Astra SRi T AH and Diesel AH For Bathurst.

[Shaun]

Paul Morris Motorsport have annonced that they will run a Astra SRi T and Astra Diesel in this years 12 hour race @ Bathurst. SRi T AH has been entered under the "Hot Hatch " class and the Diesel is entered under the Alternate class.

Im thinking i might head up for the day to watch this race.

Shaun

[KID_SRi]

It should be good.
I want Super Tourers racing again. I miss watching the Vectra chasing the Audis' & BMW's. I remember Brocky raced the Vectra @ Bathurst in the BOC 1000 for Super Tourers, It was Great.

[Mr T]

I'd be keen on watching that...

[Shaun]

I'd be keen on watching that...

I might be keen to head up for the day. Interested Glenn?

[Mr T]

Hmmm...Keep me posted...!!!

[Apex]

Sounds like a cool event.
Are the vehicles standard specifications?
If you guys do go please get some pictures.:)

[MatsHolden]

Yeh Holden Motorsport have got Paul Morris Motorsport to build them. Like they did the GRM and the Monaro '427' for the Bathurst 24 Hour. Really interested to see how they go!

[bill142]

I still want to see an Astra WRC.

[digifish]

Performance Diesels tend to be a bit black and smokey (overfuelling and all that)...could be a step-backward marketing wise given the attention given to low smoke levels on the road cars.

digifish

[Shaun]

Performance Diesels tend to be a bit black and smokey (overfuelling and all that)...could be a step-backward marketing wise given the attention given to low smoke levels on the road cars.

digifish

Its a Production car race. Very little changes are allowed. i would say its more of a marketing thing to show how good on fuel they really are . and to get the car know to more. Same as the SRi T. If the win there class out right then its a very good marketing tool.

[digifish]

Its a Production car race.

Missed that :)

Will this be shown on TV? Hope so.

The diesel should pull up Mt Panorama very well...

digifish

[digifish]

Missed that :)

Will this be shown on TV? Hope so.



...coverage looks a bit sad, but better than nothing -
Television coverage for the 12 hour race is as follows:

A minimum 2 hour free to air special on the NINE Network, post produced and replayed within 2 weeks of the event.

A 2 hour special to be replayed on FOX SPORTS.

International distribution to New Zealand and Motors TV covering over 25 countries and 80 territories including all across Europe, South East Asia and Japan.

2 Hour DVD special on the 12 Hour available for public purchase

[Shaun]

Maybe an Opelaus NSW cruise to Bathurst to watch will be happening too for all thoses in NSW that are interested. Will inform members soon on the NSW forum.

[JasonGilholme]

The coverage looks a bit average doesn't it.

I wish there was more of it on TV.

[Shaun]

Typical when its not a Main stream event.

[dieselhead]

it looks like there's not much chance to see the Astra deezl on tv... could you guys recommend a good place to stay during the race? i want to see this so much that i would just go there! my transport is cheap as chips :)

[Alix]

it looks like there's not much chance to see the Astra deezl on tv... could you guys recommend a good place to stay during the race? i want to see this so much that i would just go there! my transport is cheap as chips :)

www.bimf.com.au

Campsites are $50 for the weekend. I've not been to Bathurst before (ex-WA boy here), so I have no idea how good they are, but as a fellow diesel owner I have been watching this thread with interest.

$50 campsite + $80 3-day grandstand pass + a couple of hundred in "incidentals" = one cheap long weekend.

Not sure I can convince the wife though - either to let me, or to join me.

[Shaun]

Anyone interested in heading up on the Easter Sunday to watch the race?

[KID_SRi]

Its a Production car race. Very little changes are allowed. i would say its more of a marketing thing to show how good on fuel they really are . and to get the car know to more. Same as the SRi T. If the win there class out right then its a very good marketing tool.

The Cars would prepared the same as Cameron McConville's SRi Turbo in 2003 for the Duttons Rally Series & Targa Tasmania
Slight Suspension Mods.
Semi Slick Tyres
Harness and 6 Point Cage,Etc.

McConville's SRi was Stock except for the above Mods.

[Alix]

Anyone interested in heading up on the Easter Sunday to watch the race?

Not going to happen for me, I'm afraid. I've just got home from a business trip - better spend some time with the family.

