EC Lubes News

Double Podium for Mostert in Surfers

nathan.h@eclubes.com.au (Nathan Hanssens) — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 00:38:24 GMT

Chaz has made it two from two podiums on the streets of the Gold Coast

Chaz has made it two from two podiums on the streets of the Gold Coast courtesy of a second-place finish in Race 32.

On the other side of the garage there was heartbreak with Nick, out of the race on lap 1 after a massive pile up that took eight cars out instantly and blocked the track.

It was through no fault of his own, just wrong place wrong time, but that didn’t stop him and all other drivers involved helping each other in what was a scary situation. Thankfully everyone was okay.

For Chaz, following the race resuming, he went early in the stops looking for the undercut, and it worked.

After the second round of stops, Chaz had leapfrogged Davison and into second, and was able to fend off any challenge.

With 11 to go, a safety car came out and bunched the field up. Chaz just didn’t quite have the pace to fight for the win, but had enough to sit comfortably in second, capping off a fantastic weekend on that side of the garage.

Sunday wasn’t kind to Nick or that Car 2 side of the garage, but we’ve got one weekend to continue the improvement in the back half of the season, and send the year out on a high.

This weekend moved Chaz up to third in the Drivers Championship with one round remaining.

See you for the finale.

CHAZ MOSTERT

“Awesome weekend all round, team did an amazing job, everything went well, and I think we maximised what we had.

"Would have nice to be able to fight a little harder for the win but with two podiums from starting fourth, we will take it.

“Nice to move up into third in the Championship, just got to work hard to make sure we stay there in Adelaide!”

NICK PERCAT

“Not much to say about today, pretty disappointing for everyone involved and our team, just glad everyone walked away.

“Can’t wait to get to Adelaide, back home, and send the year off the right way.”

Podium and Huge Repairs

nathan.h@eclubes.com.au (Nathan Hanssens) — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 02:28:42 GMT

It was the highs and lows of motorsport in an hour window

RACE 22
Chaz – 2 ^nd
Nick - DNF

The race started chaotically, where Nick was caught up in a huge accident at the start where Randle, who started off second, stalled and was collected. Nick was pushed into the wall while trying to avoid, and that was over and out.

The crew had a big job ahead of them to get Nick back for the second race.

On the other side, Chaz got the perfect start, going from sixth to first by turn 1. From there, he led until his stop, but unfortunately, got over-cut by SVG who went long into the race.

His podium made it 2/2 races so far this weekend.

RACE 23
Chaz – 8 ^th
Nick – 9 ^th

First of all, the crew did an incredible job to get car 2 back out there, just in time. It was a huge effort.

As cars were on the grid, the heavens opened up and the wets went on.

Chaz was pushing on in the top six before contact with Davison gave him a 15-second penalty, which he served at the first stop.

He set the fastest lap of the race and was the one to watch, but was just too far back because of the penalty.

Nick was doing a great job in the circumstances, wheeling Car 2 into the Top 10.

He kept his nose clean all race in trying conditions, and showed good speed later in the race to move forward.

CHAZ MOSTERT

“Overall, pretty positive weekend. To get two podiums was a great result and one we will continue to build off.

“Last race was a little disappointing, I’m pretty dirty on myself for bumping into Will, sorry to him, because the car was good.

“To get inside the 10 after the penalty, you can’t complain with that I guess.

“We will get back and work through everything, and get ready for Sandown in a few weeks.”

NICK PERCAT

“First off, massive thank you to everyone at Walkinshaw Andretti United. They worked like crazy to get the Mobil 1 NTI Racing No. 2 back out there – they are superstars.

“Nice to fight back into the 10 today in the wet, the car was really good, we got caught up in a few battles that probably cost us being further up but that’s racing.

“Hopefully Tom and Andre are all good, that was a pretty scary one to start the day, and there was just no where for me to go to avoid it. Credit to the safety of these cars though.”

Mostert Wins In The Top End

nathan.h@eclubes.com.au (Nathan Hanssens) — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 01:26:51 GMT

It was redemption in the Top End for Chaz Mostert, taking out the win in Race 18 at Hidden Valley Raceway.

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WAU Release Indigenous Round Liveries

nathan.h@eclubes.com.au (Nathan Hanssens) — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 03:30:26 GMT

Walkinshaw Andretti United has today revealed the three Indigenous Round liveries the Team will run at the Darwin Triple Crown from June 17-19, designed by KARI Foundation.

