This weekend marks the opening race of the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Marcos Ambrose will be the first Aussie to take the starter’s flag.
After several years ascending the NASCAR ladder from Busch trucks to NEXTEL Cup, Ambrose starts his first full-season in the top-level Sprint Cup in NASCAR holy-land, Daytona. He will be racing the #47 car of JTG Daugherty Racing – one of 35 guaranteed starting spots in the race.“I have to pinch myself every day because it is the biggest race there is,” said Ambrose.“This is our first race of our first season in Sprint Cup and it’s the Daytona 500. I never thought I’d be a driver or be talking about the Daytona 500 with my background and where I’m from (Tasmania).”“Daytona is obviously very fast, but it’s one of the toughest tracks we go to in a season. It drives differently to Talladega and you are really on the edge through the turns.“If you get too loose and get out of shape while you running, flat-out in the pack at Daytona, you can end up wrecking your car as well as 20 other guy’s cars. It’s tough, it takes a lot of concentration and it’s very, very fast.”The 2.5-mile speedway track (below) is the first oval track since November for many of the drivers inclusding Marcos after a testing ban was implemented by officials for the entire off-season.200 laps, 500 miles/805 kilometres Marcos racked up a 21st and 26th in practice, but earned a rather disappointing 30th position in qualifying yesterday afternoon. However, this is only for the heat races later in the week, not the actual 500.“Qualifying in on speed to those Cup races is the most nerve-wracking thing I’ve done in my life,” said Ambrose.“I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. It’s surprising how the Cup cars don’t handle that well even in single car runs. Everyone is very aggressive in trying to get as much speed out of them. They are less stable than what I anticipated for a single car run. I’m looking forward to getting in the draft and seeing what I’ve got.”No matter where Ambrose finishes, he will still hit paydirt. While last year’s winner Ryan Newman earned an expected US$1,506,000 (AUS$2,254,000) for his win, the bottom end of the field are known to pocket a cool quarter-mil US whether they finish or not. Last year’s tail-ender Kenny Wallace earned US$256,735 (A$382,509) for last position after breaking down on lap 143 of 200.OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE THE START OF A NEW CHAPTER FOR AMBROSE …Marcos Ambrose begins his first full season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the top level of NASCAR, in the biggest race of them all, the Daytona 500, on February 15 in Daytona Beach, FloridaFor Ambrose, it’s the realisation of a dream that officially began in March 2005, when the two-time V8 Supercar champion announced his intention to move to the United States with his young family to pursue a career in NASCAR.It has been a gradual climb for Ambrose, who made 22 starts in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2006 before two full seasons in the Nationwide Series, highlighted by his first NASCAR win last season at Watkins Glen.After all the hard work, learning and sacrifices, Ambrose now embarks on his first full season in Sprint Cup, after 11 starts at Cup level last season, with a best finish of third place at Watkins Glen.AUSTRALIAN SPORTING HISTORY IN THE MAKING …Ambrose’s start in the Daytona 500 will come just two weeks after Arizona Cardinals punter Ben Graham also etched his name into Australian sporting history.Graham, a former AFL player with the Geelong Cats, made his own switch to US sport in 2004 and became the first Australian to compete in the biggest game in the NFL season, Superbowl XLIII, on 1 February 2009.Like the Daytona 500, the Superbowl was staged in the state of Florida, in Tampa Bay.Ambrose actually spoke with Graham about his move Stateside back at a function for the Ford Motor Company in 2004, which was a common sponsor of Graham and Ambrose.“Ben Graham has come from AFL, which is our version of football in Australia,” said Ambrose.“He’s had a lot of success. I sat down with him around 2004 at a function, and he was saying how he was coming over here to have a crack at it. So good luck to him because I know just how big a move that is.“Unfortunalety for Ben, Arizona couldn’t quite get across the line in the Superbowl, but it was a great game. Hopefully I can get the job done and win the 500 to make up for it …“But I wouldn’t put any bets on that. I think just the experience for me this first year is what it’s all about. I just want to settle in, do the right thing and show everybody that I can do it.”Ambrose will become the first Australian to race in the world-famous Daytona 500 when he takes the green flag aboard the #47 Little Debbie machine of JTG Daugherty Racing.GUARANTEED STARTS A RELIEF FOR AMBROSE …As a result of the #47 entry being elevated into the Top 35 in Sprint Cup owner’s points, Ambrose will not only have a guaranteed start in the Daytona 500, but the first five races of the 2009 season.The #47 entry ended the 2008 season in 36th place in owner’s points, but was elevated into the top 35 when the #41 of Chip Ganassi Racing was removed from contention as a result of that team’s merger with Dale Earnhardt Inc. Unlike the #01 and #15 entries from DEI, the #41 was not transferred to another team.At each Sprint Cup event, the top 35 car entries in owner’s points are assured a start in the race regardless of their qualifying performance. The following eight spots are open to ‘go or go home’ entries, with one of the eight reserved for a past Sprint Cup champion if necessary.The first five races of the 2009 season assure the top 35 from 2008 as the guaranteed entries, with the sixth race of the season in Martinsville going on 2009 owner’s points.RESTRICTOR PLATE RACING A THROW OF THE DICE …Four times a season, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races