Monthly Archives: January 2016

Post Race Report, V8 Supercars

Sydney Coates Hire 500 2015 – Post Race Report

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William and Chris Brady
HI to all you v8 Supercars fans around the world.

On the weekend of the 4th – 6th December 2015 was the Coates Hire Sydney 500

This year dad and I stayed at the Novotel again, it’s one of our favourite hotels… They look after us very well, this year they tried to put us on the 14th floor, but the bathroom was too small for my wheelchair, so they went out of their way to find a room that was wheelchair friendly. We ended up on the 7th floor and had a great view of the track.

In race 34 Mark Winterbottom started on pole position alongside him was Shane Van Gisbergen, as Craig Lowndes was after the championship, but due to hitting the wall in qualifying, he has to start at the back of the pack. On lap 1 of 37 Mark Winterbottom got the jump into turn 1. James Moffatt had right front steering damage as a result of contact with Jason Bright. Rick Kelly got squeezed by Tim Slade and Garth Tander.

On lap 4 Frosty still had the lead, meanwhile Craig Lowndes was still coming through the pack. Then Shane Van Gisbergen took the race lead.

On lap 5 when Shane Van Gisbergen pulled off into the pits Mark Winterbottom took over the race lead again, then James Courtney took over the when Frosty had pulled off into the pits the race lead had changed again James Courtney took the lead. On departure Jamie Whincup got out in front of Shane Van Gisbergen.

On lap 6 Rick Kelly was chasing Garth Tander on lap 7 both James Courtney and Jason Bright made there pit stop.
In the middle of the race Steve Owen was holding Craig Lowndes behind.

Riana Crehan and Greg Murphy were chatting with Tim Edwards and Mark Dutton about their chances at winning the championship. Towards the end of the race Jamie Whincup was out in front. And running away with opening race. That first race win for Jamie Whincup took his career tally up to 95.

Results for race 34

1st – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia
2nd – Shane Van GISBERGEN – Tekno Autosporrts
3rd – Jason Bright – Team BOC

In race 35 Jamie Whincup started from the pole position alongside him was David Reynolds. On lap 1 of 37 Jamie Whincup led the field down to turn 1 for the first of 37 laps. There was contact between Fabain Coulthard and Todd Kelly.

On lap 2 Craig Lowndes was back in the pack trying to move forward passing Scott Pye, but he couldn’t get the move done at turns 2, 3 and 4. But Craig Lowndes managed to pass him at turn 5; his next car to pass was Lee Holdsworth.

On lap 3 Shane Van Gisbergen got swamped as he was chasing James Courtney in.

On lap 4 Lee Holdsworth was being chased by Scott Pye.

In the middle of the race all the pit stops had been completed towards the end of the race Jamie Whincup was again in the right position to make it 2 from 2.

Results for race 35

1st – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia
2nd – David Reynolds – Rod Nash Racing
3rd – Mark Winterbottom – Pepsi Max Crew

Today my mate Jesse Ellis and his dad joined us to watch the race… It was so nice to have a like-minded friend to share the experience with.

In race 36 James Courtney started on pole Position alongside him was Shane Van Gisbergen. On 1 of 74 James Courtney led at the start of the 36th and final race of 2015, Jamie Whincup and Mark Winterbottom started on the 2nd row of the grid. Towards the end of the opening lap Shane Van Gisbergen was trying to pass James Courtney, but that didn’t work. At the final turn James Courtney got tagged by Shane Van Gisbergen in the left rear quarter panel.

On lap 2 James Courntey was still the race leader and Frosty was running 3rd. Jason Bright was the first of the Brad Jones Racing Cars to make a pitstop. David Reynolds passed Rick Kelly in between turns 9 and 10. Tim Slade was sitting behind them just in case one of the cars ahead of him made a mistake.

On lap 3 Shane Van Gisbergen was trying take control of the race but he couldn’t until James Courtney let him pass.

