cvw manta racing
08-16-2006, 05:13 PM
LAST-MINUTE SAVIOR PUTS WHEELS BACK ON CRAMP’S CAMPAIGN
(RD 4 PREVIEW) LAST-MINUTE SAVIOR PUTS THE WHEELS BACK ON CRAMP’S
V8 HOLDEN CAMPAIGN
SOUTH Australian Steve Cramp’s prospects in the STS Turbo Australian Performance Car Championship (GTP) have turned from poor to promising at the last moment as the series heads to Victoria’s Phillip Island circuit for round four next weekend.
Last week Cramp was rushing to finish repairs to his Holden HSV GTS after a 150 kmh rollover in round three at Eastern Creek five weeks ago, but the job had consumed most of the funds needed to run the car at the CAMS National Racing Championships meeting.
“Things were looking pretty tough, but I badly wanted to go to Phillip Island because we’d won there last year,” Cramp said.
The Eastern Creek crash threatened to interrupt a pattern of strong improvement for the 5.7 litre Holden and Cramp was expecting to do well next weekend.
.
“I’ve been working as hard raising money from Adelaide supporters as I have been on the car, but what has got us across the line is a generous gesture from the series sponsor STS Turbo,” Cramp said.
“That’s made the difference and now I’m looking forward to going to Phillip Island with the aim of rewarding everyone who has helped us stay in the GTP series.
“The car is faultless, in fact better than ever as we’ve been able to incorporate some improvements during the rebuild.”
Cramp, whose career highlights include beating future F1 star Mark Webber to first place in a 1996 Formula Holden race, is eighth in the championship but hardly out of the title contest with four rounds remaining.
Phillip Island’s long straight and fast sweepers could help turn the tide against the all-wheel drive 2.0 litre Mitsubishi Lancers that have claimed six of eight races this season.
Sydney-based teammates Garry Holt and Barry Morcom, both in Mitsubishis (Morcom has also repaired his car from the same crash that involved Cramp), are first and second in the championship, followed by BMW’s consistent Beric Lynton, Holden HSV drivers Peter Floyd and Dean Lillie and the first Ford contender, Andrew Moffat, in a Falcon F6 Typhoon.
Cramp, Victorian James Phillip, in a Ford Falcon GT, and HSV coupe teammates Tony Alford and Barrie Nesbitt are also expected to be on the pace.
The wild card is Lynton, from the Gold Coast.
Lynton won a race last month at Eastern Creek and last year at Phillip Island and says that while the six-cylinder BMW coupe is not often a winner it will be in ideal circumstances next weekend.
“The M3 is a typical European performance car and needs space to stretch its legs. When it does it really flies, so I’m aiming for a good result in round four,” he said.
“Consistency and reliability have kept us in the championship. My goal is to keep earning points and see where it gets us at the end of the season at Eastern Creek in November.”
With GTP’s typical wide variety of makes and models entered for Phillip Island, the Ferntree Gully Holden Privateers Cup also promises plenty of action during the round’s three 10-lap races – the first on Saturday afternoon, the others on Sunday.
Newcastle teenager Drew Russell leads the privateers’ pointscore after taking pole position and three race wins in round three in a Honda S2000 Sports.
He’s expected to switch to a Mazda RX-7 for Phillip Island, where his main challenger should be Mark Cohen in a Holden HSV GTS.
SPEED READ
• Weekend timetable – Friday unofficial practice. Saturday 11.30 am Qualifying (30 min.), 3.10 pm Race 1 (10 laps). Sunday 11.45 am Race 2 (10 laps), 4.35 pm Race 3 (10 laps). GTP drivers will attend an autograph session on Sunday from 1.30 pm to 2 pm.
• Championship standings after round 3 – Outright 234 Garry Holt, 193 Barry Morcom, 172.5 Beric Lynton, 154 Peter Floyd, 126.5 Dean Lillie, 105 Andrew Moffat. Ferntree Gully Privateers Cup 183 Drew Russell, 180 Mark Cohen, 62 Jim Pollicina.