[digifish]

http://www.holdenmotorsport.com/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=66336

Update...

Astras Hit Track At Bathurst 12 Hour - Day 1
Friday, 6 April 2007
http://www.holdenmotorsport.com/site/_content/image/00116199-image.jpg

Holden’s Bathurst 12 Hour campaign has had a trouble-free beginning at Mount Panorama today.
With two 50 minute practice sessions, the main objective of today’s on-track activity was to give all four drivers in both of the Astra teams enough laps to become comfortable on the daunting circuit.
Nathan Pretty and Jason Richards occupied the seat of the SRi Turbo Coupe in the first session, while Leanne Tander and Bathurst rookie Christina Orr drove the Bendon Lingerie Astra CDTi Diesel Hatch – the boys recording the 13th best time in the session and second best in Class C, while the girls led Class G whilst also being 24th quickest overall.
In session two, Shane Price and Jack Perkins took over the Coupe, while Samantha Reid and Lauren Gray became accustomed to the Diesel Hatch, Perkins and Price 14th quickest and third in class, while Reid and Gray set the second class and 26th overall best time.
“Today’s all been about everyone getting some laps in and becoming accustomed to the cars and the track,” team manager Nigel Barclay said.
“It’s been a good day; the cars have performed flawlessly and each and every one of the drivers has done what was asked and required. It sets the scene for a good weekend.”
Practice continues tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 7.40am with qualifying later in the day. The Bathurst 12 Hour race begins Sunday morning at 5.45am.
CHECK OUT OUR ASTRA BATHURST 12 HOUR GALLERY HERE (http://www.holdenmotorsport.com/default.aspx?s=photogallerydisplay&galleryid=11145)

[digifish]

Bathurst 12 Hour Audio Grabs
Saturday, 7 April 2007
Get the latest Holden driver comments from Mount Panorama and the Bathurst 12 Hour.
Saturday afternoon - post qualifying: Leanne Tander and Nathan Pretty
Australia's leading female driver Leanne Tander talks about how well her class leading Bendon Lingerie Holden Astra CDTi Diesel Hatch has performed during qualifying for the Bathurst 12 Hour at Mount Panorama.
LEANNE TANDER - POST QUALIFYING (http://admin.holdenmotorsport.com/site/_content/audio/00008278-source.mp3)
Bathurst specialist Nathan Pretty has qualified the Hog's Breath Cafe/PWR Performance Products Holden Astra SRi Turbo Coupe third in class for tomorrow's Bathurst 12 Hour. He talks about the team's progress at Mount Panorama to date.
NATHAN PRETTY - POST QUALIFYING (http://admin.holdenmotorsport.com/site/_content/audio/00008279-source.mp3)
Saturday morning: Christina Orr and Jason Richards
New Zealand’s leading female driver, Christina Orr gives her impressions of her first visit to the famous Bathurst circuit and her chances in tomorrow’s race. She is teamed with three of Australia’s leading female drivers – Leanne Tander, Lauren Gray and Samantha Reid – in a pink Astra CDTi Diesel hatch backed by Bendon Lingerie.
CHRISTINA ORR (http://www.holdenmotorsport.com/site/_content/Audio/00008276-source.mp3)
Leading Holden V8 Supercar driver Jason Richards gives his impression of the smart, 2 litre, four cylinder Astra SRi Turbo Coupe that he will share with fellow V8 racers Shane Price and Jack Perkins and Bathurst specialist Nathan Pretty, and how different the Astra is to the powerful V8 Supercar.
JASON RICHARDS (http://admin.holdenmotorsport.com/site/_content/audio/00008277-source.mp3)

[digifish]

WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro Top 10 Qualifying

1. P. Morris-C. Baird-G. Holt (BMW 335i) 2:32.134
2. R. Bates-B. Hughes-P. Gazzard (Mitsubishi EVO) 2:32.316
3. C. Pither-B. Lynton-B. Morcom (BMW 335i) 2:32.854
4. N. Crompton-G. Denyer-C. Alajajian (Subaru WRX sti) 2:34.326
5. M. King-M. Brame-B. Pearson-J.Walsh (Mitsubishi EVO) 2:34.661
6. T. Sipp-C. D'Agostin-S. Nicholas (Subaru WRX sti) 2:35.033
7. C. Atkinson-D. Heridge-C. Crocker (Subaru WRX sti) 2:35.959
8. B. Pearson-A. Metchler-B. Stewart (Mitsubishi EVO) 2:37.876
9. L. Searle-P. Kelly (BMW 130i) 2:38.414
10. G. Walden-B. Walden-M. Auld (Commodore SS) 2:38.778

Final Entry List WPS 12 Hour Showroom Enduro

Class 1 – Penrite Rear Wheel Drive Performance Cars
Car - Sponsor – Drivers
# 2 Ford TE 50 – Kitome Pty Ltd - Dean Neville/Brad Lowe/Ben Nielson/Darrell Dixon
#12 Ford Typhoon - Robinson Racing Developments – Michael Trimble/David Ryan/Andrew Fawcett/Michael Craig
#17 BMW 335i - Rondo - Barry Morcom/Beric Lynton/Chris Pither
#20 BMW 335i – Eastern Creek Karts - Gary Holt/Paul Morris/Craig Baird

Class 2 – Sonax All Wheel Drive Performance Cars
Car - Sponsor – Drivers
#7 Subaru WRX-Sti - Subaru Australia – Grant Denyer/Neil Crompton/Chris Alajajian
#15 Mitsubishi EVO8 - Scott's Transport - Bob Hughes Special Vehicle - Bob Hughes/Rick Bates/Peter Gazzard
#25 Subaru WRX-Sti - WBR-Wilson Brothers Racing- Tim Sipp/Christian D'Gostin/Scott Nicholas
#33 Mitsubishi EVO8 - Pro-Duct Motorsport Pty Ltd - Bob Pearson/Anton Metchler/Bruce Stewart
#38 Mitsubishi EVO8 - Pro-Duct Motorsport Pty Ltd – Bob Pearson/Mark King/Mark Brame/Jason Walsh
#91 Subaru WRX Sti - Gary Dean Constructions/ Truffle Group Catering - Gary Deane/Rob Rubis
#98 Subaru WRX Sti - Subaru Australia - Chris Atkinson/Dean Herridge/Cody Crocker

Class 3 - APCC Hot Hatches
Car - Sponsor – Drivers
#3 BMW 130i – S.A.E College - Luke Searle/Peter Kelly
#4 Holden Astra Turbo – Nathan Pretty/Jason Richards/Shane Price/Jack Perkins
#9 BMW 130i – Australian Motor Finance – Andrew Moffat/David Russell/Shaun Juniper
#10 BMW 130i – Bended Elbow – Dean Grant/Mark Cini/Mark Eddy
#27 Mazda 3 MPS – Thrifty Car Rental - Allan Shephard/Steve Briffa/Martin Bailey

Class 4 - APCC Production Sports and Touring Sedans
Car - Sponsor – Drivers
#21 Ford XR8 – Century 21 Hazelbrook - Chris Delfsma/Jack Elsegood/John Bowe
#24 Holden SS - Wilsons Solicitors and Accountants Penrith/ Syd-Fab - Brian Walden/Garth Walden/Michael Auld
#66 Ford Falcon BF XR6 Turbo - Lakeside Motorsport Park - Denis Cribbin/Roland Hill/Paul Jenkins
Callaghan
#94 Ford XR6 Turbo - Aporscheapart - Richard Howe/Denis O'Keefe/Paul Faulkner/Don Tryhorn
#99 Ford Falcon BF XR6 Turbo - Team Queensland Racing - Alan Letcher/David Turner/Nathan Callaghan

Class 5- APCC Production Hatch and Sedans
Car - Sponsor – Drivers
#13 Toyota Celica – Osborne Motorsport – Colin Osborne/Neal Bates/John Roecken
#14 Honda Integra R – Hankook Tyres/DBA - Peter Conroy/Terry Conroy/Bob Hadley
#31 Toyota Celica – Osborne Motorsport – Carl Schembri/Leigh Mertens/David Mertens
#40 BMW 323i - Dayco/Wefil Cooper/Nippon/Max/On Track Motorsport - Shane Smollen/Phil Alexander/Paul Stubber/Gary Mennell
#50 Mini Cooper S – Mid-West Multimedia - Trevor Keene/Andrew Bretherton/Tim Slade
#72 Toyota Celica – Thrifty Car Rental – Helen Stig/ Amber Anderson/Danielle Argiro/Len Cave
#77 Honda Integra R – V8Racing.com - Richard Mork/Richard Prince/Peter Vicary/Martin Rambow