On lap 4 Shane Van Gisbergen was still putting pressure on the Holden Racing Team car, and then Shane Van Gisbergen spun James Courtney around in between turns 9 and 10. As a result he didn’t get a drive thru for that incident. Then James Courtney had smoke coming out of the right rear guard.

On lap 5 Scott McLaughlin was right behind the outgoing champ in Jamie Whincup, at turns 9 and 10. Jamie Whincup just pulled straight away.

On lap 6 Scott Pye saw the damage on the back of the 22 car. McLaughlin made a move at turn 1, which would give him the racing line for turns 2, 3 and 4. David Reynolds was following the HRT car. Craig Lowndes was following Fabain Coulthard, Tim Slade hit the wall on approach to the final turn which triggered a safety car and a flurry of activity in the pits while the Safety car was out, Nissan Motorsport had to put the pit boom back in place.

The restart was on lap 15. In the middle of the race Shane Van Gisbergen was still leading with Jamie Whincup hunting him down.
Towards the end of the race Jamie Whincup couldn’t pass Shane Van Gisbergen.

Results for race 36

1st – Shane Van Gisbergen – Tekno Autosports
2nd – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia
3rd – Rick Kelly – Jack Daniels Racing

Well done to everybody on a great 2015 V8 Supercars championship season. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year, see you in 2016.

Will Grant McPherson be the race engineer for on car 888 in 2016 For Team Vortek?

Jamie Whincup will go back to the car No. 88 which he has not had since 2011.

Shane Van Gisbergen will have 97 under the Red Bull banner and next year will be the first time that Craig Lowndes will have his own car. But he will be sharing a pit Boom with Tekno. Because Triple 8 race engineering are going to be going to 3 cars.

Pre Race Report, V8 Supercars

Sydney Coates Hire 500 – Pre race Report

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William with Roland DaneWilliam and the boys
Hi to all you V8 Supercars fans around the world.

This is one race that dad and I always got to, we stay at the Novotel, in a room that looks down over the track. That way if it gets too hot or too wet, we can go back to our room and watch the race from the comfort of your own room…

This weekend is the Coates Hire Sydney 500 races 36 37 and 38.

Let’s take a look back at happened at Homebush, Sydney Olympic Park 12 months ago in 2014.

Before race 36 got started the Red Bull Racing Australia team had to repair Craig Lowndes car. Because he had a shunt in qualifying. When the team had completed the repair on Craig’s car where were big Cheers from the people watching on, Craig’s Race Engineer at the time was Jeromy Moore he followed the car out of the v8 paddock. Both the triple 8 boys and the Dick Johnson Racing boys both had repairs to do. On cars 888 of Craig Lowndes and car 66 driven by Marcos Ambrose respectively.
In race 36 Will Davison started on pole position alongside him was Jamie Whincup. On lap 1 of 37 Jamie Whincup led the field down turn 1, Jack Perkins got spun around at turn 1 by Dale Wood. During the opening laps.

On lap 2 Todd Kelly James Moffatt and Michael Caruso were all running into each other. Russell Ingall was trying get through the field.

On lap 3 Marcos Ambros was down in 19th spot, Marcos has not driven in the V8 class races since 2005, when he left Australia for the US and Nascar racing.

On lap 4 Jamie Whincup lost his driver’s side mirror. Will Davison and David Reynolds were battling for 2nd spot, they were running 2nd and 3rd at the time.
The restart was on lap 14 at the half way mark Scott Pye was out of first race. Jamie Whincup was putting huge pressure on Tim Slade.
In the end no one could catch the top 3 drivers. Jamie Whincup Tim Slade and David Reynolds.

Results for race 36

1st – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia
2nd – Tim Slade – Supercheap Auto Racing
3rd – David Reynolds – Rod Nash Racing

Storm at Hombush 2014

In race 37 Jason Bright started on pole position alongside him was Shane Van Gisbergen. On lap 1 of 37 Jamie Whincup got the jump from the 2nd row off the grid, to lead the field.