All three Walkinshaw Andretti United entries, driven by Chaz Mostert, Nick Percat and Jayden Ojeda, will run unique liveries for Indigenous Round, with Car 2 and 25 designed by Brian ‘Deadly’ DeVries, and Car 27 designed by Rhonda Sampson.

Brian ‘Deadly’ DeVries is a proud Wiradjuri Gunya man with ties to the Yuin Nation. Brian is very passionate about sharing Aboriginal culture through traditional art, dance, and music. Brian uses painting as a platform for storytelling, as it provides a connection between people, places and environment.

Rhonda Sampson is a proud Kamilaroi woman who lives on Dharawal country in South Western Sydney. Art is central to Rhonda’s cultural identity, and she is passionate about sharing this with all people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous so they can come together on the journey of understanding Aboriginal culture, stories and identity.

The connection between Walkinshaw Andretti United and the KARI Foundation came through valued partner Optus, who in 2018, launched a partnership with KARI Foundation. This connection has been embraced by Co-Naming Right’s partners, NTI and Mobil 1. KARI’s mission is to build strength in families and services and their vision is to help Aboriginal families, youth and communities flourish.

KARI was established in 1999 through the creation of KARI Limited, which has long supported the Aboriginal community by designing and delivering quality programming and services. Today, KARI Limited continues to be a leader in the space of Aboriginal child protection.

In 2016, after 17 years of successful operations, the KARI Board of Directors agreed to the creation of the KARI Foundation. They understood the outcomes of Aboriginal could be further achieved by increased collaboration between state and federal Governments, Corporate Australia and Collective Australia.

The design seen on the Mobil 1 Optus Racing No. 25 and Mobil 1 NTI Racing No. 2, which was originally created to honour of the collaboration between Optus and KARI Foundation, is titled ‘Community Togetherness.’

It captures the journeys of travel coming together, the meeting places, the ripples of communication and the knowledge that is shared and is always plentiful.

The East Coast Lubes No. 27’s artwork, “Community, Culture and Connection,” is a visual representation of the KARI Foundation and all their partners commitment to showcase Aboriginal excellence through the shared vision, mission, and values of the KARI Foundation.

The motif at the centre of the artwork represents the KARI Foundation and the many partners they collaborate with. Surrounding the motif are the seven pillars of connection: leadership, education, family and community, employment and business enterprise, sports and healthy lifestyle, creative and performing arts and procurement. The seven pillars provide points of connection and entry for Aboriginal people and culture to enrich community life.

All three cars will proudly display their Indigenous Designs at the Darwin Triple Crown this weekend, with on-track running starting Friday, July 17 with practice before three races over the course of the weekend.

BRUCE STEWART – WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED TEAM PRINCIPAL

“It’s fantastic to be able to celebrate the contribution of our indigenous community across all three of our cars this weekend for Indigenous Round.

“The KARI Foundation has been phenomenal to work with, and it’s been fantastic to build on the relationship Optus started with them in 2019. We appreciate the connection.

“This is something that has been supported by not only everyone in our team, but our entire partner group, which is really cool to see.

“The grid will look fantastic, we have a number of initiatives we can’t wait to bring to life over the course of the weekend, in what is a really important weekend for everyone involved.”

CAIN SLATER – KARI FOUNDATION COO

“KARI Foundation is excited to work with two of our partners Optus and Walkinshaw Andretti United to deliver these amazing designs and also continue the conversation about reconciliation.
Sport plays an important role in celebrating First Nations people and Culture and we are proud to work with both Optus and Walkinshaw Andretti United for this important round.”

East Coast Lubes Back Ojeda Entry

nathan.h@eclubes.com.au (Nathan Hanssens) — Wed, 25 May 2022 01:58:55 GMT

Walkinshaw Andretti United has today revealed the livery of Jaden Ojeda’s No. 27 entry, which will debut at the Winton SuperSprint

East Coast Lubes, one of the Team’s long-term supporters, will be the major backer of the entry, with the iconic Mobil 1™ to sit on the bonnet.

Morris, New Age Caravans, Walkinshaw Performance, City Hino, Johnny H Adventures, Metropole, Vantage Freight, Criticool Services, AJM Transport, and UMS will also support Ojeda in his solo Supercars debut.

