CAMS National Racing Championships Phillip Island

[Kerri]

Program for Phillip Island August 19/20 2006

PRIVATE PRACTICE - FRIDAY 18TH AUGUST, 2006
P1 09.30 GT CHAMPIONSHIP PRACTICE 1 20 min
P2 10.00 PERFORMANCE CARS PRACTICE 1 30 min
P3 10.40 V8 UTES PRACTICE 1 20 min
P4 11.10 GT CHAMPIONSHIP PRACTICE 2 20 min
P5 11.40 FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP PRACTICE 1 30 min
P6 12.20 AUST PRODUCTION CARS PRACTICE 1 20 min
P7 12.50 SALOON CARS PRACTICE 1 20 min
P8 13.20 PERFORMANCE CARS PRACTICE 2 30 min
P9 14.00 V8 UTES PRACTICE 2 20 min
P10 14.30 GT CHAMPIONSHIP PRACTICE 3 20 min
P11 15.00 FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP PRACTICE 2 30 min
P12 15.40 SALOON CARS PRACTICE 2 20 min
M1 16.10 MEETING RIDES GT, Performance, Commodore Cup 25 min
M2 16.35 MEETING RIDES Production, Saloon, V8 Utes 25 min

SATURDAY 19th AUGUST, 2006
P1 09.10 GT CHAMPIONSHIP PRACTICE 1 20 min
Q1 09.35 COMMODORE CUP QUALIFYING 1 20 min
09.45 Saloon Car and Performance Car Drivers Briefing.
P2 10.05 AUST PRODUCTION CARS PRACTICE 20 min
Q2 10.30 FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING 1 20 min
Q3 11.00 SALOON CARS QUALIFYING 1 20 min
Q4 11.30 PERFORMANCE CARS QUALIFYING 30 min
12.00 V8 Ute Drivers Briefing
Q5 12.10 COMMODORE CUP SERIES QUALIFYING 2 20 min
Q6 12.40 AUST PRODUCTION CARS QUALIFYING 20 min
Q7 13.10 SALOON CARS QUALIFYING 2 20 min
Q8 13.40 V8 UTES QUALIFYING 20 min
Q9 14.10 FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING 2 20 min
Q10 14.40 GT CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING 20 min
R1 15.10 PERFORMANCE CAR RACE 1 10 laps
R2 15.45 SALOON CAR RACE 1 8 laps
R3 16.15 AUST PRODUCTION CAR RACE 1 6 laps
R4 16.40 COMMODORE CUP RACE 1 9 laps

SUNDAY 20th AUGUST 2006
R5 09.10 COMMODORE CUP RACE 2 8 laps
R6 09.35 AUST PRODUCTION CARS RACE 2 10 laps
R7 10.05 V8 UTES RACE 1 8 laps
R8 10.35 FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP RACE 1 14 laps
R9 11.15 SALOON CARS RACE 2 8 laps
R10 11.45 PERFORMANCE CARS RACE 2 10 laps
R11 12.15 V8 UTES RACE 2 8 laps
R12 12.50 AUST PRODUCTION CARS RACE 2 10 laps
R13 13.20 COMMODORE CUP RACE 3 9 laps
R14 13.50 GT CHAMPIONSHIP ONE-HOUR RACE 38 laps
R15 15.05 V8 UTES RACE 3 8 laps
R16 15.30 FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP RACE 2 14 laps
R17 16.05 SALOON CARS RACE 3 8 laps
R18 16.35 PERFORMANCE CARS RACE 3 10 lap

[MG_Midget]

Sounds like a good 3 days of motor sport - hope I see it that way on the way home Sunday...

[D.R.T.]

A very impressive line up.

[XW GT]

Originally Posted by MG_Midget

Sounds like a good 3 days of motor sport - hope I see it that way on the way home Sunday...

A bit negative mate. Look at the categories on the program and the amount of racing!

[Kerri]

Hey XW, maybe he/she is a driver and hopes their car will come home in one piece

[MG_Midget]

A bit negative mate. Look at the categories on the program and the amount of racing!