• TV coverage – 28 August, Speedweek, SBS; 7 October, Speed Machine, Channel 9; 30 August, Inside Speed, Fox Sports. Check local guides for times.
(RD 4 PREVIEW) LAST-MINUTE SAVIOR PUTS THE WHEELS BACK ON CRAMP’S
V8 HOLDEN CAMPAIGN
SOUTH Australian Steve Cramp’s prospects in the STS Turbo Australian Performance Car Championship (GTP) have turned from poor to promising at the last moment as the series heads to Victoria’s Phillip Island circuit for round four next weekend.
Last week Cramp was rushing to finish repairs to his Holden HSV GTS after a 150 kmh rollover in round three at Eastern Creek five weeks ago, but the job had consumed most of the funds needed to run the car at the CAMS National Racing Championships meeting.
“Things were looking pretty tough, but I badly wanted to go to Phillip Island because we’d won there last year,” Cramp said.
The Eastern Creek crash threatened to interrupt a pattern of strong improvement for the 5.7 litre Holden and Cramp was expecting to do well next weekend.
.
“I’ve been working as hard raising money from Adelaide supporters as I have been on the car, but what has got us across the line is a generous gesture from the series sponsor STS Turbo,” Cramp said.
“That’s made the difference and now I’m looking forward to going to Phillip Island with the aim of rewarding everyone who has helped us stay in the GTP series.
“The car is faultless, in fact better than ever as we’ve been able to incorporate some improvements during the rebuild.”
Cramp, whose career highlights include beating future F1 star Mark Webber to first place in a 1996 Formula Holden race, is eighth in the championship but hardly out of the title contest with four rounds remaining.
Phillip Island’s long straight and fast sweepers could help turn the tide against the all-wheel drive 2.0 litre Mitsubishi Lancers that have claimed six of eight races this season.
Sydney-based teammates Garry Holt and Barry Morcom, both in Mitsubishis (Morcom has also repaired his car from the same crash that involved Cramp), are first and second in the championship, followed by BMW’s consistent Beric Lynton, Holden HSV drivers Peter Floyd and Dean Lillie and the first Ford contender, Andrew Moffat, in a Falcon F6 Typhoon.
Cramp, Victorian James Phillip, in a Ford Falcon GT, and HSV coupe teammates Tony Alford and Barrie Nesbitt are also expected to be on the pace.
The wild card is Lynton, from the Gold Coast.
Lynton won a race last month at Eastern Creek and last year at Phillip Island and says that while the six-cylinder BMW coupe is not often a winner it will be in ideal circumstances next weekend.
“The M3 is a typical European performance car and needs space to stretch its legs. When it does it really flies, so I’m aiming for a good result in round four,” he said.
“Consistency and reliability have kept us in the championship. My goal is to keep earning points and see where it gets us at the end of the season at Eastern Creek in November.”
With GTP’s typical wide variety of makes and models entered for Phillip Island, the Ferntree Gully Holden Privateers Cup also promises plenty of action during the round’s three 10-lap races – the first on Saturday afternoon, the others on Sunday.
Newcastle teenager Drew Russell leads the privateers’ pointscore after taking pole position and three race wins in round three in a Honda S2000 Sports.
He’s expected to switch to a Mazda RX-7 for Phillip Island, where his main challenger should be Mark Cohen in a Holden HSV GTS.
SPEED READ
• Weekend timetable – Friday unofficial practice. Saturday 11.30 am Qualifying (30 min.), 3.10 pm Race 1 (10 laps). Sunday 11.45 am Race 2 (10 laps), 4.35 pm Race 3 (10 laps). GTP drivers will attend an autograph session on Sunday from 1.30 pm to 2 pm.
• Championship standings after round 3 – Outright 234 Garry Holt, 193 Barry Morcom, 172.5 Beric Lynton, 154 Peter Floyd, 126.5 Dean Lillie, 105 Andrew Moffat. Ferntree Gully Privateers Cup 183 Drew Russell, 180 Mark Cohen, 62 Jim Pollicina.
• TV coverage – 28 August, Speedweek, SBS; 7 October, Speed Machine, Channel 9; 30 August, Inside Speed, Fox Sports. Check local guides for times.