The black, white, and red livery design, brought to life by PPG, Spicers and Signzone, is reflective of the theme carried throughout Car No. 2 and No. 25, representing the three-car team approach to the weekend.

Ojeda will hit the track alongside teammates Chaz Mostert and Nick Percat tomorrow, Saturday May 21, at the Winton SuperSprint.

JAYDEN OJEDA

“The car looks so awesome, thank you so much to ECL and Mobil 1 for their support, all the WAU partners that have welcomed me, but also to all the partners that have backed me throughout my career, I wouldn’t be here without them.

“It’s really cool to see it in the flesh, I just can’t wait to get on track now and get stuck into the weekend!”

BRUCE STEWART

“It’s fantastic to have one of our long-term supporters and loyal Mobil 1 distributors, East Coast Lubes supporting our team further, so a huge thank you to Terry and his entire team, as well as Mobil 1.

“A thank you as well to our Walkinshaw Andretti United Partners, such as Morris who continue to invest in junior talent and community, as well as UMS, and of course Jayden’s loyal supporters who have made this possible.

“The really cool thing about this car is how it looks at home with Chaz and Nicks car, which shows that we are truly a three-car team this weekend.

“We can’t wait to see Jayden on track tomorrow, it’s going to be exciting for all involved.”

Mostert Wins in Sydney

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 00:29:40 GMT

Chaz Mostert has started the year on the perfect foot, winning Race 2 of the 2022 Supercars Championship at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Combined with his podium finish on Saturday, he leaves the opening round of the year as Championship leader for the first time in his career.

Nick Percat’s day however didn’t have the same luck, ending with broken steering following contact, after charging through the field.

For Chaz, he sat on provisional pole following qualifying thanks to a blistering lap, but just before his shootout lap, it started to rain, which put him in seventh.

Once again during the 300km race, there was always the threat of weather, and safety cars played a part today.

During the middle stints, both cars were heavy on fuel and saved the soft tyre for last, which put us in a strong position.

With 25 to go Chaz took the race lead, which he would hold until 15 laps to go when the heavens opened up. Car 25 pitted for wets at the perfect time, reclaiming the lead with nine to go.

A late safety car couldn’t stop Chaz. Despite pressure from Brodie Kostecki, he drove away at the restart with three laps to go to claim his first victory of 2022.

For Nick, the crew did a fantastic job to get him back out on track after repairing the broken steering, to claim some points despite being seven laps down.

It gives them plenty of momentum heading into Tasmania for Round 2.

CHAZ MOSTERT

“Unbelievable day, I love this team, it’s been such a good place to be over summer and into this weekend, they have done such a good job with everything and strategy was great all weekend.

“The support in the garage has been fantastic, from the team, our partners, and my friends and family so it’s a really cool place.

“I’ve never lead the championship before, so it’ll be pretty cool to have the orange numbers on the car at Tassie, I’ll be taking updating my profile pic I think.

“Again, thanks so much to our team and partners, really looking forward to continue the momentum through the year.”

NICK PERCAT

“Tough one today that’s for sure, the mistake in qualifying hurt us but the race was going well.

“We were behind Chaz, same strategy, but the contact just killed us. A big thanks to the crew for getting me back out there so quickly to salvage some points.

“Overall, a big weekend of learning but I definitely feel more comfortable already, and it feels like home.

“Huge congrats to Chaz and the entire team on the weekend, it’s awesome to see.”

A New Era Begins for Mobil 1 NTI Racing

nathan.h@eclubes.com.au (Nathan Hanssens) — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 04:11:06 GMT

Walkinshaw Andretti United has today taken the covers off the all-new Mobil 1™ NTI Racing No. 2 that Nick Percat will drive in the 2022 Supercars Championship.

Percat will return to the team with the continued support of Co-Naming Rights Partners Mobil 1 and NTI, to form Mobil 1 NTI Racing.

Mobil 1 enter their 29 ^th year with the team, and will retain their traditional spot on the bonnet of Car No. 2.

NTI, Australia's specialist insurer, is stepping up their support in 2022, following two years as a Platinum Partner through their brand Truck Assist. As a leader in their own field, NTI are excited back the promising Percat.

The striking black, white and sliver livery was brought to life through valued partners PPG, Signzone and Spicers.

New to the Team in 2022 are partners Isuzu Trucks, Supercheap Auto, and Anthem Workwear.