I'm sorry to seem negative - I'm really pumped and positive, I've been hanging out for this even to arrive - cleared my calendar of all other engagements, disregarded any other invitiations and intend to be trackside from sunup to sundown all three days.

I was probably trying to say something like - "I hope politics and jealousies don't spoil my weekend's racing..." Sometimes I don't express myself all that well.

Hey XW, maybe he/she is a driver and hopes their car will come home in one piece

Nope, just a rabid fan who hopes everyone and everything goes home fulfilled, safe and thawed out - Phillip Island in August can be "challenging" to say the least...

[Christopher]

Excuse my ignorance but have the Performance Cars, Production Cars and F3 been with the GT Series all year?

[Kerri]

Pretty much I think, you may need to check these sites for their calendars www.formula3.com.au www.performanceracing.net.au , can't find a link for Production Cars though, can someone else help?

[MG_Midget]

No I don't think all the series have been at all the rounds, GTP has had a run with V8 Supercar so have the Utes.

The website address for production cars is http://pcaa.com.au/

[Kerri]

PHILLIP ISLAND AUTO RACING CLUB
http://www.piarc.com.au
BIGGER THAN BEN CLUCAS WITH V8UTES GALORE

Of all the places to be on the 19th and 20th of August, could you think of anywhere else but the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit? You might be thinking of jetting off to tropical Fiji or Bali, but you would miss one of the best value for money Motor Racing events lined up for 2006:

The categories competing at round seven of the CAMS National Racing Championships (CNRC) for your viewing pleasure will be:

Yokohama V8 Utes Series
Supaloc Australian Saloon Car Championship
Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship
Ebanc Trade Commodore Cup National Series
STS Turbo Australian Performance Car Championship
Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship
Shannons Australian Production Car Championship

The Phillip Island Auto Racing Club (PIARC) are proud to be the promoter of this historical occasion which will see the Yokohama V8Ute Series make it’s way to the picturesque seaside location for the first time to compete with the very best from the traditional CNRC line up. Series leader Marcus Zukanovic will be out to press home his point’s advantage over Jack Elsegood, Grant Johnson and Kerry Wade who all trail the leader. But who will be the Island champion? Will it be Baxter, White, Jane or Brock? Names we all know – come and see them for yourself!

One of the big drawcards for this round will be the One Hour race for the Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship that will pit Ferrari against Porsche, Viper and the best from the rest of the world. A real world cup of GT Sports Cars with action between experienced drivers such as series leader Greg Crick, Bryce Washington, the Koundouris’s – James and Theo with John Teulan and Allan Simonsen not to be missed!

The Supaloc Australian Saloon Car Championship has grown from strength to strength in 2006 and the racing witnessed at the rural Mallala circuit was the some of the best door handle to door handle Ford versus Holden racing seen on SBS Speedweek. Could we see three wide into turn one at Phillip Island? Here’s hoping Heinrich, Harvey, Walton and Jamieson take up the challenge.

The Ebanc Trade Commodore Cup National Series has taken another step up with many young guns fighting for supremacy for this year’s bragging rights as Series Champion. With only 19 points separating them, will Zukanovic or D’Agostin take out the round win? Or will Richert, Holdsworth, Gittus or Bates make their run for top spot?

Ben Clucas has been a revelation in this year’s Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship and at a wet Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in May, he showed race craft beyond his years for a come from behind win on his Kumho Tyres. The Chris, Chris Alajajian might be back but Trimble, Macrow, Gilmour and Tander will be out to win at the super fast Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Anyone who purchases a HSV, FPV, BMW or Mitsubishi EVO is a fan of prestige and performance, so it is no surprise that the STS Turbo Australian Performance Car Championship is the perfect category for these hard edged performance racing cars. Garry Holt leads the charge for 2006 in his EVO 2006 but Morcom and Lynton and not too far behind, with Floyd, Lillie and Moffat closing quickly. 4 cylinders, 6 cylinders, V8 versus Turbo! What do you get – variety, variety and action!

