SMSP News

Sep 12 2013

All about the 2013 WORLD TIME ATTACK CHALLENGE

THE WORLD’S BEST HYPERCARS AGAINST THE CLOCK

WHEN: Friday October 17 – Saturday October 18, 2013.

WHERE: Sydney Motorsport Park, Brabham Drive, Eastern Creek.

WHAT: WTAC is two days of motorsport nirvana, with non-stop Time Attack and Drift action plus Turbo Legends, Flying 500 top speed challenge, Show’n’Shine and a massive trade display.
Time Attack, also known as Superlap originated in Japan in the 1980s as a proving ground for street-tuned cars built by highly respected tuning companies. The Superlap format is not unlike a qualifying lap in traditional motorsport, with competitors racing against the clock with the fastest single lap collecting the prize.
The rules are limited almost purely to the safety aspects meaning the vehicles can have almost unlimited modifications making for some seriously spectacular on track action. It is not uncommon to see 1000kg cars with 800 hp on tap battling it out for brand supremacy. The allegiance of fans to a particular brand is no different to the traditional Holden vs Ford rivalry that we have become accustomed to in Australia.
As the sun goes down, all eyes move to the South Circuit for the Tectaloy International Drift Challenge, where the cream of Aussie drifters take on the best of international drift stars. The current D1GP Champion Daigo Saito is the hot favourite but a strong Aussie and Kiwi contingent will do their best to dethrone him.
Yokohama World Time Attack Challenge is a family-friendly event. Kids under 12 get in for free.

ADMISSION: Adults Fri $40/Sat $50/ Two-day pass $69
Student / Concessions Sat $30/Sun $35/ Two-day pass $50
Children 12 and under FOC
Free grandstand access, free competitors paddock entry, free parking.

MORE INFO: www.worldtimeattack.com

Sep 09 2013

Event wrap- 2013 Round 7 CAMS Supersprint Championships

On Sunday Sept 8, Sydney Motorsport Park hosted Round 7 of the CAMS Supersprint Championships using the North Circuit track layout. A solid field of 97 competitors in eight different classes had a fabulous day racing the clock.
Andre Tan ( Radical) bettered his previous outings result on this circuit by nearly two seconds recording a 0:58.77 fastest lap of the day. Alexander Kenny (Juno LMP3) and Marek Tomaszewski (Stohr WF1) battled for second place honours, with Kenny just pipping Tomaszewski by the narrowest of margins: 0.005 seconds. Tomaszewski lowered his April meetings quickest time by 2.5 seconds, but had to settle with third-fastest for the day.
Ben Porter was the fastest of the tin tops, with a 1:03.79. This was 4.22 seconds faster than the previous best time this year on the SMSP circuit , recorded in June by Alan Bugh in his Clubman. Bugh also lowered his Round 3 time by 1.5 seconds.
Supersprint always features its fair share of exotic street and custom vehicles, and today’s event was no different. Andrew McLaughlin brought his magnificent little flyer, the 5.7L ELFIN MS8 Clubman and Rudy Franz’s 1973 VW L-Bug boasting 330kW “at the wheels” flew down pit straight at 240kph. “Not enough horses”, said Rudy, who after today’s event has plans to replace the current engine with a WRX unit, with 450kW the anticipated result.
Mike Pritchett (Clubman) retired early with an electrical gremlin, Mike Hicks (MX5) was having fun with his new 6-speed gearbox, and unlike fine wine, Mike Loomes (Clubman) complained he wasn’t getting any better with age.
Evan Jones, Supersprint event controller, commented: “Supersprint timed racing is the best value for laps racing available. It is the most economical way to get time on a race track if you want to gain experience, or if you are seeking to upgrade your racing licence in order to compete in other styles of competitive racing.”
– Rob Annesley

Aug 30 2013

The ARDC pays homage to Bathurst history at SMSP

The Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC), which kicked off the now annual and iconic Australian motorsport event, the Bathurst 1000, has paid tribute to the race, the place and the club’s racing heritage with the announcement of its newly named Turn 9, dubbed ‘Panorama’. The ARDC, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, formed an alliance in 1954 with the Bathurst Light Car Club to purchase land between Murray’s Corner and Hell Corner in order to build the Mt Panorama pit lane and establish the Bathurst circuit. In 1962, the ARDC ran the first six-hour race at Bathurst to prove that Mt Panorama could handle a then-500 mile event. One year later, the Armstrong 500 race meeting moved from Phillip Island to Mt Panorama, and the Bathurst 500 was born. “Given the ARDC’s place in Australian motorsport history in presenting and developing this country’s most iconic race, the Bathurst 1000, it is only appropriate that we recognise this part of our history in naming Turn 9 of the circuit ‘Panorama’”, said ARDC CEO, Glenn Matthews. Panorama sits atop the new Brabham Circuit, and appropriately its position is the highest point of elevation at the Sydney Motorsport Park track, with an amazing vista to the equally iconic control tower. The 4.5 kilometre Brabham extended circuit was created by combining the original Eastern Creek International Raceway layout with an exciting and undulating extension designed by Apex Circuit Design from the UK, and launched with the re-branded Sydney Motorsport Park in May, 2012. Racing this still-new circuit on August 31 and September 1 in the Touring Car Masters as part of the annual Australian Muscle Car Masters, Bathurst masters John Bowe and Jim Richards were on hand to launch ‘Panorama’ to the motorsport world. “It’s fantastic that we have two Bathurst legends here at the 2013 Muscle Car Masters to help us celebrate its naming this weekend, at an event that celebrates the Bathurst cars of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s,” added Matthews. Now in its ninth year, the Muscle Car Masters is a weekend-long celebration of Australia’s muscle car heritage, and a tribute to the drivers who raced them. On-track action includes races for historic touring cars, Bathurst beasts, Formula 5000 V8 open wheelers and production sports cars, with the Touring Car Masters one of the major drawcards of the Fathers’ Day weekend festivities, and most categories will use the Brabham circuit and fly past ‘Panorama’ over many a lap.