Platinum Partners Morris, Goodyear Autocare and Amarok W580 have continued their support in 2022.

Also returning are valued partners Corestaff, Versor, PPG, Appliances Online, Palm Trans, Prixcar Fleet Services, Woodstock Bourbon and Cola, UMS, Thetford, UMS, Amadio Wines, Lloyds Auctions, Raceline, OMP, SP Tools, King Springs, Kangan Institute, NGK, Oakley, Motum Simulation, K&N Filters, Kleentek, Stratasys, and TPF Sports.

Percat will get behind the wheel of the Mobil 1 NTI Racing No. 2 for the first time at the upcoming pre-season test day on Tuesday February 22, at Winton Motor Raceway.

NICK PERCAT – MOBIL 1™ NTI RACING

“To see the Mobil 1 NTI Racing car in the flesh, I think it looks absolutely amazing, and it all feels very real now.

“I’ve had some pretty cool history with Mobil 1 last time I was here, so it’s great to be representing them again, and then to have NTI step up as well with the team and show their support in me and the team is really cool.

“It’s fantastic to see such a strong show of support from the entire partner group, the family type atmosphere from the top down is something that was really obvious from the moment I walked back through the doors.

“I can’t wait for that first test day, it’s going to be really important as a team to get to know each other better and start to gel, everything to this point has been great, so I just can’t wait to put the helmet on and roll out there.”

BRUCE STEWART – TEAM PRINCIPAL, WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED

“We are rapt to reveal the Mobil 1 NTI Racing No. 2, we think it’s a seriously good-looking race car.

“It wouldn’t feel right to not have Mobil 1 on the bonnet, and to have NTI join them as a Co-Naming Rights Partner is fantastic, and we can’t thank them enough for their increased support for the 2022 season. Both are amazing companies who we are proud to represent.

“The support of our entire partner group has been incredible, we’ve got a lot of familiar brands on our car who we share great history with, which we are really thankful for, while also welcoming new partners to the fold this year.

“I’m really excited to see what Nick can achieve this season. He’s fitted in seamlessly around here, so it’ll be nice to get on track and get the year underway.”

TONY CLARK – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NTI LTD

“If ever there was a time to step up our support for Walkinshaw Andretti United – 2022 is it. There’s a new buzz ahead of this year’s season.

“The expansion of our sponsorship reflects our commitment, our trust and how excited we are to be part of the partnership mix for the entire team.

“The new livery looks fantastic. The NTI brand down the side of the car looks fast, even without moving. We can’t wait to see Nick in action.”

Max Verstappen Is A World Champion!

nathan.h@eclubes.com.au (Nathan Hanssens) — Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:40:10 GMT

Round 22

Max Verstappen won his first World Drivers’ Championship at the end of one of the most dramatic title-deciders in Formula One history, passing rival Lewis Hamilton to take the lead and the race win on the last lap of a thrilling Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

With 54 laps of the race gone and with Hamilton in an apparently comfortable 11 second lead, Max’s chances of world championship glory appeared to be over, but when Williams’ Nicholas Latifi crashed out and the safety car was released, Max was handed another chance.

Max pitted, took on soft tyres and when the safety car left the track he pounced and roared past Hamilton at turn five, though the Briton fought back on the following straight. However, Max held on to take his 10th win of the year and more importantly his first world championship crown and the team’s first Drivers’ title since 2013.

At the start, Hamilton was better off the line and overhauled the advantage Max had gained in claiming pole position and the Mercedes driver took the lead into turn one. Behind them, Sergio made a good start and stole third place from McLaren’s Lando Norris who ran wide.

Having lost the lead, Max slotted into the slipstream of Hamilton and closed up to the Briton on the run to turn seven. He attacked with a move down the inside and Hamilton went wide. The Mercedes re-joined the track in the lead and the incident prompted the steward to take a closer look.

But when the ruling came back the officials’ verdict was “no investigation necessary,” and Hamilton was free to march on in the lead.

Despite the protestation of the Team, the Briton kept his advantage and then set about building a gap to Max, who soon began to suffer on his starting soft tyres. By lap 13 the Dutchman was five seconds behind his title rival and complaining that his rear tyres were really hurting.

That was the cue for the Dutch driver to head towards the pit lane and in a 2.1s stop he took on hard tyres and re-joined in P5 behind Norris. He quickly got past the McLaren and then set about chasing down Carlos Sainz.