PIARC member and general nice gal, Amber Anderson will race in the Lauren Gray Motorsport prepared Toyota Echo at her home track with the Shannons Australian Production Car Championship, as outright leader Ryan looks to extend his lead over the rest. Houlder is second, but not far ahead of Osborne with a group of drivers Dunkley, Best and Russell only separated by 6points not far behind. Watch out for Luke Searle in his BMW 130i – he knows a thing or two about racing. This is production handicap racing at its best!

For those of you who want more for less, with less down time and more track time, more access to drives and teams; then these seven national categories with over 162 entries, racing at one of the best internationally renowned circuits in the world, offering two exciting days of on track racing is for you.

Entry to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, with full paddock and pit access for both Saturday and Sunday will only be Adult $20, Concession $15 with Kids under 16 receiving free entry.

The gates will open to the public at 8am with on track action beginning after 9am daily. So what are you waiting for; bring down the family, walk around the paddock and pit area, meet the drivers, see how they prepare their cars and enjoy the all the racing from above pit lane, or around the circuit – even from the comfort of your own car around the track whilst listening to the local on track broadcast.

[Kerri]

CATEGORY PREVIEWS:

KUMHO TYRES AUSTRALIAN FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP
‘BLINK OF AN EYE’ FORMULA 3 RACING RETURNS TO PHILLIP ISLAND
WHEN the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star visited the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in May this year the margin separating season-long rivals Ben Clucas and Michael Trimble was just a blink of an eye.

Both drivers will be hoping to make that margin a little more comfortable when Australia’s Premier Open Wheel championship returns to the 4.46km circuit two hours south of Melbourne this August – at the CAMS Nationals meeting - for the sixth of eight rounds this year.

Team BRM driver Clucas currently leads Victorian Astuti Motorsport driver Michael Trimble by 60 points heading into the round, the 132 points still up for grabs in the final three rounds ensuring that the championship fight is well and truly alive.

Clucas dominated a saturated round at the Phillip Island circuit in May this year, scything his way through the field in the first race following a stop-go penalty to beat Trimble to the line by just .0031 of a second – the closest finish in series history.

The result spurred the Englishman on to win the following five races, taking his tally to nine out of ten race wins for the year. Far from out of the fight, Trimble has past success at the circuit to fall back on and proof of strong dry weather pace at his home circuit after taking a pole position at the third round this year.

The Melbourne-based Astuti team have recently completed a successful test session in preparation for the round to give their driver – who was second in the championship last year – his best possible chance at taking the title fight into the final two rounds of 2006.

Victoria’s other clear hope for outright success comes from the resurgent Tim Macrow, who has posted an exceptionally strong middle half of the championship.

After scoring just one podium result from the first four races, Macrow has been on a roll since – scoring four thirds and two second-place finishes in the last six events driving his older-model Scud Racing Dallara F301 to come agonizingly close to his elusive first Formula 3 victory. Second-generation driver Macrow has speed on his side and is a former pole sitter at the high speed Phillip Island circuit.

22-year-old Macrow sits just 28 points behind Trimble (Also 22) and 88 points behind series leader Clucas. A private little war has developed this season between Leanne Tander (Fleetcare Tandersport) and Chris Gilmour, both drivers pushing themselves to the limit to close the small margin to the leaders.

Gilmour – 4th in the championship with 77 points – is just 3 points ahead of Tander with the battle for fourth having changed hands a number of times this season.

Tander, the first female driver to score a podium in Australian Formula 3 History, is at her best at Phillip Island having posted her best ever qualifying result to date at the circuit earlier this year placing her Fleetcare-supported car just a few tenths from the Pole position. Tander also made her Formula 3 debut at the circuit last season.

West Aussie Stuart Kostera, Matt Sofi and Maher Algadri make up the other contenders in the Championship Class – eligible for the prestigious Australian Drivers Championship and the CAMS Gold Star that goes with it. A massive battle between New South Wales and Victoria has been building between Kumho Tyres National Class participants Tim Berryman and Ricky Occhipinti, respectively.