on the 2.5-mile superspeedways at Daytona and Talladega.The long straights and steep banking create a massive, flat-out challenge for drivers and teams and as such, NASCAR mandates that engine horsepower is cut at races on these two tracks to keep speeds under control.With restrictor plates fitted between the engine manifold and carburettor to slow engine power, the racing tends to be tighter, tougher and closer, with cars drafting each other in a pack. At times, the entire 43-car field can run in one bunch, two, three or even four abreast.This situation can sometimes lead to what is known as ‘The Big One’, where contact in the pack can lead to massive accidents that can effect up to half of the field.RESULTS: Sprint Cup Qualifying 1. #1 Martin Truex Jr 47.872 2. #5 Mark Martin 47.919 3. #39 Ryan Newman 47.929 4. #42 Juan Pablo Montoya 47.938 5. #21 Bill Elliott 47.939 6. #48 Jimmie Johnson 47.942 7. #8 Aric Almirola 47.962 8. #28 Travis Kvapil 47.981 9. #24 Jeff Gordon 48.025 10. #14 Tony Stewart 48.042 30. #47 Marcos Ambrose 48.384RESULTS: Sprint Cup Practice 1 1. #21 Bill Elliott 47.963 2. #96 Bobby Labonte 48.022 3. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr 48.039 4. #1 Martin Truex Jr 48.066 5. #18 Kyle Busch 48.074 6. #20 Joey Logano 48.114 7. #11 Denny Hamlin 48.118 8. #48 Jimmie Johnson 48.168 9. #39 Ryan Newman 48.173 10. #98 Paul Menard 48.184 21. #47 Marcos Ambrose 48.345RESULTS: Sprint Cup Practice 2 1. #21 Bill Elliott 47.885 2. #1 Martin Truex Jr 47.999 3. #88 Dale Earnhardt Jr 48.039 4. #18 Kyle Busch 48.043 5. #39 Ryan Newman 48.055 6. #5 Mark Martin 48.073 7. #96 Bobby Labonte 48.081 8. #00 David Reutimann 48.159 9. #8 Aric Almirola 48.159 10. #14 Tony Stewart 48.174 26. #47 Marcos Ambrose 48.396
Q: How will it feel to start the Daytona 500?MARCOS AMBROSE: “We’re going to be lining up for the 500, which is a huge relief. We support – Michael Waltrip Racing and JTG-Daugherty Racing supports – NASCAR’s move and position with this stance. As it’s played out here every team has earned their position in the top-35, three teams have dropped out in the off-season so it’s natural that some get shifted up.“We support the top-35 rule as well, it’s designed to help protect full-time teams and sponsors have some security to their sponsors and to make the year work properly. I just feel quite lucky really, to be honest with you. Someone is looking after me, I’m not sure who it is, but their doing a good job.”Q: What are your thoughts about NASCAR’s decision on the top-35 rule?MARCOS AMBROSE: “With a situation like this, as far as I’m concerned, it’s completely out of my hands and so whichever way the decision was going to go or will go doesn’t change who I am and how I go about my racing. I’ll just deal with the situation as it is.“I’ve always said that I feel lucky to be in NASCAR and no matter what decision was made on the race track or off, I was just going to roll with it because I feel privileged to be here and that to me makes me sleep easy.“Whichever way it goes I can only do what I do out there and I can just don’t lose sleep on that kind of stuff. I’ve been a professional driver long enough to know that if you expect the worst at all times then when the good times roll it really is enjoyable.”Q: How will it feel to start the Daytona 500?MARCOS AMBROSE: “We’re going to be lining up for the 500, which is a huge relief. We support – Michael Waltrip Racing and JTG-Daugherty Racing supports – NASCAR’s move and position with this stance. As it’s played out here every team has earned their position in the top-35, three teams have dropped out in the off-season so it’s natural that some get shifted up.“We support the top-35 rule as well, it’s designed to help protect full-time teams and sponsors have some security to their sponsors and to make the year work properly. I just feel quite lucky really, to be honest with you. Someone is looking after me, I’m not sure who it is, but their doing a good job.”Q: What are your thoughts about NASCAR’s decision on the top-35 rule?MARCOS AMBROSE: “With a situation like this, as far as I’m concerned, it’s completely out of my hands and so whichever way the decision was going to go or will go doesn’t change who I am and how I go about my racing. I’ll just deal with the situation as it is.“I’ve always said that I feel lucky to be in NASCAR and no matter what decision was made on the race track or off, I was just going to roll with it because I feel privileged to be here and that to me makes me sleep easy.“Whichever way it goes I can only do what I do out there and I can just don’t lose sleep on that kind of stuff. I’ve been a professional driver long enough to know that if you expect the worst at all times then when the good times roll it really is enjoyable.”Q: How will it feel to start the Daytona 500?MARCOS AMBROSE: “We’re going to be lining up for the 500, which is a huge relief. We support – Michael Waltrip Racing and JTG-Daugherty Racing supports – NASCAR’s move and position with this stance. As it’s played out here every team has earned their position in the top-35, three teams have dropped out in the off-season so it’s natural that some get shifted up.“We support the top-35 rule as well, it’s designed to help protect full-time teams and sponsors have some security to their sponsors and to make the year work properly. I just feel quite lucky really, to be honest with you. Someone is looking after me, I’m not sure who it is, but their doing a good job.”Q: What are your thoughts about NASCAR’s decision on the top-35 rule?MARCOS AMBROSE: “With a situation like this, as far as I’m concerned, it’s completely out of my hands and so whichever way the decision was going to go or will go doesn’t change who I am and how I go about my racing. I’ll just deal with the situation as it is.“I’ve always said that I feel lucky to be in NASCAR and no matter what decision was made on the race track or off, I was just going to roll with it because I feel privileged to be here and that to me makes me sleep easy.“Whichever way it goes I can only do what I do out there and I can just don’t lose sleep on that kind of stuff. I’ve been a professional driver long enough to know that if you expect the worst at all times then when the good times roll it really is enjoyable.”Q: Did your team bring a ‘qualifying’ car to Daytona for this week?MARCOS AMBROSE: “The last three or four days have been a bit of a panic. We were going to use the (Gatorade) Duel as a chance to really just grow into the car. I haven’t driven a COT (Car of Tomorrow) on a superspeedway. I’ve only had a couple starts here at Daytona anyway so I am going to use the Duel really just to get into the groove and get confident and comfortable behind the wheel and just try to find some good drafting partners and let them know that I’m not an idiot out there. I will work with people if they want to.“That was our intention and then three days ago or four days ago when it looked like it may have been swinging against us we started really then trying to re-focus on trying on getting a qualifying car, which is quite an aggressive set-up car.“But now we are back in the race, so we’ll just look to settle ourselves in during our Duel.”Q: What has it been like to work with Frankie Kerr?MARCOS AMBROSE: “Frankie (Kerr, crew chief) is just a jewel and he’s a wonderful guy. He’s just great for our team. I think JTG Daugherty Racing is in a great position. We’ve got guys like Frankie (Kerr) behind us with a lot of experience and knowledge.“We have just a wonderful technical alliance with Michael Waltrip Racing and effectively we’re a third car for Michael Waltrip Racing and we’ve got a lot of support from all those guys over there as well. It’s just a really good combination. It’s just a great partnership, it’s like a marriage and I think that’s going to benefit all parties and I think we’re in a great spot to take advantage of this year.“There’s a lot of turmoil and change in NASCAR and the economy and everything right now and I think we’re in a position to really take advantage of all that. This Daytona 500 — are we in or are we out thing — is just really a blip in our overall goal and objectives for the year and I think we’re going to have a stellar year and a breakout year for Michael Waltrip Racing and for JTG-Daugherty and I’m just really looking forward to getting the season started.”Q: How will you approach the first five races now that you are ‘locked-in?’MARCOS AMBROSE: “It really does change our whole outlook for the first five races. Like I said, we’re in a great position with Michael Waltrip Racing and JTG-Daugherty — I think we’re a team that’s really on the rise and going to take full advantage of the shake-up that’s happened in NASCAR over the last three months.“We support NASCAR’s decision with the top-35 rule. As it’s played out here, every team that’s in the top-35 at this stage has earned their way in. They’re in there on merits — they’re all full-time teams with full-time sponsors. I think it works out for the best, for all parties involved.“We’ve got brand new sponsors here on our team — Little Debbie, Kingsford, Clorox, Bush’s Beans — they’re all brand new to the Sprint Cup level. We’re bringing brand new sponsors to the Sprint Cup level when sponsors are at a premium and to be able to give them a full season is very important. I’ve also got my great personal sponsors, Jeld-Wen, so it’s just a good situation for everyone.”Q: Is this the best opportunity you have had in your racing career?MARCOS AMBROSE: “Absolutely no doubt, I’m in the best position I’ve ever been in my racing career and I just really feel privileged to be here at this point. I feel a little under-cooked, coming in I’ve had a few races at the Sprint Cup level last year, to know what to expect. I haven’t driven a COT on many types of race tracks, short tracks and superspeedways — the big ones are the ones that really stand out in my mind.“I’m going to have to grow into the Sprint Cup level and I know I’m going to make mistakes, but I just really want to pay everybody back for the choices I’ve made that have put me in this ride. There’s a lot of people that have made choices to let me get this far in NASCAR and I just want to pay them back. I want to make them proud of the choices they’ve made and that’s what I’m focused on.“I’m not looking at top-10s, top-fives, wins or anything like that — that’s not important to me. What’s important is that I make the people that have made the choices getting here — I want to make them feel good. I want to make them feel good about the chance they’ve given me to start.”Q: How do you think you have earned the opportunities you have had in racing?MARCOS AMBROSE: “My whole career has been, ‘Why me?’ I feel like I’m no better than the guys I was racing go-karts with when I was 13. I just feel like someone’s looking out for me and I just try my very best — I commit to myself, I commit to everybody that helps me and I just try to be myself.“I think I’ve got a point of difference, I’m from Australia, which I thought was going to be a draw back when I first came here, but it may well prove to be a benefit. I’ve been well-accepted in NASCAR and I’ve just been able to survive. Kenny Schrader told me when I first came here, he said, ‘Marcos, if you just don’t cause trouble, you’ll hang around for a while.’ So I just try my very best not to cause trouble.“Sometimes it’s inevitable, but I just try to do the right thing as often as I can to everybody — to the fans, to the other drivers, to NASCAR, to my sponsors — I just try to do the right thing.”Q: What will it be like for you on the starting grid of the Daytona 500?MARCOS AMBROSE: “I just can’t wait. I’m so looking forward to it — just the anticipation of my first 500 start is something that I’ve aspired to for so long and I dream of and I just can’t wait for the day. It’s going to be a great day and that’s the best part of any race is that three minutes before they tell you to start the engines. You’re on the grid, the crowd’s there, you can hear them because you haven’t got your helmet on and just the anticipation of what’s about to start. I’m just looking forward to that chance to experience it.”Q: Are you where you want to be in racing?MARCOS AMBROSE: “I’m where I want to be. I’m in a great spot with my team and the sponsors and the help from Michael Waltrip Racing — it’s a dream chance, it’s a dream run I’ve had in NASCAR. I’ve been in NASCAR for three years and here I am talking to you as a Sprint Cup driver.“It’s a meteoric rise and I still ask myself every morning, ‘How did this happen?’ It’s like I’ve done this before in my career. I managed to make a career back in Australia and won a championship or two and still wonder how that happened. Here I am in NASCASR four years later and feel privileged to be here today with just a great opportunity.“I’ve got a chance to really cement myself. I said to Frankie Kerr, my crew chief, that this is either the beginning or the beginning of the end because there’s no way to hide at this level. When you get to Sprint Cup and you’re up against (Dale Earnhardt) Jr. and Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson and everyone, the whole field is just supremely talented and high quality teams.“There’s just nowhere to hide and I’m looking forward to that chance to really prove or disprove who I am as a NASCAR driver. Whichever way works out I’m cool with it too. If you get into the season and get toward the end there and don’t show the promise that’s needed, I’ll be the first to put my hand up and say, ‘I did the best I could.'”Q: How does NASCAR compare to other racing series you have competed in around the world?MARCOS AMBROSE: “NASCAR is so big and the sport is just so big that everything else just pales into insignificance — it really does. This is by far my biggest achievement — to be here today talking to you guys. It’s my biggest achievement in racing. Forget winning races and winning championships, I think just getting this far in a sport like NASCAR is massive.“I’ve come from a long way away — I’ve come from the other side of the world in a place called Tasmania, which wouldn’t even know what a stock car was five years ago and I’ve travelled a long way, I’ve committed a lot with my family and my friends and here we are.”
Former ABC motoring personality, car racer and driving instructor Peter Wherrett has died of cancer in Newcastle at the age of 72.
Wherrett became a national figure following the success of the ABC’s popular motoring program of the 1970s, Torque, for which he was the host and co-script writer in eight well-received series.
Wherrett’s very opinionated style hit the spot with Australian consumers. At the ABC there were no commercial considerations and this was perfect for his forceful black-and-white approach to car evaluations.Later he presented and co-wrote another ABC show – Marque, a history of the motor car. He was very much a natural as a TV performer.Wherrett’s interest in cars began as a teenager.He ran a successful driving school called Peter Wherrett Advanced Driving and was a tireless campaigner for better driving.He also worked as the technical editor for Racing Car News and wrote about motor sport for the Sydney Morning Herald . Later he filed for Wheels doing road and track tests on racing cars.This led to driving cars competitively, initially in single seaters and then in touring cars.Wherrett’s private life was even more colourful than the one the TV audience saw.In 1986, with his television career uncertain and his personal life in turmoil, Wherrett was twice caught driving under the influence of alcohol, severely impacting on his reputation a motoring expert and champion of road safety.He was married three times. Always honest, he also revealed his interesting penchant for cross dressing.Peter Wherrett is survived his son Steven Wherrett, daughter Jane Whitburn and six grandchildren – three by each of his children.The following is a transcript from the ABC’s GNT Program, broadcast 6.30pm on 27/09/2004
Peter Wherrett began his career as a journalist writing motor sport for the Sydney Morning Herald in 1958.In 1967 he set up Australia’s first post-licence driver training organisation.Peter drove at Bathurst in 1969 for Mazda, in 1970 for Ford and in 1974, ’75 and ’76 for Alfa Romeo.The Australian Broadcasting Corporation approached Ken in 1973 and the resulting program, ‘Torque’ ran for eight years as one of the most successful ABC series ever. ‘Torque’ eventually led to the production of the historical series, ‘Marque’ which was the only history of the car series ever produced for ‘free to air’ television in the world.GEORGE NEGUS: Once upon a time, he was host of the popular ABC motoring show ‘Torque’ back when a brand-new Porsche – would you believe – cost an outrageous $15,000. Peter Wherrett, good to see you.PETER WHERRETT: George, g’day.GEORGE NEGUS: Now, you’ve got to…you’ve got to fix up things for an old non-vehicular person like myself. What the hell does ‘torque’ mean?PETER WHERRETT: Oh…GEORGE NEGUS: I know it’s…PETER WHERRETT: It means literally a ‘twist’.GEORGE NEGUS: Right.PETER WHERRETT: And in fact, the word comes from a twist of metal which the Greeks used as decoration, really.GEORGE NEGUS: So what’s that got to do with…?PETER WHERRETT: Well, twist. The twisting action of the engine is actually the opposite of or an adjunct to the power of the engine.GEORGE NEGUS: I knew that all the time.PETER WHERRETT: I knew. I know.GEORGE NEGUS: I just thought I’d check.PETER WHERRETT: Of course I knew that you knew it.GEORGE NEGUS: Why do you think that program was so popular? Because it was.PETER WHERRETT: It was pretty new as a concept. And everybody was interested in motor cars. And probably still are. But then, particularly, because cars had not been ever on television. And also because I said some pretty outrageous things.GEORGE NEGUS: You did.PETER WHERRETT: People sat at home and said, “Yeah! Get it on!”GEORGE NEGUS: That’s true.PETER WHERRETT: Yeah. I did. I thought they were… I still believe what I said was accurate and truthful. But people hadn’t been brave enough to make the outrageous statements.GEORGE NEGUS: Can you recall anything that you particularly said that you had to live with?PETER WHERRETT: I recall one thing I said about a car which we’ll leave unnamed because I said at the end of the piece, “This car has got hazard warning lights and it’s just as well. I suggest you drive with them on all the time.”