Carrera Cup
PREVIEW OF ROUND 4 - ORAN PARK
THE EVENT
When: Friday August 11 to Sunday August 13
Where: Oran Park, Sydney
What: Round 4 of the Wright Patton Shakespeare Carrera Cup Australia
Track Schedule:
Practice 1 – Friday 10.25am (20 minutes)
Practice 2 – Saturday 8.50am (20 minutes)
Qualifying – Saturday 1.05pm (20 minutes)
Race 1 (16 laps) – Saturday 4.20pm
Race 2 (16 laps) – Sunday 9.25am
Race 3 (16 laps) – Sunday 2.40pm
Track Length: 2.69km – anti-clockwise racing
On Television: Network Ten will telecast Round 4 at Oran Park on Sunday September 10 from 12.30pm.
2005 Round Winner: Fabian Coulthard
2005 Race Winners: Fabian Coulthard x 2; Luke Youlden x 1
2005 Pole Sitter: Luke Youlden
Carrera Cup Lap Records:
Pole – Luke Youlden – 1:09.3746 - 2005
Race – Ian Dyk – 1:10.6287 - 2005
Autograph Session: Jim Richards, Alex Davison, Aaron Caratti, Bryce Washington, Anthony Tratt and Ash Samadi on Saturday at 2.45pm at the WPS merchandise truck.
THE PREVIEW
In Form:
Craig Baird (VIP Petfoods) – Baird has steadily built a 108-point lead over Jim Richards in the overall standings. This has been managed through seven race wins and two second-placings out of the nine championship races so far. He has earned the favouritism tag coming up to the mid-way point in the season.
Jim Richards (OAMPS Insurance Brokers) – Richards sits in second spot in the standings through his experience and consistent driving. Although yet to win a race this season, Richards has accrued two second-placings, three third-placings and four fourth-placings. The 2003 series champion can never be discounted.
Alex Davison (Glenfords Tool Centres / DeWalt) – Davison is one with the speed to match Baird at the front of the pack. The only two races that Baird has finished second have been behind Davison, the 2004 series champion. Only a mishap in race one at Wakefield Park sees Davison so far back in the points in third spot. But with five rounds still to go, anything is possible.
David Reynolds (Bob Jane T-Marts) – While it will be hard for young Reynolds to win the overall championship honours from here, the rising star of Australian motorsport is well capable to crack the top three. If he can stay out of trouble, he has the speed and audacity to challenge Baird, Richards and Davison for race wins.
Ian Dyk (Juniper Development Group) – Dyk is benefiting this season by a move to Queensland to join Sherrin Motorsport. The youngest driver in the field moved up to fifth place overall at the last round at Hidden Valley and is not far behind Reynolds who sits fourth. Dyk has yet to stand on the podium this year but Oran Park could be the round given his affinity for the circuit – he holds the race lap record in a Porsche.
Jonathon Webb (Glenfords Tool Centres / Makita) – Webb had a disappointing round at his last start at Hidden Valley finishing 12th. This dropped him back to fifth in the championship, but a change in fortune must be just around the corner. Webb will be buoyed by the news he will be partnering Marcus Marshall in the Glenfords Racing V8 Supercar entry at Sandown and Bathurst, in addition to his Porsche commitments.
The Title Chase:
Leading into Round 4 of the championship this weekend, drivers and teams are vying for the prestigious Overall Championship in 2006 as well as a host of other awards. Here is an update:
Overall Championship:
1. Craig Baird (VIP Petfoods) – 528
2. Jim Richards (OAMPS Insurance Brokers) – 420
3. Alex Davison (Glenfords Tool Centres / DeWalt) – 385
4. David Reynolds (Bob Jane T-Marts) – 306
5. Ian Dyk (Juniper Development Group) - 288
TAG Heuer Carrera Challenge:
Leading privateer driver 30 years of age or older
1. Dean Grant (Hankook Tyres) - 426
2. John Kaias (Abcor) – 402
3. Rodney Jane (Bob Jane T-Marts) - 351
Michelin Rookie of the Year:
Leading rookie driver with less than six rounds of Porsche Motorsport race experience prior to 2006
1. David Wall (Glenfords Tool Centres / Hitachi) – 432
2. Dean Fiore (Landscape Developments) – 420
3. David Russell (Boom Logistics/Sherrin Hire) - 414
Mobil 1 Hard Charger:
Leading driver who has made up the most number of grid positions
1. David Reynolds (Bob Jane T-Marts) – 33
2. Rodney Jane (Bob Jane T-Marts) – 29
3. Ash Samadi (ROOCK) – 25
3. Dean Grant (Hankook Tyres) - 25
Interesting Facts and Figures:
Approximate consumption so far this season - 800 Michelin tyres in competition, 500 more for test days and 850 Litres of Mobil1 0W40 engine oil in competition.
This is the second time that the all-Porsche racing series has been staged at Oran Park. In 2005, Luke Youlden took pole position and won the second race, but Fabian Coulthard who won race one and three took the overall round honours. Ian Dyk finished third in two races as well as claimed the race lap record with a flying 1:10.6287 around the 2.69km circuit. Unfortunately an accident with two laps to go in the third race cost Dyk what would have been his first podium result in the category. Dyk qualified fourth which still stands as his best qualifying result.
A field of 22 drivers will race in the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 997) cars at Oran Park. This new model has enhanced aerodynamics - a new front section and a larger rear wing produces 40 percent more downforce than the previous 996 model. The six-speed sequential gearbox makes gear shifting faster and more failsafe, while the ABS brakes are replaced by tandem racing master cylinders and an in-car brake bias adjustment control.
The same 22 drivers have competed in all of the first three rounds of the 2006 championship.
Craig Baird has a 108-point lead over Jim Richards with a further 35 points back to Alex Davison. The winner of each race in the Wright Patton Shakespeare Carrera Cup receives 60 points, second receives 54 points, third receives 48 points and so on, down to a DNF which receives 0 points. Thus Baird has more than a one-race gap on Richards and two-race gap on Davison.
Dean Grant celebrates his 40th birthday on August 12 – the Saturday of the Oran Park round.
Alex Davison, Craig Baird and Anthony Tratt have jumped out of their V8 Supercar seats from last year to get into the left-hand drive seats of the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars.
Ten of the Porsche drivers at Hidden Valley are under 30 years of age – Jonathon Webb, Aaron Caratti, Bryce Washington, Daniel Pappas, David Reynolds, David Russell, David Wall, Dean Fiore, Ian Dyk and Klark Quinn.
There are seven newcomers to the category in 2006 - David Russell, Dean Fiore, Daniel Pappas, Aaron Caratti, David Wall, Anthony Tratt and John Kaias.
Eight drivers have contested each season of Carrera Cup in Australia since its introduction in 2003 - Jim Richards, Klark Quinn, Peter Fitzgerald, Rodney Jane, Dean Grant, Marc Cini, Jonathon Webb and Tony Quinn.
Sherrin Motorsport’s David Russell became the eighth rookie since the category’s inception in 2003 to stand on the podium. Russell’s third placing at Wakefield Park at Round 2 put him on the honour roll with Marcus Marshall (2003), Tim Leahey (2003), Fabian Coulthard (2004), James Cressey (2004), Luke Youlden (2005), David Reynolds (2005) and Ian Dyk (2005).
Craig Baird is in fourth in the all-time lists for Most Round Wins and Most Race Wins in the Wright Patton Shakespeare Carrera Cup. Baird has four round wins and sits behind Richards (10), Davison (7) and Coulthard (6). He also has accrued eight race wins and is behind the same trio – Richards (31), Davison (21) and Coulthard (18).
