his credit, and today he won by nearly a full minute to complete a weekend of domination.
Klark Quinn continues to accumulate championship points – his second place finish today keeping him on course for a second Australian GT title – though it didn’t all go his way.
The Porsche driver was pressured in the closing stages by a charging John Bowe, who only just missed out on scoring second in the Maranello Motorsport Ferrari he shared with Peter Edwards.
Tony Quinn finished fourth in his Aston Martin whilst Lamborghini driver Roger Lago bounced back from a non-finish yesterday – a drive-belt broke on the V10 engine – to finish fifth.
Phil Woodbury and John Goodacre were the big winners in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Pirelli, the pair taking out the professional and elite divisions of the one-make Porsche category, respectively.
Woodbury won race two today, resisting a charge from Richard Muscat in the closing laps after the series leader started from the rear of the grid thanks to his race one non-finish.
Contact with Jon McCorkindale restricted Woodbury to a 10th finish in the final race – but it was still enough to take the professional class win. Muscat won the third race, continuing his impressive season with another podium.
Goodacre actually won the round outright, and led home Steven Grove and John Morris in the series’ elite division.
John Magro completed a perfect weekend in the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship, sweeping to victory in today’s 12-lap feature race having won both sprint races yesterday, too.
Tim Macrow and Nathan Morcom completed the podium, Macrow continuing to lead the Gold Star standings ahead of the next round in Queensland.
Ben Grice completed a perfect weekend in the Suzuki Swift series, with pole position and two race wins to his name. Having won yesterday’s sprint race, Grice comfortably led for the entire one-hour distance contested today – taking victory by over eight seconds. Allan Jarvis and Luke Fraser rounded out the top three.

 

Drifting under lights at SMSP

In case you haven’t heard… Drifting is back under lights at SMSP! We have two exciting new drift events to brighten up the dark winter months:

SYDNEY MOTORSPORT DRFT NIGHTS – UNDER LIGHTS!

The Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC) and Driftmob Drift Club present Sydney Motorsport Park Drift Nights Under Lights! These special events will be run on turns 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the SMSP South Circuit on June 20, July 25 and August 22. The track action starts at 5pm and runs until 10:30pm, and includes tandem and trainee runs. Gates open to the public from 3:30pm and spectator entry is only $5 per person. Passenger rides are also available! Click here for all the details.

Prepay now and save: ARDC and Driftmob Members, Prepaid: $150 Non-members, Prepaid: $200 On the night: $250 all comers Spectator entry: $5 at the gate To reserve your place and receive your discounted entry, call Angela on 0406 669 635 from 5pm-9pm, Monday – Friday.

FIGURE 8 DRIFT SERIES

The Figure-8 Drift Series presented by Motive DVD and powered by ARDC is a fun, casual and relaxed night of drifting. Round 1 kicks off on Friday July 19, then Round 2 is Friday August 16 and the final decider on Friday November 1. Action on track begins at 5:30pm and goes until 10:30pm, with Top 16 battles commencing at 8pm. The Figure-8 LAYOUT ensures close door-to-door action as NSW’s best drifters battle it out, while entertainment includes a rooftop bar and DJ, car show and trade stands.

Enter the full series and save: $150 per round, includes 2 pit crew, or save and pre-enter all three rounds for $400. Spectator entry: $15 at the gate, or prepay online now and save $5!

See you at the track!

ARDC Members clean up at Philip Island

The first round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship for Production Touring Cars was run and won on Sunday 26th May. Part of the third round of the Shannons Nationals, the race was a four hour, two driver test in wet and dry conditions around the iconic Victorian circuit. Driving one of the Pro – Duct Mitsubishi EVO Xs, team owner Bob Pearson and co driver extraordinaire, Glenn Seton paced themselves in the early stages then came home with a withering run on the damp track to claim victory by over a lap.

Bob is a long term member of the ARDC, winning the Club Championship back in 1995. Glenn has just re joined at the urging of Terry Thompson, ARDC Director, who helps out in the Pro-Duct team during race weekends. Glenn has lost none of his wet weather driving ability. The display of car control in slippery conditions during the last stint was awesome to watch. At one stage he was taking up to 7 seconds a lap from the second placed car. He also set a new lap record some 1.5 seconds faster than the previous time. The resurfacing of the famous Island track saw most lap records fall during the weekend. The new control tyre for the series is a Hankook and excellent preparation of the Pro-Duct EVO to suit this tyre played a big part in the win. Some teams seemed to have problems with the tyres but a number of cars sailed through the event with no rubber issues. The next round will be a three hour at SMSP in July, then on to QR in August before Wakefield Park in October with two 200km races – that will be a lot of laps of Wakefield.

The final will be at Sandown in November.