MORE INFO:

www.sydneymotorsportpark.com.au

www.ardc.com.au

www.musclecarmasters.com.au

Aug 18 2013

The Shannons Sydney Classic

A classic car festival like no other, the Shannons Sydney Classic sees nearly 2000 Veteran and Classic vehicles from 150 clubs converge on Sydney Motorsport Park for parades, rides, cruises and displays. Vehicles include cars, bikes, scooters and military vehicles, even double-decker buses, which cruise around the racetrack! The Concours Display will keep your jaw dropping, while trade displays in Pit Garages all day with books, models and all sorts of memorabilia will keep the enthusiast thoroughly entertained. Live music, food and beverage, and clowns and face painting make this event a true family outing, and kids under 12 years, Grandstand access, and parking are all free. It’s one of the biggest car shows on the calendar!

DATE: Sunday 18th August

ADMISSION: Adults $15, ARDC Members and children 12 and under free.

Aug 05 2013

ASBK Race weekend wrap

TEAM SUZUKI rider Wayne Maxwell capped off a perfect weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park with victory in today’s fifth round of the QBE Australian Superbike Championship.

Maxwell, who won both 12-lap races today, has extended his lead in the championship to sit 24 points ahead of Glenn Allerton.

“What a weekend,” Maxwell said. “To win all four races is the ultimate dream come true.

“The GSXR 1000 was incredible all weekend and handled extremely well. Full credit to the team for giving me such an awesome bike to ride this weekend.

“We have the championship lead but I am not going to get ahead of myself. We need to take it race by race. If we are winning races the rest will come,” he continued.

Pole-sitter Robbie Bugden was second for the round with Allerton bouncing back from a disappointing result yesterday to round out the podium.

“I had a good first race and finished second to Wayne,” Budgen explained. “In Race 2, I ended up involved in a massive battle and I tried a few things but they didn’t pay off and I ended up fifth.

“It was still a fantastic weekend for the team. We finished 1-2 in both rounds and I had pole for today’s races.”

Team Honda riders Josh Hook and Jamie Stauffer were fourth and fifth for the round with Sydney rider Glenn Scott sixth.

Scott broke through for his first top three finish in today’s opening Superbike race and was the leading privateer for the round.

In the Motul Supersport class Aaron Morris took the round victory with two race wins ahead of Aiden Wagner.

The Yamaha mounted duo traded blows throughout today’s final 12-lap race with Morris moving into the lead on Lap 9.

“I pretty much led the first race from start to finish but I hit false neutral on Lap 2 in the second race and lost about four spots,” Morris explained.

“From there I just had to keep chipping away at it. Aiden and I ended up in a good battle but I was able to get him towards the end.

“I got some good points today and have started to close the gap to Daniel (Falzon),” Morris said.

Morris has reduced the points deficit to Motul Supersport championship leader Daniel Falzon to just eight points in the championship standings.

Matt Walters continued to dominate the Prostock field with another clean sweep of today’s three 9-lap races. He was joined on the podium by fellow New South Welshmen Dustin Goldsmith and Sean Condon.

The next event sees the QBE Australian Superbike Championship head to Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway for the September 12-15 ultimate weekend of motorsport, which will include the Australian Supercross Championship.

Top Ten Round 5 Results QBE Australian Superbikes – Sydney Motorsport Park

1. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) 50

2. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) 37

3. Glenn ALLERTON (NSW) 35

4. Josh HOOK (NSW) 34

5. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) 34

6. Glenn SCOTT (NSW) 33

7. Linden MAGEE (QLD) 28

8. Beau BEATON (NSW) 26

9. Sloan FROST (NZ) 24

10. Ben HENRY (QLD / WA)21

Top Ten QBE Australian Superbike Championship Standings (After Rd 5 of 7)

1. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) 180

2. Glenn ALLERTON 156

3. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) 156

4. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) 135

5. Josh HOOK (NSW) 133

6. Glenn SCOTT (NSW) 119

7. Linden MAGEE (QLD) 99

8. Beau BEATON (NSW) 99

9.Phil LOVETT (NSW) 79

10. Sloan FROST (NZ) 71

Top Ten Round 5 Results Motul Supersport – Sydney Motorsport Park

1. Aaron MORRIS (NSW) 50

2. Aiden WAGNER (QLD) 40

3. Daniel FALZON (SA) 36

4. Michael BLAIR (NSW) 34

5. Chris QUINN (NSW) 31

6. Kyle BUCKLEY (QLD) 28

7. Aaron GOBERT (NSW) 28

8. Callum SPRIGGS (QLD) 26

9. Mohd RAMDAN (MAL) 23

10. Michael LOCKART (NSW) 23

Top Ten Motul Supersport Championship Standings (After Rd 5-7)

1. Daniel FALZON (SA) 158

2. Aaron MORRIS (NSW) 149

3. Michael BLAIR (NSW) 135

4. Chris QUINN (NSW) 130

5. Aiden WAGNER (QLD) 112

6.Callum SPRIGGS (QLD) 112

7. Ryan TAYLOR (VIC) 109

8. Aaron GOBERT (NSW) 91

9. Kyle BUCKLEY (QLD) 86

10. Michael LOCKART (NSW) 80

TEAM SUZUKI RIDER WAYNE MAXWELL CAPPED OFF A PERFECT WEEKEND AT SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK WITH VICTORY IN TODAYS FIFTH ROUND OF THE QBE AUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP.