Jake and the team from Grand Prix Mazda will take to Phillip Island this weekend....
Mazda Returns to Happy Hunting Grounds
29/04/2010 at 10:46AM
Two full seasons ago, Grand Prix Mazda Motorsport debuted their Mazda 3 MPS in the Australian Manufacturers Championship at Phillip Island, with team driver Jake Camilleri taking an incredible outright podium.
In the two years since, the combination have taken out numerous race wins, outright podiums and class championships, and returning to Phillip Island this weekend, the team is looking to continue their success.
Third outright at the most recent championship round at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania has left the team brimming with confidence.
"I can't wait to get out there and get racing, it will be very interesting to see how much progress we have made in the past two seasons," said Camilleri.
"In 2008 we came to Phillip Island straight after our first race in the car at the Bathurst 12 Hour, and the package wasn't particularly well developed.
"The first race was wet, and we finished second outright in a front-wheel-drive car, which made a lot of people sit up and take notice, and ever since then we have been very competitive in the wet, so if the weather turns nasty this weekend, we won't be worried.
"Since the last time at Phillip Island we've figured out how to get the car to make use of the power of the Mazda 3 MPS, and we've also sussed out the brakes, so it will be interesting to see how far we have really come.
"We actually left the car down in Melbourne between rounds, and we've sent our team manager Graeme (Murray) down early to give the car a thorough check, so it's ready to race."
For Murray, Phillip Island will be a great opportunity to continue the momentum from Symmons Plains.
"We're all very excited and pumped up, we can't wait," Murray said.
"Apart from giving the brakes a bit of a freshen up, there's nothing to do to the car, it's spot on.
"Phillip Island has been a bit of a happy hunting ground for Jake in the past, and the car is light years away from where it was in 2008.
"Back then the car didn"t want to stop and it was just cranking wheel spin, having fixed those and sorted out the entire package, we should be a fair bit quicker this weekend, and if it rains, bring it on!"
The weekend of racing for the Grand Prix Motorsport team features a pair of one-hour mini enduros, with the Class C cars like the Mazda 3 MPS requiring a single tyre change in a compulsory pit stop.
This was an area in which the team excelled at Symmons Plains, and they will be looking to continue the form heading into the upcoming Australian Six Hour at Eastern Creek Raceway on July 18.
Grand Prix Motorsport would like to thank Castrol, Esanda, All Star Tuning Systems, Allianz , HDR Workshop Solutuions, Mobile Flywheel Grinding, Top Cog Diff and Gearbox Centre and Mazda Australia for their continued support.
Is Consistency the key in the AMC?
30/04/2010 at 11:57AM
With a win, a second and a third from three races, Garry Holt’s consistency has him sitting pretty at the top of the Australian Manufacturers Championship for Production Cars’ points ladder going into round three this weekend at Phillip Island.
He is one of a few that has utilised the option to have a co-driver in the one hour races and after Greg Crick filled the seat at Symmons Plains, fellow Bathurst 12 Hour winner (with Paul Morris) John Bowe is back – ready to give the Eastern Creek Karting BMW 335i its best outright chance on the series trail.
Already a dominant force in Class B for High Performance Rear Wheel Drive vehicles, the combination is fancied to give the Class A for High Performance All Wheel Drive cars a real run for their money on the superfast and picturesque Victorian island circuit.
The AWD class has been fast but fickle. Both Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Mitsubishi Lancers failed at Bathurst and Ian ‘Inky’ Tulloch had an engine detonation in one race in Tasmania. But the Alan Heapy orchestrated team did have success with two wins to Stuart Kostera and a one-two result in the second with Tulloch runner up.
The Class A leading Subaru Impreza from the Wilson Brothers Racing stable and co-driven by Kurt Wimmer and Sam Walter missed one race at the last round following complications after an engine transplant. For this round 2009 WBR regular Lee Castle joins Wimmer for the two races.
The HSV Clubsport of Steve Briffa is having its first run in the Championship this year and should be considered an outright threat on a circuit that suits it better than any other – certainly there shouldn’t be any car faster on the long front straight!