On lap 2 Shane Van Gisbergen was putting pressure on Scott McLaughlin for 4th spot.

On lap 3 James Courtney was putting pressure on him. During the opening laps everybody was starting find their rhythm, but in the middle of the race the rain started to dump. Jamie Whincup was first of the Red Bull cars to come in to the pits to change from slicks to wets. Which turned out to be a good decision. But for the cars who stayed out on slicks would have been in big trouble and could have hit the wall at turn 5.

Due to the weather and the down pouring of rain, the track became too wet and the race was called to a halt. Dad and I were back in our room by this time and were very grateful to be watching from a dry advantage point.

Results for race 37
1st – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia
2nd – Shane Van Gisbergen – Tekno Autosports
3rd Scott Mclaughlin – Volvo Polstar racing.

In race 38 Scott McLaughlin started on pole position alongside him was Garth Tander on lap 1 of 74 Garth Tander led into turn 1. There was contact between James Courtney Rick Kelly and Mark Winterbottom. Shane Van Gisbergen was putting pressure on Scott McLaughlin. Jamie Whincup had been able to get passed James Courtney at the final turns.

I love it when you look up at the big screen and they show an incident and on this particular occasion they said that Garth Tander was involved, but as someone in the know, I can see that it is not Garth, but James Courtney as Garth was leading the race…

On lap 2 the pack was trying to catch the race leaders.

On lap 3 Rick Kelly was trying to find a way to get around Scott McLaughlin. After the opening laps the pit lane was full of cars pitting once they were called by their team to pit in the middle of the race the 2nd pit stops were about commenced for all the teams to put 4 new tyres on the cars and then the race closing in on the final stages.

Towards the end of the race Garth Tander was leading until he ran off down the Escape Road. Then Shane Van Gisbergen took the lead of the race back and held it till the race officials and race control red flagged the race due to the soaking wet track.

Again dad and I decided to leave the track early as the weather was closing in and went to watch the race from our unique advantage point…

Results for race 38
1st – Shane Van Gisbergen – Tekno Autosports.
2nd – Garth Tander – Holden Racing team.
3rd – James Courtney – Holden Racing Team.
Who will win the Coates Hire Sydney 500 this week? And who will win the 2015 V8 Supercars championship?

Post Race Report, V8 Supercars

Phillip Island 2015 Post Race Report

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Hi to all you V8 Supercars fans around the world.

Before the event started both the Pepsi Max Crew had to change the engine of Mark Winterbottom’s car and the Red Bull Racing Australia team had to bleed the brakes on Jamie Whincup’s car to make sure there was no air leaking from the brakes. Welcome back to James Courtney after his terrible accident at Eastern Creek… Meanwhile Paul Dumbrell is generously driving car 222 for Nick Percat…

Paul Dumbrell PI 2015
Jamie Whincup started on pole position alongside him was Scott McLaughlin on lap 1 of 14 Craig Lowndes started from 3rd position and got the jump on everyone else and led the whole race. With his teammate behind him, there were 3 cars out in the weeds Chris Pither, Dale Wood and Rick Kelly. Tim Blanchard and David Wall ran wide on the exit of the last turn.

On lap 2 Shane Van Gisbergen turned around David Reynolds and got a 25 point penalty as a result, which ruined his chances of increasing his total points…

On lap 3 everybody was settling down into a race rhythm, no incidents on this lap.

On lap 4 Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup and Scott McLaughlin were just pulling away from the rest of the pack.

On lap 5 Jamie Whincup was helping Craig Lowndes to close the gap on Frosty for 2015 V8 Supercars championship.

The top 3 cars were just pulling away on lap 6.

In the middle of the race Tim Slade and Todd Kelly were battling for positions 10th and 11th. Rick Kelly locked a brake while battling with Lee Holdsworth approaching MG Corner.