(George Negus laughs)(ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE FROM ‘TORQUE’)PETER WHERRETT IN ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: The first area of disadvantage for the Mini is its back-seat access.PETER WHERRETT IN STUDIO: The manufacturers didn’t like it.GEORGE NEGUS: I can imagine.PETER WHERRETT: No.GEORGE NEGUS: Were you blackballed?PETER WHERRETT: Yeah, yeah. The interesting thing was I said a lot of things which were derogatory. We were giving them a bit of a knock. But if they come up with something good, I’d also say, “This is a really good motor car.”GEORGE NEGUS: Have you always been interested in motor cars?PETER WHERRETT: My parents got their first car when I was 12.GEORGE NEGUS: Right.PETER WHERRETT: And I started to drive it – in private circumstances, of course.GEORGE NEGUS: ‘Cause they were curiosities?PETER WHERRETT: Yeah, it was curiosity. Um, not long after that, I was taken by my mum to my first motor race meeting. And that absolutely captivated me. I said then, “I have to do this one day.”GEORGE NEGUS: Really?PETER WHERRETT: It took me another eight years. But I made it into motor racing. And I made it into journalism before I… I was angry at news…Australian newspapers for not giving motor sport, my sport, reasonable coverage. So I wrote letters to all of them complaining and the news editor of the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ wrote and said, “Come and see me.” When I saw him, he said, “If you feel so strongly, do it.”GEORGE NEGUS: Good point.PETER WHERRETT: So I did. I started writing for the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’. And I’ve been writing ever since.GEORGE NEGUS: Yep. You were also involved in setting up advanced driving…the whole idea of advanced driving in this country.PETER WHERRETT: Yeah, in 1967, ’68, yeah, we started. Again, that came about coincidentally because some of my friends had said why don’t I run a course to teach people how to race cars. I did that, but I thought, “I can’t teach these people how to drive racing cars. They can’t even drive ordinary road cars.”(George Negus chuckles)PETER WHERRETT: I thought we needed to do something. So, yeah. We set that up and starved to death for three years. But eventually, we…it started to catch on.(ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE OF PETER WHERRETT HOLDING CRASH HELMET, SPEAKING TO MAN)PETER WHERRETT ON ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: Professor, this rather dreadful-looking crash helmet? What’s all that about?PROFESSOR SID LOVIBOND: This is a means of controlling the visual cues the driver’s getting. When it’s in operation, it’s actually closed for half a second and open for half a second and closed for half a second, open for half a second.(FOOTAGE OF OLD VALIANT CAREENING AROUND OPEN RACE TRACK)GEORGE NEGUS: Exactly what was that all about?PETER WHERRETT: That was Professor Sid Lovibond who…from the Department of Applied Psychology at the University of NSW who was a motoring enthusiast himself and with whom I had some conversation about what is it, is it visual cues or physical cues that tell you your car is getting out of control.PROFESSOR LOVIBOND ON ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: The idea is we can shift the seat sideways like that.(BUCKET SEAT SLIDES SIDEWAYS, IN TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR)PROFESSOR LOVIBOND: When the driver is taking the corner.PETER WHERRETT IN STUDIO: The trick was to decide when you reacted to what was going on with the car. It was a fabulous experiment.GEORGE NEGUS: It’s very precise and very technical.PETER WHERRETT: Yeah. And it was very, very enlightening.GEORGE NEGUS: Yeah. Would you be tougher than our existing road rules are about all sorts of things, speed, alcohol, age limits…PETER WHERRETT: No, I don’t think I’d be… Oh, age limits…GEORGE NEGUS: ..midlife crises and, retesting?PETER WHERRETT: Yeah, oh, retesting, I would be.GEORGE NEGUS: Would you?PETER WHERRETT: Yeah. It’s crazy that we get a licence at 16 or 17 and nobody wants to see you again until you’re in your 70s or whatever it is.GEORGE NEGUS: Can you lay to rest the urban legend or the urban myth about women drivers?PETER WHERRETT: Mm-hm.GEORGE NEGUS: Toss away the old cliche.PETER WHERRETT: Mmm. OK.GEORGE NEGUS: Are they better or worse?PETER WHERRETT: Yes, they’re better. And demonstrably so. I mean, the number of accidents, collisions and deaths involved with women are much less than they are with men. But I need to make a qualification to that. Um, women are better, provided that they don’t…they avoid crises, uh, that they don’t get themselves into troublesome situations. In a troublesome situation, women do not respond quite as effectively as men do. But women are better drivers than men. And given I have an opportunity to drive with people I don’t know and don’t know how they drive, I’ll take the female driver as my driver any time.GEORGE NEGUS: Absolutely interesting.PETER WHERRETT: Especially cab drivers.GEORGE NEGUS: Really? Women cab drivers.PETER WHERRETT: Oh, they’re great.GEORGE NEGUS: We don’t have that many.PETER WHERRETT: No. If you could ring up and say, “Please send me a woman cab driver,” that’s who I’ll have.
New York’s annual auto show is now 109 years old, so it has seen tough times before. But the local auto dealers do this show, so naturally there was a different tone than at the major shows supported mainly by automakers.
So some might argue the Big Apple’s show was a bit sombre, and certainly not as crowded on press days as in the past, but there was still glitz. It is, after all, New York City.
Arguably the most important launch, from an international standpoint, was Subaru’s Legacy, which looks like a nice, logical step from the last version. Mitsubishi showed the Outlander GT concept and said it is about what the production version will look like, minus the Brembo brakes and big wheels.
The sport utility craze may be on the wane in the U.S., though lower gas prices are slowing its demise, and New York showed that automakers are not about to give up on SUVs.Acura ZDX is this division of Honda’s apparent interpretation of BMW’s X6. Designed completely in the U.S., the ZDX is based on the company’s MDX sport utility… good looking but lacking some of that utility. This vehicle will go into production this fall with little change from what you see here, probably powered by a 3.7-litre, 224-plus-kW V6.And BMW showed the next step in the X6’s development, the M version. It still has the twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8, but with added boost and more tuning, horsepower goes to 408 and torque to 678Nm, while 0-100km/h drops to 4.5 seconds. Naturally all the other elements get firmed up, and they’ve added a launch control for BMW drag racers.Still in the big dog category, GMC launched its version of the Chevrolet Equinox, the Terrain. Looking like a light-footed Hummer, the squarish Terrain is a 5-passenger that may look rather rugged, but its base engine is a 136kW direct-injection 2.4-litre four. This should quiet GM’s critics, but one suspects the big seller will be the version with the 197kW, 3.0-litre V6.While the Jeep Cherokee may look rather like its predecessor, under the skin it’s quite different… and quite Mercedes. Still relying on their old partnership, the Cherokee is based on the platform of Mercedes’ ML sport utility, and so makes the move to independent rear suspension. Engines are from Chrysler, either a 3.6-litre V6 or, as you would expect, a Hemi V8.Land Rover showed updated versions of the Range Rover and the LR4. Other than grilles and taillights you’d be hard-pressed to spot what’s different, though the interiors are upgraded.Mercedes made a move to improve the gas-respectability of its ML with the ML450 Hybrid. This matches an Atkinson-cycle V6 with a pair of electric motors and 4Matic all-wheel drive for a total of 250kW and 517Nm with claimed fuel economy of 11.2L/100km city and 9.8L/100km highway.Mercedes also showed the 386kW, 630Nm E63 AMG with 0-100km/h performance of 4.4 seconds. While at the other end of the automotive scale, Ford was drawing big crowds to its Family One concept, a family-friendly version of the Transit Connect that has everything from in-vehicle entertainment to washable seat covers to, now get this outdoor fans, dispensers for soap and sunscreen. For what it’s worth, the Ford was drawing many more fans than the E63…Nissan displayed its 261kW Nismo version of the 370Z, which cuts 0-100km/h time to 4.5 seconds, along with the roadster version of the sports car.Ah, but of all the vehicles unveiled at New York, which would I most like to drive? Okay, it only has 69kW, but the Scion version of Toyota’s IQ, finished off with a wide body kit and green that would burn your eyes in the bright sun, looks like a hoot.
Nissan has taken another chunk out of its Nurburgring lap record with the 2010 GT-R R35.
Five horses, a fiddled transmission and suspension, a bigger fuel tank, and new tyres on V-Spec rims are apparently all the Series II GT-R and test driver Toshio Suzuki needed to subtract a further 1.5secs off its already stonking 7:29 run last year.