Jake Camilleri’s potent Mazda 3 MPS is also an outright contender going on past performances and particularly if the forecasted wet weather appears. The Mazda Grand Prix outfit has been the benchmark of Class C for Hot Hatches and would have led the class if not for mechanical gremlins delaying their Bathurst campaign.
The team finished second in class to the Hadrian Morrall Mazda which through consistency leads Class C - however the other Colin Osborne Motorsport Mazda has had nothing but turbo problems at both rounds. In the meantime the BMW 130i team cars of Peter O’Donnell and Alan Shephard/Kean Booker will relish the weekend at Phillip Island as it is more suited to them.
It is expected that the Class D Production Sports duel between Richard Gartner, Lauren Gray (whose sister Maddison is debuting as the sole Class E competitor) and Trevor Keene that was a feature of both races in Tasmania will continue. Over the two one hour races there was little between the trio with several position changes during the events.
But on this occasion they will have to contend with the Holden Astra of Ryan McLeod. While Class A and B have to undertake a mandatory two wheel change pit stop, and Class C one, Class D only has to do a drive through. While McLeod is expected to be the fastest in class, has elected to undertake a driver change with a to-be-announced co pilot and that should bring them back to the others.
The AMC has practice session on Friday, timed practice, qualifying and the first one hour race on Saturday, then a warm up and one hour race on Sunday. Also on Saturday morning will be the official launch of the Australian 6 Hour – the production car race at Eastern Creek on July 7-18 that is also round four of the Australian Manufacturers Championship.
Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships 2010 - Round 3
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Australian Manufacturers Championship Practice
Practice P2 20 Mins
Scheduled Start 09:55
Page 1 Issue 1
Start Sat May 01 09:58
Elapsed Time 20:00
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________
Pos Car Competitor/Team Driver Vehicle Cap CL Laps Fastest...Lap Gap
1 11 Ian Tulloch (NZ) Mitsubishi Evo 10 1998 A 10 5 1:48.2569*
2 55 West Surfing Products Stuart Kostera (VIC) Mitsubishi Evo 10 1998 A 10 2 1:48.9970 0:00.7401
3 20 Eastern Creek Karts Garry Holt (NSW) BMW 335i B 9 3 1:49.7600 0:01.5031
4 2 Wilson Brothers Racing Kurt Wimmer (QLD) Subaru WRX Sti 1994 A 8 8 1:50.8560 0:02.5991
5 36 Grand Prix Mazda Jake Camilleri (QLD) Mazda 3 MPS 2261 C 6 6 1:51.3651 0:03.1082
6 31 Osborne Motorsport Hadrian Morrall (NSW) Mazda 3 MPS 2300 C 8 8 1:53.8291 0:05.5722
7 13 Osborne Motorsport Colin Osborne (NSW) Mazda 3 MPS 2300 C 8 2 1:54.5327 0:06.2758
8 28 GWS Personnel Peter O'Donnell (NSW) BMW 130i 2996 C 10 8 1:54.9425 0:06.6856
9 27 The Shire Conveyancer Allan Shephard (NSW) BMW 130i 2996 C 7 7 1:55.1620 0:06.9051
10 5 Lauren Gray Motorsport Lauren Gray (VIC) Toyota Corolla 1795 D 9 9 1:59.0974 0:10.8405
11 8 Briffa Smash Repairs Steve Briffa TBA B 4 3 2:02.5979 0:14.3410
12 15 Lauren Gray Motorsport Maddison Gray (VIC) Toyota Echo 1487 E 8 8 2:13.0777 0:24.8208
Fastest Lap Av.Speed Is 148kph, 130% Of First 1 Is 2:20.7340
R=under lap record by greatest margin, r=under lap record, *=fastest lap time
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________
Issue# 1 - Printed Sat May 1 10:21:04 2010 Timing System By NATSOFT (03)63342353 Natsoft ® - IT Specialists! & Dorian DATA-1
Timed by Melbourne University Car Club Inc.
Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships 2010 - Round 3
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Australian Manufacturers Championship Qualifying
Qualifying Q4 20 Mins
Scheduled Start 12:25
Page 1 Issue 1
Start Sat May 01 12:27
Elapsed Time 20:00
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________
Pos Car Competitor/Team Driver Vehicle Cap CL Laps Fastest...Lap Gap
1 55 West Surfing Products Stuart Kostera (VIC) Mitsubishi Evo 10 1998 A 9 2 1:47.1210*
2 11 Ian Tulloch (NZ) Mitsubishi Evo 10 1998 A 10 5 1:47.5767 0:00.4557
3 20 Eastern Creek Karts Garry Holt (NSW) BMW 335i B 3 2 1:48.1141 0:00.9931
4 2 Wilson Brothers Racing K.Wimmer/L.Castle Subaru WRX Sti 1994 A 10 10 1:50.3900 0:03.2690
5 8 Briffa Smash Repairs Steve Briffa TBA B 5 3 1:50.7233 0:03.6023
6 36 Grand Prix Mazda Jake Camilleri (QLD) Mazda 3 MPS 2261 C 4 3 1:51.3114 0:04.1904
7 31 Osborne Motorsport Hadrian Morrall (NSW) Mazda 3 MPS 2300 C 9 3 1:53.4379 0:06.3169
8 13 Osborne Motorsport Colin Osborne (NSW) Mazda 3 MPS 2300 C 8 4 1:54.0123 0:06.8913
9 28 GWS Personnel Peter O'Donnell (NSW) BMW 130i 2996 C 10 2 1:54.9787 0:07.8577
10 27 The Shire Conveyancer Allan Shephard (NSW) BMW 130i 2996 C 7 5 1:55.0159 0:07.8949
11 97 Safe-T-Stop Richard Gartner (NSW) Renault Clio 197 1600 D 7 3 1:58.8975 0:11.7765
12 5 Lauren Gray Motorsport Lauren Gray (VIC) Toyota Corolla 1795 D 9 8 1:59.4512 0:12.3302
13 15 Lauren Gray Motorsport Maddison Gray (VIC) Toyota Echo 1487 E 9 8 2:10.2533 0:23.1323
Fastest Lap Av.Speed Is 150kph, 130% Of First 1 Is 2:19.2573
R=under lap record by greatest margin, r=under lap record, *=fastest lap time
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________
Issue# 1 - Printed Sat May 1 12:50:36 2010 Timing System By NATSOFT (03)63342353 Natsoft ® - IT Specialists! & Dorian DATA-1
Timed by Melbourne University Car Club Inc.
Results of RACE 1
Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships 2010 - Round 3
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Australian Manufacturers Championship Race 1
Event R1 60 Mins
Scheduled Start 14:55
Page 1 Issue 1
Start Sat May 01 14:52
Elapsed Time 01:00:04
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________
Pos Car Competitor/Team Driver Vehicle Cap CL Laps Race.Time Fastest...Lap
1 55 West Surfing Products Stuart Kostera (VIC) Mitsubishi Evo 10 1998 A 29 01:00:04.2102 4 1:48.1220R
2 20 Eastern Creek Karts G.Holt/R.McLeod BMW 335i B 29 01:00:43.9360 3 1:50.6340
3 28 GWS Personnel Peter O'Donnell (NSW) BMW 130i 2996 C 28 01:00:12.5025 26 1:54.6394
4 97 Safe-T-Stop Richard Gartner (NSW) Renault Clio 197 1600 D 28 01:00:12.6992 28 1:57.2546
5 27 The Shire Conveyancer Allan Shephard (NSW) BMW 130i 2996 C 28 01:00:28.1628 7 1:54.8850
6 36 Grand Prix Mazda Jake Camilleri (QLD) Mazda 3 MPS 2261 C 28 01:00:50.4571 28 1:51.9684
7 8 Briffa Smash Repairs Steve Briffa TBA B 27 01:00:23.7398 5 1:51.0665
8 31 Osborne Motorsport Hadrian Morrall (NSW) Mazda 3 MPS 2300 C 27 01:00:33.6375 12 1:53.9446
9 2 Wilson Brothers Racing K.Wimmer/L.Castle Subaru WRX Sti 1994 A 27 01:00:43.7972 4 1:49.9519
10 5 Lauren Gray Motorsport Lauren Gray (VIC) Toyota Corolla 1795 D 27 01:01:12.9751 4 2:00.1366
11 11 Ian Tulloch (NZ) Mitsubishi Evo 10 1998 A 26 01:00:18.2348 2 1:48.3952r
12 15 Lauren Gray Motorsport Maddison Gray (VIC) Toyota Echo 1487 E 26 01:00:31.8772 23 2:09.0042
DNF 13 Osborne Motorsport Colin Osborne (NSW) Mazda 3 MPS 2300 C 15 35:20.1218 8 1:54.8198
PENALTY APPLIED
Competitor# 2 2 Laps Penalty
Competitor# 11 2 Laps Penalty
Fastest Lap Av.Speed Is 148kph, Race Av.Speed Is 129kph