Separated by 51 points in the championship – thanks in part to Berryman missing two rounds of the five held to date – the pair have been much closer on track leading the way in the new-for-2006 National Class for 2001-specification cars only.

After dominating the first four rounds (Eight races), Occhipinti struggled at Eastern Creek recently and ceded ground to Berryman who took his first class win of the season. Both drivers have aspirations to race with the outright competitors this season and the inter-class battle is sure to spur them on to get closer to the front.

Victorian youngster Lauren Gray continues to hold a firm grip on the Kumho Tyres Trophy Class (For 1996 – 1998) Cars, despite both team boss Bill Maddocks and Graeme Holmes closing in on her lead in recent rounds.

The fastest circuit in Australia for Formula 3 cars, a 16-car field will average over 180kph per lap when the sixth round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship contest’s its sixth round – over two, 14-lap races on August 20th.

The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit Formula 3 Lap record is 1m27.1923 – set in 2003 by Kiwi James Cressey. For more information head to www.formula3.com.au

Championship Class / Gold Star Points (After 5 of 8 Rounds / 10 of 16 Races)

Ben Clucas (UK) - John Deere / Gawler Farm Machinery Team BRM Dallara F304 – Spiess – 206pts
Michael Trimble (VIC) – King Springs / Astuti Motorsport Dallara F304 – Renault – 146pts
Tim Macrow (VIC) – Dodo / Scud Racing Dallara F301 – Spiess – 118pts
Chris Gilmour (QLD) StatchIT.com.au / Gilmour Racing Dallara F304 – Spiess – 77pts
Leanne Tander (VIC) Fleetcare Tandersport Dallara F304 – Spiess – 74 pts

[Kerri]

SUPALOC AUSTRALIAN SALOON CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

With only three rounds of the 2006 Supaloc Australian Saloon Car Championship to go, the tussle to take the title has really heated up. Leading the Championship is South Australian Bruce Heinrich (AU Falcon) on 400 points; he has a forty seven point buffer over Western Australia’s Clint Harvey (AU Falcon – 353 points) with Queen Slander Kris Walton (AU Falcon – 346 points) not far behind in third place. First of the Commodores is South Aussie Shawn Jamieson (VT Commodore – 269 points).

Considering that there are nine races to go in the Supaloc Championship, and plenty of points to be won the Championship could be won by any of the drivers in the top ten or so. This, and a thirty plus car grid all bodes well for some pretty exciting Saloon Car action at Phillip Island.

The VT Commodores of Shawn Jamieson and Jake Camilleri (QLD) have been undergoing constant development, and are now at the stage where they will be a definite threat to the front running AU Falcons of Heinrich and Co. Several new cars will make their debut at Phillip Island including the VT Commodores of John Goodacre – SA, Robert Lonie – SA and Gavyn Croft – NSW. Duane Wilson – ACT and Brad Fox – SA will both debut their new AU Falcons.

Spectators are more than welcome to visit the Saloon Car pit area to check out the cars and chat to the drivers. All kids visiting the Saloon Car pit area will receive a fridge magnet and TASCCO sticker, the drivers will also arrange for the kids to sit in the race cars.

[Kerri]

YOKOHAMA V8 UTE SERIES

Round Five of the Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series is fast approaching, with fans, drivers and Utes preparing for an icy welcome to Phillip Island on August 18-20.

From Darwin’s Round Four sunbaking crocs to Phillip Island’s penguins feeling the frost, the Utes have hit mid season mayhem. Mayhem of course referring to Melbourne’s Marcus “Mayhem” Zukanovic, who is celebrating a recent appeal win and second place result at Round Four Hidden Valley.

The podium finish concreted Holden driver Zukanovic as current overall series leader, but with close competition of second, Jack Elsegood and third Grant Johnson only one point a part, the title is in hot contention. To prepare for all the racing action, on Friday August 18, Phillip Island will play host to the first ever Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series Student Day.