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 still heads up the R-35 with a 7:26.4, and the Dodge Viper ACR tops the table at 7:22.1 (see below). They are trying again today – stay tuned…NURBURGRING PRODUCTION CAR LAP TIMES7:22.1 2009 Dodge Viper ACR 7:24.3 Maserati MC12 7:24.7 Pagani Zonda F Clubsport 7:25.3 Ferrari Enzo 7:26.4 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 7:27.5 2010 Nissan GT-R R35 7:27.8 Pagani Zonda F Clubsport 7.27.8 Porsche Carrerra GT 7.29 2009 Nissan GT-R R35 7:32 2008 Porsche 911 GT2
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Nissan GT-R Snares New Nurburgring Record
The all-conquering Nissan GT-R supercar has set another lap record at the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany.A Japanese specification GT-R, running on Dunlop tyres with RAYS forged alloy wheels (V-spec equipment) recorded a blistering 7min 27.56 secs yesterday.Driven by Nissan’s Chief test driver Toshio Suzuki (who recently demonstrated the GT-R to the Australian media in Sydney at Eastern Creek Raceway) piloted the performance coupe.Although dry, the track surface grip was impaired by dust and sand. Under the direction of Nissan GT-R Chief Vehicle Engineer, Kazutoshi Mizuno, and depending on conditions, the Nissan test team will attempt another record at the ‘Ring tomorrow.
Did anyone say Forester STi?
This is not exactly Mitsubishi’s SUV rebuff to the turbo hoon-wagon, but what little we can see looks promising.Lowered on big Oz wheels, painted in premium metallic white and with an Evo grin, the GT Prototype is essentially a glitter pack. However, the more interesting clue is the front face, which has also been spotted on the Colt hatch. Perhaps the grille will simply adorn the modified models – perhaps it’s the future corporate grille, a-la Audi.The reveal happens later today our time, stay tuned…OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: Mitsubishi Motors Provides a Sneak Peek of Outlander GT PrototypeThe centerpiece of Mitsubishi Motors’ stand at the New York Auto Show will be the Outlander GT Prototype. Building on the success of the current Outlander, this sporty compact CUV will make its World debut on April 9.Dressed in a premium Diamond white hue, the Outlander GT Prototype showcases a host of new technologies, such as Idle Neutral Logic that automatically shifts the transmission into neutral during vehicle standstill, improved performance and fuel economy from its more powerful 3.0-liter SOHC MIVEC V6 engine, and a Super-All-Wheel-Control System offering superior handling and control. Additionally, there is a number of exciting design elements that help distinguish the Outlander GT Prototype, including Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution’s signature “Jet Fighter” grille.Full details on the Outlander GT Prototype will be announced at 9:40 a.m. on April 9 at the Mitsubishi Motors press conference.About Mitsubishi Motors North America: Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for all manufacturing, finance, sales, marketing, research and development operations for Mitsubishi Motors in the United States. MMNA sells coupes, convertibles, sedans, sport utility vehicles, and light trucks through a network of approximately 430 dealers. For more information, contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at (888) 560-6672 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.
Nissan’s official entry into the FIA Championship is finally up to speed.
The GT1-spec R35, seen here testing in France, the Nissan/Nismo/Gigawave collaboration sees the twin-turbo six replaced with a naturally breathing, high-revving 5.6L V8 developing 448kW and 650Nm through the rear wheels only.Race mods include a carbon triple plate clutch, short-throw six-speed manual shifter, six-piston calipers all round, carbon ceramic discs and smaller 18-inch forged wheels.The GT-R will run four races this year, before a full-on program in 2010. It debuts at Silverstone on May 3.
The current global financial crisis has claimed German coachbuilders Karmann.
Known mostly for its collaborations with VW through the 1950s to mid-70s, producing the gorgeous Beetle-based Ghia, the company was more recently serving contracts to build cars and in particular roof parts for Audi, Daimler AG, BMW and Mini, Dutch supercar company Spyker, and the US version of our Commodore, the Pontiac G6.The decline in demand is responsible, with the small independent company unable to afford its operations and pay its 4500 workers, including 1340 recently retrenched staff, after contracts were suddenly cancelled.“Audi and Daimler are our biggest customers, and unit numbers for convertibles we produce for them have been cut drastically,” Christian Eick, a spokesman at Karmann, told Bloomberg.Wilhelm Karmann GmbH was first established in 1901. The bankruptcy filing should hopefully see the remaining jobs and contracts seen through the GFC.The bankruptcy filing also includes the Automotive Global Service GmbH, Karmann-Engineering-Services GmbH, Karmann-Rheine GmbH & Co. KG and Karmann Rheine-Verwaltungs GmbH divisions.Meanwhile, Karmann competitor Valmet Automotive, which produces Porsche bodies, has been forced to suspend operations for a month from May. And Audi, who had Karmann build the convertible roof for its A4, is rumoured to be investigating the replacement of the A4 cabrio model with an in-house production A5 convertible.
Japan has long been one of the major stops on the Italian exoticar circuit, home to many serious collectors who covet Ferraris, Maseratis and who have also established a strong interest in Alfa’s heat stopping 8C Competizione.
Of the 500 8C coupes, Japan got 67 official cars, but the order book was heavily over subscribed from day one.With the 8C Spider, again the production run will be just 500 cars but Fiat chief Luca di Montezemolo has let it be known that Japan will be the second biggest market after Italy and about 70 Spiders are believed to be heading to Japan.Many of the 8C Spiders were already pre-sold even before the spec and price were announced, says an Alfa Japan official, even in the current economic climate.What’s more, it’s said some 8C coupe owners (who each put down the equivalent of $313,443) have also ordered the $367,696 Spider as well so as to ‘have the complete set’.Bella!