Class 6 - APCC Production Micro Sports and Coupes
Car - Sponsor – Drivers
#11 BMW 120 - Sherrin Motorsport – Iain Sherrin/Grant Sherrin/Stuart Jones/Jim Wallace
#88 Subaru Impreza RS - Jim Hunter’s Suspension - Jim Hunter/Warren Bossie/Jayson Williamson/Mathew Windsor

Class 7 - Eco Diesel Over 3.5 Litre
Car - Sponsor – Drivers
#76 Alfa Romeo - Thomson Alfa Romeo- David Stone/Keene Booker/Rocco Rinaldo

Class 8 - Eco Diesel 3.5 Litres and Under
Car - Sponsor – Drivers
#6 Holden Astra CDTi Turbo - Bendon – Samantha Reid/Christina Orr/Leanne Tander/Lauren Gray

[digifish]

Hour One update
There was drama from the outset of the WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro when pole-sitter Paul Morris’ BMW 335i was held in pit lane and forced to make quick adjustments to remedy a massive fuel leak.

But it didn’t take long for him to recover into 6th after the completion of five laps and his hard charging ways sees the regular V8 Supercar driver well within the mix.

The Honda Integra driven by Peter Conroy was the first to pit on the second lap with loose suspension issues.

Early race leader Chris Pither became a casualty when forced to pit after 12 laps with major brake issues.

With some handy work in the pits he was soon back on track and currently sits in 22nd.

A damaged right front wheel curtailed the progress of the Toyota Celica being campaigned by one of the all girl teams, as Amber Anderson was forced to limp around for an entire lap of the 6.21 kilometre Mt Panorama circuit.

It was a similar fate for the Holden Astra when Nathan Pretty was forced to pit with a flat right tyre.

Rick Bates is showing the consistency that saw him start from the front row of the grid after the completion of 22 laps.

In second position is Mark King in a Mitsubishi Lancer, third is Neil Crompton in a Subaru WRX Sti, fourth is Subaru team mate Chris Atkinson while Morris completes the top five.

[digifish]

Hour Two update

Paul Morris in a BMW 335i has fought back from a pit lane start to be leading the WPS 12-Hour Showroom enduro after the completion of 50 laps.

There’s been some jostling for the top post with Chris Atkinson and Grant Denyer both temporarily holding down first position in their Subaru WRX Sti vehicles.

Denyer is currently second, with Christian D’Agostin powering to third in his Subaru, Atkinson fourth and Bob Hughes replacing Rick Bates and holding down fifth in the Mitsubishi Lancer.

On lap 30, Gary Dean and then race leader Mark King tried to push their fuel window too far and were left stranded on track, bringing out the safety car for the first time.

A procession of vehicles pitted and a series of driver changes were also instigated.

When racing resumed on lap 33 it was Grant Denyer taking the wheel from Neil Crompton in the Subaru WRX Sti and heading the field, Morris second in the BMW 335i and Christian D’Agostin slotting into third in another Subaru.

By lap 35 Morris had taken the lead, after turning in his quickest effort across the 6.21 kilometre Mt Panorama circuit.

Chris Pither appears to have overcome earlier braking problems in BMW 335i and has moved up inside the top 10.

[digifish]

Hour three update

Subaru drivers currently hold down the top three places in the WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro at Bathurst’s Mt Panorama circuit.

Dean Herridge has taken over driving duties from Australian World Rally campaigner Chris Atkinson and they currently lead the race in the Subaru WRX Sti.

Second is Tim Sipp after taking over from Christian D’Agostin, while in third place Chris Alajajian is charging forward after slotting in for Grant Denyer

Only the top three entries are on the lead lap after three hours of racing action with Bruce Stewart in a Mitsubishi EVO a lap down but now up to fourth position.

Following a massive opening 63-lap driving stint by Paul Morris he has handed over the BMW 335i to team mate Craig Baird. A further pit stop three laps later to adjust the fuel, oil and ABS settings sees the New Zealand driver in 5th.