Registered students and teachers of Phillip Island and the local Gippsland Community can be involved in driver signing sessions, a PGF Putting Competition and Prize Giveaways.

Following practise on Friday and qualifying on Saturday, Race One, Reverse Grid and the Final Race will be held on Sunday.

[Kerri]

EBANC TRADE COMMODORE CUP NATIONAL SERIES

20 Year old Gippsland local, Chris Stevenson is making his Ebanc Trade Commodore Cup debut at the Phillip Island round of the CAMS National Racing Championships. After almost 3 years & many hundreds of hours, the car that he and his father David have built is taking to the track for the first time as a full spec Commodore Cup Car.

Motorsport is this young mans life. Chris has been competing since he was 12, starting with Motorkhanas, progressing to Hillclimb at Boisdale at 14, then circuit racing at 16. He is studying Motorsport Engineering at Wodonga and any weekend not spent racing himself, he is pit crew for Tony D’Alberto in the V8 Development Series or Phil Ward in The Aussie Race Cars.

Chris’ race team, “Aerial Motors Racing” is a family affair, with his dad & mum helping out, as well as mates from his engineering course & family friends. While Chris wants to be up the front “with the big boys” he realises that he will need to learn the ropes and work his way up the grid. What all the Aerial Motors crew are hoping for at the end of the weekend is a happy driver & a car that doesn’t need too much repair!!

Series Points:
Marcus Zukanovic 668
Christian D'Agostin 649
Brett Holdsworth 572
David Gittus 555
Danny Richert 540
Tony Bates 527
Ashley Cooper 482
Michael Graham 475
Alan Hill 414

[Kerri]

SHANNONS AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION CAR CHAMPIONSHIP
SPEEDY PACESETTER WARY

Round five of the Shannons Australian Production Car Championship ventures to the fastest track on the series trail – Phillip Island in southern Victoria on August 19-20. With its long straight and fast flowing corners, it is idyllic race venue not only for the V8 and turbo-charged six cylinder engine cars, but also for the many free revving four cylinder racers.

Prolific fastest qualifier, race winner and outright Shannons APCC leader David Ryan will have pace to burn in his Class A Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo – but he is wary of the V8 Holden Commodore SSZ of Steve Briffa. “Our lap times were near enough tenth for tenth and it’s only my better run through traffic that kept me ahead,” he surmised after round four at Eastern Creek.

What he didn’t have then that is on the entry list for round five, is the rapid BMW 130i of Luke Searle which is making its debut in the series. The car has produced comparable lap times on the same race circuits.

Other contenders in the fast Class A include the XR6s of Nick Dunkley and Viejo Phillips, the XR8s of John Houlder and Chris Delfsma, as well as the improving Commodore SSZ of Leigh Mertens.

Defending Shannons champion Colin Osborne appears to have Class B well in hand but the Toyota Celica driver will be expected to be engrossed in a titanic struggle with the Trophy Class Honda Integra Type R of Adam Beechey (as was the case at round four), and Allan Shephard’s Celica if he can get the gremlins out of it.

Tearaway Class C leader Darren Best was put to task for the first time at the last outing, his Ford Focus was beaten narrowly by David Mertens in a Proton Satria in all three races. Meanwhile Lauren Gray’s Toyota Sportivo Echo will again be driven by Amber Anderson.

The Shannons Australian Production Car Championship is unique in that it has one scratch race that counts to class points only, followed by two class handicapped events that count to both the class and outright championships.