Mercedes reacted to Max’s stop by pitting Hamilton at the end of lap 14 and he took on hard tyres in a 2.4s stop, re-joining in P2, 11 seconds behind Checo. Max soon claimed P3 by comfortably dismissing Sainz, as ahead Hamilton began to reel in Sergio.

The Mercedes driver closed the gap over the next six laps and with DRS support he attacked on the pit straight, passing the Mexican with apparent ease. Checo was not easily dismissed, however, and in the following DRS zone he powered back past the Briton to reclaim the lead.

Checo’s brilliant defence was all the time allowing Max to churn through his own deficit to Hamilton.

And when the Mercedes finally made it past Sergio under DRS on the next lap, Checo gave Max a quick tow and then moved aside to let Max power through into second place behind Hamilton once more, with both now on hard tyres.

However, as the second stint evolved, Hamilton began to slowly draw away from Max and by lap 33 he was five seconds ahead of the Red Bull driver.

However, the complexion of the race changed on lap 36 when Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi pulled over at the side of the track with gearbox issues. The virtual safety car was deployed and with Hamilton staying out on track, the Team quickly called Max in for a fresh set of hard tyres. Checo also pitted under the VSC and he re-joined in third place.

Max re-joined almost 17 seconds behind Hamilton and when the track went green the Red Bull driver began to close on the Mercedes at the rate of eight tenths of a second per lap.

But as the final stint unfolded it became clear that the pace in the new tyres wouldn’t be strong enough to put Max close to the Briton.

With 10 laps left he was 12 seconds behind the Mercedes and running out of time. But races are never over until they’re over and on lap 53 the pendulum swung back towards Max.

Williams’ Nicholas Latifi crashed and the safety car was released. Max immediately pitted and the team fitted a set of soft tyres as Hamilton stayed on track. It looked like the race might finish under the safety car, but on lap 57 race control decreed that the five cars on track between Hamilton and Verstappen would be allowed to unlap themselves and that the safety car would come in to allow a single lap of racing.

And when the track went green Max was immediately on the attack. He closed on Hamilton on the run to turn five and with a brave dive down the inside he claimed the race lead.

Hamilton fought back on the next straight and drew alongside the Dutchman and almost got past, but Max held the line, held his nerve and kept the lead until the finish line and the chequered flag. Formula 1 has a new world champion. His name is Max Verstappen!

Bathurst Champions

nathan.h@eclubes.com.au (Nathan Hanssens) — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 02:02:21 GMT

Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth are the 2021 Bathurst 1000 champions

They conquered The Mountain and their names will be etched onto the Peter Brock Trophy forever, after the Mobil 1 Appliances Online No. 25 crossed the line first after 161 laps of Mount Panorama.

The good news didn’t stop there though, with Bryce Fullwood and Warren Luff finishing fifth, to top off an amazing, unforgettable day for Walkinshaw Andretti United.

From the moment the car rolled out of the truck on Thursday, Chaz and Lee were the combination to beat. Pole, lap record, and the win, it was the perfect weekend.

The Mountain did have one major test in store for them, when on lap 49, a left rear tyre started to de-laminate due to debris, forcing them onto an alternate strategy for the majority of the race.

That wasn’t going to stop them though, both drivers were the quickest on track all day, and even though some late race safety cars bunched the field up and caused some stress, they were a class above the field,

On the Car No. 2 side of things, both Bryce and Luffy chipped away for the entire day, gradually improving on their starting position of 12 ^th in every stint.

When Luffy handed over to Bryce around the lap 100 mark, they sat sixth, and Bryce drove incredibly well in the final three stints finish in the top five.

It was a day we’ve dreamed of and worked towards, all made possible by the sacrifice from our team, and the support of our partners, members and fans.

Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth are Bathurst champions. That’s not going to get old anytime soon.

CHAZ MOSTERT

“It’s just incredible, I can’t believe it. I seriously cannot thank this team enough, for all their effort this year, for all the work that went in during our month in Sydney that was aimed at this, to everything they have given up to help us win, I love this team and this is for them.

“I owe so much to Lee and his speed all weekend, man he did a good job, and it put us in the position to fight at the end.

“That car was as good of a car I’ve ever driven, it was so nice to drive, not even that tyre could stop us, it’s just so cool to have achieved this.

“Thank you to all our partners for their support as well, we wouldn’t be here without them.”