Only last year, Mercedes-Benz Australia managed a neat marketing coup when it secured Mount Panorama, Bathurst, for several days of track driving for its AMG customers, and some lucky motoring media.
Having scaled the mountain, MBA then took on an even greater task…to convince the army of egos and bureaucrats responsible for putting on the Australian Formula One Grand Prix to lease out the circuit for a large slab of the Wednesday before the race and to let loose 75 current or prospective punters (plus some journos to get a taste test of the Mercedes AMG customers’ experience) on the sacred macadam.This had never been achieved previously in the history of F1, but after months of wrangling, MBA got the green light.So, four days in advance of a world championship race, it was a coup of considerable achievement to get the track for the exclusive use under closed conditions between 6.30am and 1.00pm, under the control of CAMS and the FIA.It’s anyone’s guess how much MBA had to pay for the unique privilege, and how much it cost to assemble dozens of clients past and future, 24 AMG sports models (plus six Mercs with AMG packages) plus driving instructors to ride shotgun with in each. Mercedes was understandably coy about putting a figure on the exercise but the roughest of guesses would put it as many hundreds of thousands of precious dollars.While many other brands are taking a very conservative approach in these dark, unpredictable months, Mercedes-Benz is boldly keeping excitement in its shop window.There is no doubt that Merc is of the firm opinion that, even when the market is soft, you must continue sow to harvest…At the recent Geneva Motor Show, Dr Dieter Zetsche, head of Daimler AG, said that two core elements to Mercedes-Benz will never be compromised, not even during the global financial crisis. One is the ongoing extensive research and development work, and the other is Mercedes-Benz’s family of customers. “Our commitment in Australia is no different,” said MBA spokesman Peter Fadeyev, “and being able to offer our customers such a special and memorable experience such as our Albert Park AMG Challenge event is critical to our business and brand”.Mercedes-Benz Australia managing director Horst von Sanden makes a very good point too: “If you offer what everyone else offers, it’s not that important.”The toys provided were 24 Mercedes-AMG sports cars, three C320 CDI turbo diesel sedans fitted with AMG Sports Packages, and three SLK350 roadsters fitted with AMG Sports Packages.The serious V8 AMG-tweaked models for the sampling of those present included sedan and estate versions of the C63, the CLK63 cabrio, CLS63, S63, SKL55 (with the ‘old’ V8, and a car that we didn’t get to try at Mount Panorama, the SL63.The combined value of the 30 Mercedes-Benz cars on the circuit for the event was $6.44 million (excluding dealer delivery and statutory charges).In the look-but-don’t-touch department were a range-leading $680,000 bi-turbo V12 SL65 AMG Black Series car (493kW and 1000Nm) with a ‘sold’ sticker, and a CLK63 AMG Black Series demonstrator.The 75 customers registered their intention to attend the track day and were selected according to a legal ballot (illustrating the complexity of organising such events and playing fair, MBA obtained permits from all of the relevant states to run the ballot and then drew the names under the supervision of an approved scrutineer).Under leaden skies that produced some showers mid stint, your rep from wheelsmag.com.au cycled through five different models – four AMG rockets and the SLK350 Sport.The deal is three laps per driver, and don’t scare the guy riding shotgun. Most of the instructors are race drivers – blokes like Luke Youlden, Ian Dyk, and Tim Slade – so they don’t need journos uncorking their skill and daring in $300,000 belters.As far as I could tell, only one Merc AMG ended up in Albert Park’s ever-ready sand traps. The damage was confined to a red face. We can say that the culprit wasn’t from Wheels, but it would not be fair to name and shame here. What goes on the tour of Albert Park stays on tour…These potent AMG blasters are quick – it was easy to see 200 in the long and mainly straight bits – but they stop brilliantly and consistently (though the rotors in some of the cars had obviously copped a caning earlier), and they are so stable and grippy in the corners, even with an occasional rain shower enlivening the mix.The sensible concession to the greasy track conditions and the value of the cars was to leave the stability control engaged.Yes, we are fortunate to have such a unique experience. And, no, you can’t have my job.The AMG brutes have been stoically withstanding the recession better than most high-priced luxury models – last year 24,200 were sold worldwide, a record year. Of those, 700 were delivered in Oz. The AMG line is sure to receive a boost later in the year when the AMG versions of the new E Class hits this marketHow many sales did Mercedes-Benz seal from the lavish and rare track day at Albert Park?. The truth is that no one really knows. Some punters have expressed keenness while others are double-checking with accountants and bank managers.The track day brought indubitable benefits for the brand, but precisely quantifying those paybacks in sales is impossible.And while, McLaren-Mercedes had a tough racing weekend at Albert Park culminating in the shame of Lewis Hamilton ‘s third place being scrubbed because of misleading evidence to stewards, let’s not forget that the Brawn cars that took a marvellous Australian Grand Prix quinella were in fact powered by Mercedes V8s.Where to have the next AMG drive day? Nordscheife? How about Monaco?