All the latest news is on the website www.pcaa.com.au

SHANNONS AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION CAR CHAMPIONSHIP ENTRY

CLASS A
John Houlder Intune Motorsport Ford Falcon BF XR8
Luke Searle Newcastle Performance Centre BMW 130i
Leigh Mertens G+S Performance Holden Commodore VZ SSZ
Steve Briffa Time Mutual Finance Holden Commodore VZ SSZ
Nick Dunkley Wesfil/Dayco Ford Falcon BF XR6 Turbo
Chris Delfsma Century21 Hazelbrook Ford Falcon BF XR8
David Ryan Shell/Armour Auto Ford Falcon BF XR6 Turbo
Veijo Phillips Veijo Phillips Motorsport Ford Falcon BA XR6 Turbo

CLASS B
Colin Osborne Osborne Motorsport Toyota Celica
Allan Shephard Thrifty Car Rental Toyota Celica
TBA Osborne Motorsport Toyota Celica
Amber Anderson Lauren Gray Motorsport Toyota Sportivo Echo
Darren Best Best Racing Ford Focus
David Mertens Bendigo Tyre Centre Proton Satria GTi
TBA Oz Motorsport Proton Satria GTi

TROPHY CLASS
TBA Midwest Multimedia Toyota MR2
Denis Pana Nippon Max BMW 323i
Trevor Keene Midwest Multimedia Toyota MR2
Adam Beechey Donut King Honda Integra Type R
Luke Wood Matt Brady Motorsport Ford Falcon AU XR8

SHANNONS AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION CAR CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS:
(after four rounds):
OUTRIGHT - David Ryan 227, John Houlder 155, Colin Osborne 132, Nick Dunkley 116, Darren Best 111, Drew Russell 110, Ric Shaw 77, Leigh Mertens 71, Steve Briffa 59, Lauren Gray 46

CLASS A - David Ryan 357, John Houlder 254, Nick Dunkley 219, Drew Russell 175, Leigh Mertens 152, Steve Briffa 145, and Chris Delfsma 104.

CLASS B - Colin Osborne 311, Ric Shaw 162, Kosi Kalaitzidis 90, Allan Shephard 50.

CLASS C - Darren Best 299, Lauren Gray 150, David Mertens 93, Amber Anderson 69, Darren Harris 66.

2006 SHANNONS APCC CALENDAR
Rd1 Mar 04-05 Wakefield Park NSW
Rd2 Apr 08-09 Symmons Plains TAS
Rd3 May 06-07 Oran Park NSW
Rd4 Jul 08-09 Eastern Creek NSW
Rd5 Aug 19-20 Phillip Island VIC
Rd6 Sep 02-03 Queensland Raceway QLD
Rd7 Oct 28-29 Oran Park NSW

[Kerri]

STS TURBO AUSTRALIAN PERFORMANCE CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

GTP DRIVERS RACE TO FIX CRASH DAMAGE, BUT VICTORIAN RIVALS WAITING TO POUNCE AT PHILLIP ISLAND

TWO of GTP’s fastest drivers are racing to be back on track at Phillip Island later this month despite a crash which severely damaged their cars and their championship hopes.

But it is their Victorian rivals who Steve Cramp, from Adelaide, and Sydneysider Barry Morcom will have to worry about more than each other in round four of the STS Turbo Australian Performance Car Championship – also known as GTP - on 19-20 August.

The Victorian contingent will be in strength, with defending champion Peter Floyd (Holden HSV GTS), Dean Lillie (Holden HSV GTS), James Philip (Ford FPV GT) and Andrew Moffat (Ford FPV F6 Typhoon) all eager to unleash their big-horsepower touring cars on the Island’s wide open spaces. Morcom and Cramp collided during round three of the championship at Sydney’s Eastern Creek last month. The Sydney stalwart’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 was heavily damaged but stayed on its wheels, but Cramp described the 150 kmh multiple rollover in his Holden HSV GTS as the biggest crash of his career.

Morcom managed to finish the event and retain second place in the series, but for the in-form Cramp it was a serious setback. “We were right on the pace at Eastern Creek and have been improving every round. We were looking forward to Phillip Island because of course it suits the big HSV and we won there last year,” Cramp said.

“There’s a lot to do in the workshop before the car is loaded in the transporter on Monday-week. I guarantee 100 percent it will be ready – although untested – but we have a much bigger job to overcome the financial blow and raise the money to race.