No doubt they’re confident of pegging back the leaders with Baird only just recording the quickest lap time for the team on lap 73.

[digifish]

Live times...
http://www.bimf.com.au/live_results.asp

OR

http://www.bimf.com.au/home.asp?navstr=29&Pagecat=29

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http://www.holdenmotorsport.com/site/_content/photogalleryitem/00100355-Photo.jpg



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http://www.holdenmotorsport.com/site/_content/photogalleryitem/00100353-Photo.jpg



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http://www.holdenmotorsport.com/site/_content/photogalleryitem/00100351-Photo.jpg

[bones]

If you look at some of the fastest lap-times, the CDTi is quicker than the BMW 323i which is pretty damned amazing. The SRi-T is flogging a lot of more fancied cars too, including XR6-T, Mazda3 MPS and Integra Type-R. It's even a poofteenth faster than the XR8.

[digifish]

If you look at some of the fastest lap-times, the CDTi is quicker than the BMW 323i which is pretty damned amazing. The SRi-T is flogging a lot of more fancied cars too, including XR6-T, Mazda3 MPS and Integra Type-R. It's even a poofteenth faster than the XR8.

And I suspect if the guys were driving the CDTi it would be faster again.

Still, great to see the all girl team sticking it to the blokes below them :)

digifish

[digifish]

Hour four update

One third of the way through the WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro sees all the heavyweights affirming their positions towards the pointy end of the field

Craig Baird has been the hard-charger of the fourth hour as he set multiple quickest lap times to be in second position as the second safety car period was instigated on lap 90.

The Honda Integra driven by Richard Mork was the casualty on this instance left stranded at the WPS Chase.

With the introduction of the yellow flag that allowed Baird to close a 27 second break held by Tim Sipp in the Subaru WRX Sti and jump into second place when that team pitted.

The lead has been unchanged in the past hour with Chris Atkinson holding down top spot in the Subaru WRX Sti.

Neil Crompton is third after replacing Chris Alajajian in the other Subaru entry, Scott Nicholas is in for Sipp at four and Rick Bates in the Mistusbishi EVO is fifth.

Hour five update

World Rally star Chris Atkinson is showing he’s just as competent on bitumen as he continues to hold down top spot for the Subaru WRX Sti team in the WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro.

Upon the completion of 110 laps, Atkinson is ahead of fellow Subaru team drivers Neil Crompton and Scott Nicholas.

Despite a fuel stop that pushed him back to fourth, Craig Baird continued his impressive on track performances in the BMW 335i, setting another quickest lap for the event (lap 105).

Baird pitted for a driver change on lap 109 handing driving duties back to Paul Morris to take up the challenge.

Officially there has been just two teams retired. The Falcon XR6 Turbo of Cribbin/Hill and Jenkins plus the Subaru WRX Sti of Deane/Rubis.


Half-way mark - WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro

At the half-way mark Subaru continues to hold sway in the WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro as the trio of Chris Atkinson, Cody Crocker and Dean Herridge enjoy clear running on Bathurst’s 6.21 kilometre Mt Panorama circuit.

Craig Baird is currently in charge of the BMW 335i he's sharing with Paul Morris and Garry Holt, continuing his own charge and chipping away at the lead.

Crocker will need to stay on his game as the challenge continues to be mounted, while it’s Subaru further back in third with the teaming of Grant Denyer, Neil Crompton and Chris Alajajian completing the pace-setters on the lead lap.

Through their efforts Atkinson/Crocker/Herridge are also topping the sheets in the Sonax All-Wheel Drive Performance Class while Baird/Morris/Holt are doing likewise in the Penrite Rear Wheel Drive Performance Class.

There have been just three safety car periods deployed so far with the last one caused when the Toyota Celica all-girl team of Helen Stig, Amber Anderson and Danielle Argiro skidded into a sand trap.


Hour seven update

A fourth safety car period implemented late in the seventh hour of the WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro has caused a major slip-up in the ranks of the Subaru WRX Sti teams, which now sees the BMW 335i of Paul Morris take the lead.

After Samantha Reid, in the Holden Astra Diesel, found the sand in the WPS Chase it brought about a procession of pit stops.

:(


Unfortunately for Dean Herridge, who held a 40 second advantage on Morris, fellow Subaru team member Grant Denyer had taken to the pits already and he was forced to wait patiently for refueling.