Towards the end of the race Todd Kelly and Tim Slade touched which sent Todd Kelly out into the boonies, but in the end no one could catch the top 3 cars of Craig Lowndes, Jamie Wnincup and Scott Mclaughlin.

Results for race 31
1st – Craig Lowndes – Red Bull Racing Australia
2nd – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia
3rd – Scott Mclaughlin – Volvo Polstar Racing

In race 32 Scott Mclaughlin started on pole position alongside him was Jamie Whincup on lap 1 of 14. Jamie got the jump meaning he got a better launch and reaction time and his teammate Craig Lowndes had dropped down to 3rd. The 2 Holden Racing team Commodores of Garth Tander and James Courtney were side by side on approach to the Southern Loop turn 2.

Tim Slade was battling with Will Davison further back in the pack, but he was on the wrong side of the track for the hairpin at turn 4. Jason Bright had to get back the Nissan Altama driven by James Moffatt car 99, then Garth Tander passed Fabain Coulthard at turn 5, then he tried to do the same maneuver that Garth did 1 corner before. Towards the end of the first lap he and Cameron Waters made contact coming out of the 2nd last corner.

On lap 2 Todd Kelly, Dale Wood, Tim Blanchard and David Wall along with Paul Dumbrell were battling together near the back of the field James Moffatt gave Fabain Coulthard a little bump, just to remind him that he was there.

On lap 3 Scott Pye was battling with the two Nissans of Micheal Caruso and Rick Kelly, also on that same lap Jamie Whincup’s race start was under investigation.

On lap 4 Foxsports showed a replay of the start of the race and there was no one breach for him so that meant he could press on.
In the middle of the race Scott McLaughlin was chasing David Reynolds.

Towards the end of the race no one could catch the race leaders. That race win for Jamie Whincup took his career tally up to 95.

Results for race 32
1st – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia
2nd – Scott Mclaughlin – Volvo Polstar racing
3rd – Craig Lowndes – Red Bull Racing Australia

In race 33 Mark Winterbottom started on pole position alongside him was Craig Lowndes on lap 1 of 45 Mark Winterbottom got the jump off the start line from position 1. Scott Mclaughlin got swamped by the two Red Bull cars. Dale Wood and Lee Holdsworth on the exit of turn 2. Rick Kelly ran wide at turn 4, he and Cameron Waters made contact on approach to Lukie height and they both went off as a result. Then when Cameron Waters rejoined he was limping around the track due to the damage that was on his car.

On lap 2 Jamie Whincup was the first of the two Red Bull cars to pit so that Craig did not have to double stack. In the pits,
Jason Bright got a drive thru penalty for an unsafe pit release by the car controller at Brad Jones Racing. Scott Pye also came in as well for his pit stop, along with David Reynolds, James Courtney, Tim Blanchard and also Cameron Waters and David Wall.

On lap 3 Frosty had a lead of 1.3 seconds over Scott Pye. Meanwhile Craig Lowndes was trying to getup close and personal to Scott McLaughlin to be able to pass him. At this time Jamie Whincup was doing a pit stop and his car dropped off the jacks the car controller at Red Bull had hold him so that he didn’t end up being released into oncoming traffic, in the fast lane. Tim Slade and Fabain Coulthard were battling for positions 9th and 10th.

On lap 4 Garth Tander and Shane Van Gisbergen were battling till Shane had to come into the pit lane for the first of his two pit stops that took them into lap 5.

Todd Kelly and Will Davison joined him as well, when he rejoined James Moffatt tried to come up the inside at turn 2 which he did. But then Shane Van Gisbergen tried to go around the outside which didn’t work.

On lap 6 Garth Tander came in for his pit stop along with Paul Dumbrell and Chris Pither. Chris Pither had damage on the front of Superblack racing Ford Falcon car 111.

On lap 7 James Courtney left space for Shane Van Gisbergen to go up the inside at turn 4. Lee Holdsworth was not a very happy chappy about the fact that he was out of race 33.