David Reynolds will be competing in the 1 Hour event with Sven Burchartz at Phillip Island the week after the Oran park round. Reynolds will also be hosting 20 guests from Harbour IT – an Associate Sponsor of his car – at Oran Park.
A number of new sponsors have been introduced to the Wright Patton Shakespeare Carrera Cup for 2006. Mobil is the Official Automotive Lubricant Partner, MAN is the Official Transporter, Pilatus is the Official Executive Aircraft, ZF Sachs is the Official Suspension and Clutch Components Provider, Adidas is the Official Uniform Supplier, The Autograph Shop is the Official Memorabilia Provider, and Gatorade is the Official Sports Drink.
Entry List:
Car Number – Driver Name (Team Name / Major Sponsor/s)
2 - Jim Richards (Jim Richards Racing / OAMPS Insurance Brokers)
4 – Craig Baird (Team VIP Petfoods / VIP Petfoods)
5 – Klark Quinn (Team VIP Petfoods / VIP Petfoods)
6 – Peter Fitzgerald (Fitzgerald Racing / Acer, Leading Solutions, Hitachi Data Systems)
7 – Rodney Jane (Sonic Motor Racing / Bob Jane T-Marts)
8 – Ian Dyk (Juniper Racing / Juniper Development Group)
9 – David Russell (Sherrin Motorsport / Boom Logistics, Sherrin Hire)
11 – Dean Grant (Hankook Motorsport / Hankook Tyres)
12 – Marc Cini (Hallmarc Racing / Hallmarc)
14 – David Reynolds (Sonic Motor Racing / Bob Jane T-Marts)
15 – Dean Fiore (Sonic Motor Racing / Landscape Developments)
19 – Daniel Pappas (Sherrin Motorsport)
21 – Alex Davison (Paul Cruickshank Racing / Glenfords Tool Centres, DeWalt)
22 – Jonathon Webb (Paul Cruickshank Racing / Glenfords Tool Centres, Makita)
23 – Aaron Caratti (Caratti Motorsport/ Firepower)
25 – Paul Freestone (Freestones Racing / Star Track Express)
29 – Tony Quinn (Team VIP Petfoods / VIP Petfoods)
38 – David Wall (Paul Cruickshank Racing / Glenfords Tool Centres, Hitachi)
54 – Bryce Washington (ADRAD Racing / ADRAD Radiators)
55 – Ash Samadi (ROOCK Racing / ROOCK)
75 – Anthony Tratt (Greg Murphy Racing / Toll)
77 – John Kaias (Fitzgerald Racing / Abcor)
Next Round: Round 5 – Sandown, Melbourne – September 1 to 3
WHO IS YOUR LOCAL DRIVER?
Jim Richards – Park Orchards, Melbourne, VIC
Alex Davison – Hawthorn, Melbourne, VIC
David Reynolds – Albert Park, Melbourne, VIC (born and raised in Albury, NSW)
Peter Fitzgerald – Warrandyte, Melbourne, VIC
Dean Grant – Brighton, Melbourne, VIC
Rodney Jane – Carlton, Melbourne, VIC
John Kaias – Warrandyte, Melbourne, VIC
Marc Cini – North Balwyn, Melbourne, VIC
Paul Freestone – Keilor Village, Melbourne, VIC
Anthony Tratt – Melbourne, VIC
Jonathon Webb – Glenhaven, Sydney, NSW
Ash Samadi – Bondi, Sydney, NSW
David Wall – Bringelly, Sydney, NSW
Ian Dyk – Albion, Brisbane, QLD
Daniel Pappas – Hamilton, Brisbane, QLD
David Russell – Manly, Brisbane, QLD
Craig Baird – Gold Coast, QLD (born Hamilton, NZL)
Klark Quinn – Gold Coast, QLD
Tony Quinn – Gold Coast, QLD
Bryce Washington – Adelaide, SA
Aaron Caratti – Cottesloe, Perth, WA
Dean Fiore – South Perth, WA