Valuable time was lost and after Morris also pitted, he re-entered with the race lead and holding a solid 34-second advantage.

Even more troublesome for Herridge, his team now needs to make his way through the backmarkers, while Morris continues to set consistent pace around Bathurst’s Mt Panorama circuit.

Despite the hiccup, the Denyer/Crompton/Alajajian entry maintains third place overall.

[digifish]

Hour eight update

With 168 laps down in the WPS 12-Hour Enduro, a mechanical drama has left the all-girl Holden Astra team as the third casualty after suffering a blown turbo on Mountain Straight. :( :( :(

Predictably the fifth safety car period produced another log of activity in pit lane as Paul Morris handed control of the leading BMW 335i machine over to Garry Holt.

At that stage the Morris/Baird/Holt team held a commanding one minute advantage, but upon returning to the track still under safety car conditions the lead slowly wilted away to nothing.

Holt maintained an up-tempo approach as he consistently set times up to one second quicker than the chasing Subaru WRX Sti duo of Chris Atkinson and Neil Crompton.

Sole South Australian driver Peter Gazzard held down fourth in the Mitsubishi EVO with Tim Sipp in the Subaru WRX Sti further back in fifth.

With three quarters of the race now run, only Holt, Atkinson and Crompton remain on the lead lap.

[Shaun]

Hows the SRi T running though ?

[bones]

Check for yourself - http://www.bimf.com.au/live_results.asp
It was as high as 12th but it's currently running at 16th overall and 4th in class, behind three 130i's that cost twice as much [and look ugly as...]. Somehow there is also a Cooper S in front of it.

[digifish]

Hour nine update

Moving into the final quarter of the WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro, Subaru have reclaimed the race lead with another solid driving stint by World Rally ace Chris Atkinson.

Despite competing in just his first race at Bathurst’s famed Mt Panorama circuit, the Gold Coast campaigner looked more comfortable behind the wheel and pushed ahead of Gary Holt’s BMW 335i during the early stages of the ninth hour.

After one lap of battling with Holt, Atkinson had extended the lead out to more than 40 seconds by the 200-lap mark.

Further back there have been dramas for third placed Neil Crompton in the other Subaru WRX Sti entry who dropped back to sixth.

After initially suffering rear wheel bearing damage at turn two, the team pitted, refueled, did a pad change on the brakes and handed control over to Grant Denyer.

Unfortunately the wrong set of wheel nuts were placed on the car during the pit and was returned to pit lane to undertake repairs.

That’s allowed the Mitsubishi EVO of Bob Hughes to slot into third, Chris Pither in a BMW 335i is fourth and the BMW 130i driven by Shaun Juniper is fifth.

On lap 204, Bob Pearson brought out the sixth safety car after spinning and making contact with the wall past the Cutting, while placed fourth in his BMW 335i.

Hours 10/11 update

With just one hour remaining in the WPS 12-Hour Showroom Enduro, the lead has continued to see-saw with Craig Baird in the BMW 335i now holding top position by more than a minute.

In a remarkable battle that has been raging for the bulk of the feature race, Baird heads into the final showdown ahead of the Subaru WRX Sti being driven by Cody Crocker.

Both leading teams are likely to make one more pit stop for refueling and the result of that could very well decide the outcome.

It was during the more recent pit stop a little over an hour ago that the lead had been exchanged between the two.

While leading by more than 40 seconds, Chris Atkinson handed control of the Subaru to Crocker, while the team also instigated a refuel.

Baird pounced after taking control of the BMW Sti from Garry Holt a little earlier.

Within the blink of an eye and with just two hours and five minutes remaining in the race, a 40 second deficit was converted into almost a 20 second advantage to Baird.

The New Zealander set about creating a buffer and with a clear track he was able to show his many decades of experience to master the lead.

A further four laps back is Rick Bates in the Mitsubishi EVO.

The battle will go all the way to the chequered flag that will be waved at 5.45pm.

[MatsHolden]

I learnt something interesting today... The CDTi was very highly 'tuned', as they (Holden) didn't want the gap between the SRi-T and CDTi to be shown. It was a bitch the SRi-T got a puncture early in the piece.