– Terry Thompson

Porsche Rennsport Australia Festival a huge success

Porsche Cars Australia – Great Racing, Great Cars, Great Porsche Spirit
Porsche fans in Australia have given the country’s inaugural Rennsport Festival a resounding vote of approval.
Porsches old and new, from road and track, local and abroad together with famous faces and enthusiasts of the German marque filled Sydney Motorsport Park on the May 25-26 weekend in a celebration of all things Porsche.
The superb on-track action from twin one-hour Porsche Carrera Cup Australia enduros and triple header Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Pirelli races was complemented with a showcase of stunning and priceless Porsches both on display and on track.
In all, more than 240 Porsches took to the circuit in the weekend’s 37 track events with another 120 immaculately presented in the Porschestrasse display, Concours d’Elegance and Show’n’Shine. Together with privately owned vehicles driven to Rennsport the total number of Porsches at Sydney Motorsport Park was estimated at more than 500, with a crowd of approximately 4,000 over the two days.
In Carrera Cup action it was Elite Class driver Max Twigg and V8 enduro specialist Luke Youlden that took round three honours while up-and-comer Richard Muscat took a clean sweep of victories in the GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Pirelli.

 

Historic race cars drawing special attention on and off the circuit were the 1981 Le Mans-winning Porsche 936, 2005/6 American Le Mans Series LMP2 Porsche RS Spyder, the ex-Vern Schuppan Porsche 956C from the Japanese Sportscar Championship of the mid ‘80s, the Le Mans class-winning 996 RSR from 2002 and the ex-Alan Hamilton 1968 911 TR – the car that, as Alan Hamilton relayed on the weekend, “came within 10 yards” of winning the 1969 Australian Touring Car Championship.
A Porsche new car showroom display, Porsche Kids Driving School, Porsche Panamera NSW Police Car and skidpan and 4WD off-road activities with the Porsche Sports Driving School ensured there was never a dull moment for Porsche aficionados.
“The feedback from Porsche competitors, Porsche car club members and the general public to the inaugural Rennsport Ferstival in Australia has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Porsche Cars Australian Managing Director, Michael Winkler.
“You measure the success of special events such as this not only by what happens on track but by the number of smiles and feeling of camaraderie in the garages.”
The milestone event was celebrated on the Saturday evening with a gala dinner for 220 special guests, acknowledging past and present Porsche legends in Australia including: Porsche distributor Alan Hamilton, tarmac racing Porsche king Jim Richards, the most successful Carrera Cup racer in the world Craig Baird, and director of Porsche’s Historic Racing Department Klaus Bischof.
“People are already asking me when the next Rennsport will be,” says Winkler. “The honest answer is ‘I don’t know right now’ but we are certain to have another, even bigger and better judging by the success of our first attempt.”
Porsche Rennsport Australia Motor Racing Festival results:
Porsche Carrera Cup, round three:
1st Max Twigg / Luke Youlden (2011 GT3 Cup Type 997)
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Pirelli, round two:
1st Richard Muscat (2006 GT3 Cup Type 997)
Porsche Sports Cars
1st Russell Kempnich (Porsche 956)
Group S & Group N under 2500cc
1st Wayne Seabrook (911 T)
Group S & Group N over 2500cc
1st Bryan Taylor (1974 Carrera)
Regularity 1
1st Greame Evans (911 T)
Regularity 2
1st Nathan Johnston (911 SC)
Regularity 3
1st Phil Treloar (996)
Rennsport Show ‘n’ Shine Trophy
1st John Pisani (356A 1959)
Rennsport Australian Porsche Clubs Trophy
1st Stephen Richardson (911 Carrera RS 1973)
Rennsport Peoples’ Choice Award
1st Antony Martin (911 SC 3.0 1980
Rennsport Concours D’Elegance Trophy
1st Ron Goodman (356 Cabriolet 1953)
Rennsport Concourse D’Elegance Masterclass Trophy
1st Paul Muras (928 S4 1989)

 

Sydney Motorsport Park to host Top Gear Festival!

The Australian Racing Drivers’ Club is excited to announce that Sydney Motorsport Park will host Top Gear Festival Sydney in March 2013.
For two adrenaline packed days, Top Gear Festival Sydney will transform Sydney Motorsport Park into a motoring enthusiast’s heaven, as cars and stars take to the track in this inaugural outdoor motoring spectacular.

Joining us will be UK Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May, along with Top Gear’s mysterious racing driver The Stig! They’ll also be bringing along some of their legendary racing mates and celebrity friends, all across the weekend of the 9 – 10 March 2013!

Top Gear Festival Sydney promises to be an awesome track based festival, with every corner of Sydney Motorsport Park ablaze with action all weekend long.

At the centre of the event two race circuits will see racing legends and stars pitted against one another whilst the rest of the Park plays host to thrilling stunts and challenges, live actions zones, a packed exhibition area featuring some of the world’s latest and greatest cars and much more!

Do not miss the ultimate Top Gear fuelled day out, for one weekend only and only in Sydney on 9 -10 March 2013!

Top Gear Festival Sydney falls outside regular ARDC Member benefits. ARDC Members will not receive discounted or complimentary entry to the Festival.

ARDC Members will receive access to an exclusive presale later this week, details will follow shortly.

For more information on Top Gear Festival Sydney, visit www.topgearfestivalsydney.com.au.