In the middle of the race Greg Murphy was talking to Mark Dutton about the Red Bull cars tyre lifespan and why Craig Lowndes appeared had good tyre life and how Jamie Whincup didn’t.

Towards the end of the race no one could catch the top 3, Craig Lowndes, Scott Mclaughlin and Jamie Whincup. Tim Edwards was not very happy with the move that Jamie put on Frosty.

Results for race 33
1st – Craig Lowndes – Red Bull Racing Australia.
2nd – Scott Mclaughlin – Volvo Polstar racing.
3rd – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia.

Congratulations to Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup and Scott Mclaughlin for a fantastic weekend, No one could take these guys out…

The next and final event is the Coates Hire Sydney 500 on the 4th – 6th of December 2015. There is only 71 points now between the Pepsi Max Crew and Red Bull Racing Australia in terms of the teams championship and in terms of the drivers’ championship there is only 179 points between Mark Winterbottom and Craig Lowndes, there are now only 2 drivers left in contention.

Who will win the championship?

Lowndesy is now on 102 career wins. There are just 3 races left this season Red Bull took 60 point out of leader over the Phillip Island race weekend.
The commentators were Greg Rust and Neil Crompton, the pit reporters were Greg Murphy and Riana Crehan. 1 race meeting to go.

Pre Race Report

Phillip Island 2015 Pre race

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Hi to all you V8 followers around the world.

William in the garage

This weekend 20th November – 22nd November is the WD 40 Phillip Island Supersprint.

Last year dad and I traveled down to Phillip Island for the big race… We had a V6 engine in the Kia we hired from Freedom Motors Australia… Not quite a V8, but it was fun to have a faster car than the one we left at home… We were privileged enough to be at the back of the garage from practice to the races and be able to watch it on the screens from there… As you can see from some of my photos, I am in my own V8 wheelchair and sometimes it’s difficult to see past people who get in front of me. Dad does his best to make sure I can see what is going on, just doesn’t always work… We also had fun meeting everyone and getting autographs and photos. I have quite a collection now… I am not there this year, but next year 2016, I will be back…

In 2014 the race was called Plus Fitness Phillip Island 400 and this year it’s the WD40 Phillip Island 400. Now we can have a look at the excitement of last year’s races.

In race 33 Scott McLaughlin started on pole position alongside him was Craig Lowndes. On lap 1 of 23 Scott McLaughlin led the field the down to turn 1, Craig Lowndes tried to go around the outside of him, but he had to pull the nose back out. One of Dick Johnson’s cars driven by Scott Pye locked up in the back ground. Jamie Whincup was following his teammate trying to find a way to get passed him.
On lap 2 the cars were settling down into a race pace. While the leaders were pulling away. Scott McLaughlin was keeping the pack in check and kept the lead. Mark Winterbottom was chasing down Jamie Whincup, David Reynolds tried to pass Jason Bright at turn 4, while Nick Percat, Will Davison and Tim Slade were trying to get around the outside to gain pace at the Hay shed.

On lap 3 Todd Kelly was battling with Scott Pye and Rick Kelly. Mark Winterbottom ran wide at turn 1, which allowed Jamie Whincup and Chaz Mostert to pass him. Mark Winterbottom then had to go for a pit stop to remove some grass from his front grill, to avoid an issue of overheating…

Meanwhile Scott McLaughlin was being hunted down by the Red Bull boys, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes. Lee Holdsworth was doing battle with Shane Van Gisbergen…
But in the long run and as much as Craig Lowndes was putting pressure on him, Scott McLaughlin, led from start to finish.
Let’s watch the video…

Results for race 33
1st – Scott McLaughlin – Volvo Polstar Racing.
2nd – Craig Lowndes – Red Bull Racing Australia.
3rd – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia.

In race 34 Jamie Whincup started on pole position alongside Mark Winterbottom on lap 1 of 23. Mark Winterbottom got the jump off the start and led for the first couple of turns, Scott McLaughlin and Nick Percat were side by side through turn 3. Will Davison tried to go around the outside of Chaz Mostert but then Scott McLaughlin had to fan the throttle and pull back in behind Michael Caruso.