[digifish]

I learnt something interesting today... The CDTi was very highly 'tuned'

What do you mean?

digifish

[MatsHolden]

What do you mean?

digifish

ECU etc. had been tweaked.. was putting out A LOT more than standard.

[dieselhead]

the petrol Astra was a VXR, not SRi-T.
where did you read about the CDTI beeing highly tuned? you say a lot, but how much would that be? :)

[MatsHolden]

the petrol Astra was a VXR, not SRi-T.
where did you read about the CDTI beeing highly tuned? you say a lot, but how much would that be? :)

Was told by the guy who fitted my springs today, works within Holden Motorsport. Didn't say how much, but said wasn't far off the SRi-T. Also it was an SRi-T, just listed as a VXR in the entry list for 'marketing' purposes.

[digifish]

ECU etc. had been tweaked.. was putting out A LOT more than standard.

That would be against the rules of the race, I doubt it was altered.

EDIT: I just checked the rules again...

It seems there is no restriction on mapping, my bad

digifish.

[MatsHolden]

Interesting the diesel blew a turbo. With the ECU being tweaked... 'tweak' idea possibly backfired. May be unrelated but it's interesting.

[Alix]

Interesting the diesel blew a turbo. With the ECU being tweaked... 'tweak' idea possibly backfired. May be unrelated but it's interesting.


They also hit the sand a bit before the turbo blowing which could have contributed too.

I doubt the full story will get released.

[Geebs]

Wow, the SRI-T beat the MPS 3. Very interesting!

[Shaun]

Wow, the SRI-T beat the MPS 3. Very interesting!

And suffered two broken drive shafts as well in the process. Proves that just because the MPS has more power dont mean its better

[MatsHolden]

Must also remember that four V8 Supercar drivers (current and former)were in the SRi-T. One of them being a specialist in the enduros... (Nathan Pretty).

[Shaun]

Must also remember that four V8 Supercar drivers (current and former)were in the SRi-T. One of them being a specialist in the enduros... (Nathan Pretty).

For a start they all admit its a totally different car to a V8 Supercar. For one its a FWD to start with.

Try going from a Car that purpose built for racing to an Every day street car with min changes.

The have different handling propertys. In a V8 Supercar you can make roll bar adjustment . In the SRi T you couldnt change anything whilst driving.

Thats whats good about Production car racing or a one make series. It actually means you have to be up on the pace and have to be able to drive.

[MatsHolden]

For a start they all admit its a totally different car to a V8 Supercar. For one its a FWD to start with.

Try going from a Car that purpose built for racing to an Every day street car with min changes.

The have different handling propertys. In a V8 Supercar you can make roll bar adjustment . In the SRi T you couldnt change anything whilst driving.

Missed my point chief. The best drivers in Australia end up in the V8 Supercar Championship... They are of a higher calibre than a lot of the drivers that made up the field. You or me could've had a drive for a team if we wanted to pay $6000 odd dollars...

[Apex]

Must also remember that four V8 Supercar drivers (current and former)were in the SRi-T. One of them being a specialist in the enduros... (Nathan Pretty).

Yea fair call about the SR-I drivers being V8 Super car drivers, plus the SR-I was a factory backed car i.e. big funding and access to lots of information. Judging by the ride height, camber, caster, and toe angles it had a few mods done in the suspension department! I would love to know the Tune the SR-I was running, I bet the boost was up there!

Still good to see it bet the Mazda...maybe the Mazda’s engine fell out:doh:

[Shaun]

Missed my point chief. The best drivers in Australia end up in the V8 Supercar Championship... They are of a higher calibre than a lot of the drivers that made up the field. You or me could've had a drive for a team if we wanted to pay $6000 odd dollars...

I didnt miss the point. those drivers maybe in the number one Motorsport Series in the country.

But they were driving a car with very little mods and it comes down to consistancy and tallent. The SRi T Broke two drive shafts during the course of the race. The BMW 1 Series beat the SRi T with some less known drivers that more then likely dont run in the V8 Supercars Championship ( with the exception of Paul Morris).

But yes the car preformed well

[Shaun]

Holden would have been out to prove two things

One being the CDTi fuel ecconomy.

Two The SRi T being a Allrounder in the preformance and handling aspect. In my mind they done it with finishing 4th in there class and 15th over all.