Around the tracks…October 23 2009

By Paul Gover
Herald Sun
23 October 2009

A weekly wrap of motorsport from around the world.

Rush on historic cars
The collapse of the A1 GP visit to the Gold Coast has created a golden opportunity for fans of historic motorsport in Queensland this weekend.
The rush to fill eight hours of track time has doubled the number of V8 Supercar races but, even better, has unleashed a line-up of the country's best historic racing cars in the hands of genuine legends.

The line-up includes Allan Moffat's Coca-Mustang, Norm Beechey's Monaro, Ian Geoghegan's ``Super Falcon'', Kevin Bartlett's Channel 9 Camaro, Peter Brock's A9X Torana and Dick Johnson's Tru Blue Falcon XD, with a driver roster from Johnson and Bartlett to Glenn Seton and Colin Bond.

Crump triumphs again
Speedway solo racer Jason Crump is the world champion again after clinching his third title in six years in Poland last weekend. The 34-year-old motorcycle racer had to overcome a serious arm injury early in the season, but the unheralded star did everything he needed and more to claim the world speedway championship over Nicki Pederson of Sweden.

Brabham's US victory
David Brabham completed a highly successful season with victory in the American Le Mans Series driving a Honda Acura prototype. After taking the Le Mans 24-Hour race with Peugeot, the London-based Aussie took the big prize in American sports-car racing for the Highcroft team.

Grech on the go again
Pit-lane ace Jeff Grech is out of V8 Supercar racing again. After walking away once from the Holden Racing Team he has done it again, leaving his post as team manager at Sprint Gas Racing. Despite guiding the team to fourth in the Bathurst 1000 with Greg Murphy and Mark Skaife, he is taking up a business opportunity outside motorsport.

Mustang man retires
Mustang racer Drew Marget is leaving the Biante Touring Car Masters series at the end of the year to concentrate on his role as the category's technical director. His retirement could have a surprising benefit for John Bowe, who is considering buying his Mustang. If he does, It will be the first time he has owned a racing car since 1984.

Class more affordable
A new and more affordable category will be part of the Australian Sports Sedan Championship next year. A second-tier class called Production Sports Sedan is being added below the outrageous and costly prototypes. It will be open to cars with normally aspirated engines up to 3.5 litres.

Ambrose slips back
An engine problem held Marcos Ambrose back to 22nd place in the latest Nascar race at Charlotte in North Carolina. Ambrose qualified 13th and was up to ninth before the drama, though he is still 17th in the series standings, having held the spot for the past 10 weeks.

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