LEE HOLDWORTH

“Bathurst winners, it hasn’t sunk in yet, it’s just incredible.

“Chaz did a terrific job all weekend, the car was just unbelievable from the first session, the team deserve so much credit for all they have done this year to make that happen.

“I just can’t believe it, it really is a dream come true, and something I’ll never forget. I was so nervous that entire final stint but seeing how calm Chaz was behind the wheel shows how special this is.

“Thank you to everyone, the team, our partners, the fans, it just so damn cool.”

BRYCE FULLWOOD

“So awesome to get a top five finish at Bathurst, it is such a cool feeling. Thank you so much to Luffy who did such a good job all weekend, he is such a pro.

“We chipped away at it all day, and the car was really nice to drive at the end there.

“A huge congratulations to Chaz, Lee and everyone in this team for the win as well, absolutely awesome to be a part of, and I’ve seen how much work has gone into it.

“It was definitely a nice way to close the year out and my time here, thank you to everyone for their support over these two seasons, it’s something I’ll never forget.”

WARREN LUFF

“Awesome to get a top five finish with Bryce at The Mountain, he did a great job all race, and we just kept working away at it all afternoon.

“Everyone here did a great job all weekend to keep improving Car 2, and that showed with Bryce at the end there.

“A huge congratulations to everyone here at Walkinshaw Andretti United, and Chaz and Lee for their win, so much work and effort has gone into it from everyone here, so it’s so cool to see that rewarded.”

That's a wrap from the Townsville-double, with today concluding two rounds in North Queensland.

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 05:56:41 GMT

RACE 18

Chaz Mostert - 3rd

Bryce Fullwood - 14th

Chaz made it 2/2 in the top-three, with his second consecutive podium finish of the weekend. He started third, finished third, and ran third all race, but it wasn't as simple as that in the final few laps. He had to have the elbows up to hold off a fast-finishing Will Davison in the last two laps, doing a great job to keep him behind.

Bryce showed great pace in the first stint, but after stopping relatively early, struggled late with tyre life, dropping him down the order to 14th.

RACE 19

Chaz Mostert - 9th

Bryce Fullwood - 11th

A pit stop issue meant Chaz had to get busy towards the end of the race. At one stage he was 22nd, before charging back through the field to 9th in an amazing drive.

Bryce got another blinder of a start and was running in sixth, before an unfortunately timed safety car pushed him back a few spots after stopping. He battled hard towards the end, just lacking that tyre life balance to move back into the top 10.

Podium for Mostert on Debut

Sat, 22 Feb 2020 14:00:00 GMT

Chaz Mostert has kick started the Walkinshaw Andretti United journey with a podium, finishing second in Race 2 in the Mobil 1 Appliances Online No. 25, and spraying champagne on a Sunday afternoon in Adelaide.

For Bryce Fullwood, he recovered extremely well and maturely, to finish in 17th after being fired into the wall mid-race. He kept cool calm and collected despite the trying circumstances.

The podium, the team's 25th on the streets of Adelaide, is a dream start to the new chapter, and a welcome start to the 2020 championship.

The day started with Bryce unable to make it out of Q1, which put him 17th on the grid, while Chaz progressed from Q2 into the shootout.

He moved from seventh to fourth, a great starting position for the 250km, 78-lap race.

On the Car 25 side of the garage, Chaz pitted from sixth at the first round of stops under safety car, where the team elected to long-fill him. While it put him in traffic, he was able to pass cars, and find clean air.

That turned out to be a genius move, as the fill-time advantage he had over those in front came to the fore after the second stop, moving from eighth into third.

The pressure was relentless for the last 35-laps. A pit stop issue for Shane van Gisbergen meant he had to stop a third time, and advanced Chaz into second.

He held Waters at arm's length behind him for the closing stages, before standing on the podium for the first time as a Walkinshaw Andretti United driver.

Lap 1 was chaos, and despite three-wheeling the Mobil 1 Middy's Racing No. 2 past an accident, Bryce moved up to 16th.

During the middle stint, it all changed. After managing to get past Macauley Jones, he found himself in the fence a corner later thanks to contact.

A kid in his first race ever, stuck in the fence could have thrown in the towel, but he pressed on and finished well.

Round 1 has been a real positive, but there's still a lot of work to do. We now head to the Grand Prix in two weekend's time, ready for four races around Albert Park.