Current Race Lap Record Is 1:49.8475 Set On 15/06/2008 By Lee Castles In A Subaru WRX STI
R=under lap record by greatest margin, r=under lap record, *=fastest lap time
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________
Issue# 1 - Printed Sat May 1 15:59:59 2010 Timing System By NATSOFT (03)63342353 Natsoft ® - IT Specialists! & Dorian DATA-1
Includes CPS penalties for cars 2 & 11 Timed by Melbourne University Car Club Inc.
The opening day of action for the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships at Phillip Island concluded with three thrilling races for the Australian Manufacturers Championship, the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship and the Australian Superkart Championship.
Stuart Kostera romped away in a thrilling hour long opening race for the Australian Manufacturers Championship, as tyre dramas claimed many victims throughout the field.
Kostera battled race long with his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO team mate Inky Tulloch, but a puncture slowed the Kiwi late in the race, and he was subsequently penalised two-laps post-race for completing his compulsory pit stop outside of the designated window, eventually being classified in 11th.
Kurt Wimmer, who was teamed with Lee Castle drove a top race in their Subaru WRX Sti to just lead Garry Holt/Ryan McLeod (BMW) over the finish line for second and third, but the Subaru also fell foul of the officials for a similar pit infringement, and were eventually classified in ninth.
This elevated Peter O’Donnell and his BMW 130i to third outright after he caught and passed the brilliant little Renault Clio of Richard Gartner over the finish line.
Other drivers to suffer punctures included Jake Camilleri, Hadrian Morrall and Lauren Gray.
Mitch Evans picked up the fourth win of his Formula 3 season, after dominating qualifying in his Team BRM Dallara.
Fellow front-row starter and championship leader Tom Tweedie made the best of the start, leading the field on the first lap.
“I got too much wheel spin and suffered on the dirty side of the track, plus my rear tyres weren’t up to temperature,” Evans said.
“I had managed to get a really good run on Tom out of the Southern Loop and I managed to pass him around the outside.
“Ben (Barker) didn’t really expect us to be two-wide through there and he went off track, but he’ll bounce back tomorrow.
“At the end I was just conserving the tyres for tomorrow’s races.”
Tweedie was second from Barker, with Chris Gilmour and Kristian Lindbom battling to the finish after Lindbom stalled on the starting line.
Ben Crighton suffered a tough day in sixth after falling off at MG Corner on the first lap.
Aussie ace Warren McIlveen came through the pack to win the opening race for the Australian Superkart Championships aboard his Stockman, heading home British visitor and former world champion Trevor Roberts for second.
Pole sitter by virtue of being on top of the charts in the two-qualifying sessions, Garry Pegoraro had to settle for third at the finish.
The Commodore Cup National Series and the Australian Saloon Car Series will both have three races tomorrow, with the respective pole positions going to Scott Andrews and Shawn Jamieson.
Racing kicks off at 9:30am tomorrow with the second Superkart race, and concludes with the final hour-long Australian Manufacturers Championship race.
Ticket prices are $15 for Saturday (concession $10), $30 on Sunday (concession $20), or $35 for the weekend.
Life Member
Mazda returns to Phillip Island
from Orange NSW
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