“The car was absolutely destroyed – we’ve been able to retain the engine, gearbox and passenger compartment, but not much else. But I’m determined to race to repay the many people who have helped us repair the car.”

Morcom hopes to have the Lancer repaired and ready to test within days, but he predicts the Lancer’s early-season advantage on tight tracks will come to an end at Phillip Island. His teammate Garry Holt leads the series in an identical Lancer and between them the drivers have won seven of eight races this season (the other was won by Floyd).

“Phillip Island is a horsepower circuit and the V8 guys from Victoria have been waiting for this chance to give us a flogging after chasing the small cars around Oran Park, Wakefield Park and Eastern Creek. They’re going to be hard to catch,” Morcom said.

The dark horse in the field could be the BMW M3 of Beric Lynton, from the Gold Coast. Lynton admits the six-cylinder BMW is not often a winner in the company of V8s and two-litre turbo cars, but says its strong top-end performance is particularly suited to Phillip Island.

As well as the outright contenders, others car will compete in the Ferntree Gully Holden Privateers Cup. The full field will contest three 10-lap races on Saturday and Sunday, during the CAMS National Championships meeting.

The STS Turbo Australian Performance Car Championship, continuing a 10-year tradition of GTP racing, features a wide range of cars that can be purchased in Australian showrooms. Modifications are limited to the removal of interior trim, fitment of safety equipment and minor mechanical changes to suspension, brakes, exhausts and engine management systems.

A parity adjustment system ensures similar performance across the field, resulting in close and exciting racing between cars that have strong relevance to everyday motorists. Parity is complemented by a success-penalty system that adds temporary ballast to the first three cars in class in each race.

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS after Rd 3 of 7
Outright
Garry Holt 234
Barry Morcom 193
Beric Lynton 172.5
Peter Floyd 154
Dean Lillie 126.5
Andrew Moffat 105
Ferntree Gully Privateers Cup
Drew Russell 183
Mark Cohen 180
Jim Pollicina 62
Results, race reports – www.gtpracing.com.au GTP Champions – 2005 Peter Floyd (HSV), 2004 Justin Hemmes (Subaru), 2003 Mark King (Mitsubishi), 2002 Brett Peters (Subaru), 2001 Brett Peters (Subaru), 2000 Mark King (Mitsubishi).

[Kerri]

SPEED ENERGY DRINK AUSTRALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP

No promotional preview provided by GT Championship

Done

[woodbine]

OK Kerri you've convinced me. I'm coming !

[Kerri]

Weather forecast for the weekend looks promising.
Good reason to come out for a look.

Sunday looks fantastic.

Thursday
Showers
8°C - 14°C

Friday
Clearing shower
6°C - 14°C

Saturday
Mostly sunny
6°C - 16°C

Sunday
Cloud increasing
10°C - 20°C

[Oaksnaf]

6-16 on Saturday with that sea breeze, i think im going to bring an extra layer of clothing.

Cant wait to see the F3 action at the Island again, and if last time was anything to go by, it will be exciting.

Should be an entertaining weekend, especially given the amount of top categories. Cant wait.

[D.R.T.]

Yep those lucky Victorians.

[pete55]

Going to have a look over the Teulan Ferrari today. Might even get to sit in it.

[Notso Swift]

I wounder how the F3's will go against the lap record. I think it is held by F4000 at the moment, but I am not sure if F3's have run in the last couple of years

[Oaksnaf]

Originally Posted by Notso Swift

I wounder how the F3's will go against the lap record. I think it is held by F4000 at the moment, but I am not sure if F3's have run in the last couple of years

F4000 lap record: 1.24.2215 Simon Wills in 2000 Reynard 94D which is the outright lap record of Philip Island.

F3 lap record: 1.27.1923 James Cressey in 2003 Dallara Speiss

[chavez]

Originally Posted by Notso Swift

I wounder how the F3's will go against the lap record. I think it is held by F4000 at the moment, but I am not sure if F3's have run in the last couple of years

F3's ran at Phillip Island earlier this year. One of the races saw the closest ever finish in Australia F3 history.