On lap 2 David Reynolds was a bit sideways coming onto the front straight. But he managed to save the slide and keep in front of Rick Kelly at turn 2 on that same lap he managed to get passed him, and hold position. Rick Kelly was very happy with the move that David Reynolds put on him so tried to get his spot back at turn 4. But he was on the wrong side of the track to maintain the spot. James Courtney was following Will Davison and Nick Percat going side by side through the hayshed.

On lap 3 Todd Kelly and Garth Tander were fighting it out for the same spots but Garth Tander had to relinquish that spot to Todd Kelly. But Garth Tander wasn’t going to give it up easily going down to the MG corner, Todd Kelly gave Garth Tander a bit of a helping hand. Which nearly open the door for Michael Caruso and Scott McLaughlin to have a look.

On lap 4 Jack Perkins ran off the track at the last turn. And re-joined near turn 1, in-between turns 1 and 2 on the same lap Jamie Whincup passed Mark Winterbottom to the race lead. And Craig Lowndes was there in case the front 2 cars made a slight mistake then Craig Lowndes would have gone from 3rd to 1st Craig Lowndes got passed at turn 4 during the opening stages.

At the half way mark there was a battle going on between Will Davison Shane Van Gisbergen and Scott Pye. Lee Holdsworth and Tim Slade came together down the bottom of MG corner. Towards the end of the race Jamie Whincup was just cruising out in front.

Results for race 34

1st – Jamie Whincup – Red Bull Racing Australia.
2nd – Craig Lowndes – Red Bull Racing Australia.
3rd – Mark Winterbottom – Ford Performance racing.

In race 35 Jamie Whincup started on pole position alongside Scott McLaughlin. On lap 1 of 45, Jamie Whincup, Scott McLaughlin and Garth Tander were all trying to take the lead on the turn and Jamie Whincup and Garth Tander did the bump as Scott McLaughlin took the lead and Jamie Whincup went from first to third.

On lap 2, (while this doesn’t make sense to a novice) a number of cars came into the pit lane including Mark Winterbottom and Craig Lowndes to complete the first of their two compulsory pit stops.
On lap 3 the front runners had stayed out on track to avoid any double stacking behind the car that was still running around on the track until the 2nd team car had been serviced. Like for example Craig was the first of the 2 Red Bull Racing Australia cars to pit, so that Jamie Whincup didn’t have to stack behind car 888.

Results for race 35
1st – Scott Mclaughlin – Volvo Polstar racing.
2nd – Garth Tander – Holden Racing Team.
3rd – Mark Winterbottom – Ford Performance Racing.

Will Nick Percat get over his foot injury in time for this week’s races? Dean Canto will be replacing Ash Walsh at Erebus Motorsport, Karl Reindler is waiting on standby just in case Nick Percat is not fit enough to race this weekend at Phillip Island after he suffered an injury to his right foot, Chris Pither will be replacing Andre Heimgartner at Superblack racing in car 111. Will Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport need to get Karl Reindler to step up as a replacment for Nick Percat this weekend? This week is event 13. The King of the Island Craig Lowndes has 9 wins will he make it 10?

This is race week the 2nd last event for 2015. To join the conversation https://twitter.com/v8supercars during the live and Exclusively live on fox sports 5 channel 506 use the hashtag which is #v8sc that is the twitter page to join the conversation.
Both Foxsports and channel ten will have the Coverage this weekend that starts on Friday at 12pm. on Fox sports 5, Saturday 10am and Sunday it starts at 10am as well. The commentators 12 months ago were Neil Crompton and Mark Skaife. The pit reporters were Mark Beretta Mark Larkham and Riana Crehan, the commentators this weekend will be Greg Rust and Neil Crompton the pit reporters will be Greg Murphy and Riana Crehan.