CHAZ MOSTERT

"Today was unbelievable. I didn't expect that after yesterday. We had a good day on Saturday but to get a podium today was outstanding.

"In saying that, there's plenty of things we can improve on, but it's great to come out of Adelaide with a good bank of points and a shiny trophy. All things considered; it's a dream start to the new chapter we are on.

"We want to make sure this is the norm, inside that top-five, and challenging for podiums."

BRYCE FULLWOOD

"Another tough afternoon really after it was looking really positive.

"The car was good, we were making good progress forward, but it wasn't to be.

"I can't thank the team enough for their work this weekend and this year getting me comfortable. The first event is under my belt now, so we can reset, and head into the Grand Prix with good data and more laps. Looking forward to it."

Mobil 1™ Appliances Online Racing Launches

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 14:00:00 GMT

Walkinshaw Andretti United has revealed the Mobil 1™ Appliances Online Racing entry, which Chaz Mostert will pilot in the 2020 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.

The livery sees Mobil 1 retain their traditional position on the bonnet, with Appliances Online holding the major branding position on the side of Car No. 25. The PPG-Paint scheme is sure to be a standout on track.

Appliances Online have continued their partnership with the Team from 2019 after joining from the Bathurst 1000 onwards, alongside the previously announced Mobil 1 as a Platinum Partner.

Appliances Online is Australia's largest online appliance retailer, delivering to over 95 per cent of the country and was recently awarded as the No. 1 online appliance retailer by Choice. Appliances Online offers customers an unrivalled shopping experience including the biggest range of appliances online; free next day delivery, best price guarantee and 24/7 locally based customer support.

Returning for their 10th year as Official Finance Partner of the Team, Morris Finance join HSV, Truck Assist, and NAPA Auto Parts Australia as Gold Partners. Truck Assist are new to the Team for 2020, while NAPA Auto Parts Australia have stepped up for the full season after being the Naming Rights Partner of the 2019 Bathurst 1000 Wildcard entry.

Walkinshaw Andretti United would also like to welcome Middy's, Jetpilot Workwear and Oakley to the family.

Returning for 2020 are PPG, SP Tools, Thetford, High Sierra, Biante, Kawana, Kleentek, OMP, Raceline, Amadio Wines, Lloyds Auctions, BMC Air Filters, Urban Maintenance Systems, Ferntree Gully Holden, Eagle SMF, King Springs, Kangan Institute, Honeywell, and NGK, who all play an integral role within the team.

Mostert will first get behind the wheel of the No. 25 Mobil 1 Appliances Online Racing at tomorrow's new chassis shakedown at Phillip Island, before heading to Tailem Bend for the 2020 SuperTest on February 18.

The Mobil 1 Middy's Racing Car No. 2 livery will be revealed in the coming days.

QUOTES
RYAN WALKINSHAW - DIRECTOR, WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED
"It's fantastic to welcome back Appliances Online for 2020, and to have the Mobil 1™ Appliances Online Racing No. 25 revealed to the public!

"We can't thank John Winning and the entire Winning Group enough for their show of support after a great few months together at the end of 2019. It's great to once again connect with a family business, sharing the same ethos as we do here, as well as Michael and Zak internationally.

"We hope to give them the same legendary service, on and off the track, that they offer their customers Australia wide.

"To head into 2020 with the continued support of our fantastic partner group, while welcoming four new partners in Middy's, Truck Assist, NAPA Auto Parts and Jetpilot Workwear is a sign of the direction we are headed. I can't wait to get the season underway."

MICHAEL ANDRETTI - DIRECTOR, WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED
"It's great to be able to show off Chaz's livery for 2020, as well as welcome back Appliances Online.

"The loyalty shown by them, Mobil 1 and our entire partner group is fantastic, and I can't wait to get the next chapter of Walkinshaw Andretti United underway at the Adelaide 500.

"We are also really looking forward to showing off Bryce's Mobil 1 Middy's Racing livery later this week so keep an eye out."

ZAK BROWN - DIRECTOR, WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED
"It's an exciting year for us on the whole, and while there are a lot of new elements, including two fantastic new drivers ready to lead the team forward, it's great to have the continuity of Appliances Online, and our entire partner group. We appreciate their support, and are all excited about the future together.

"After months of hard work the season is finally upon us. I can't wait for Adelaide, but also, to get in the garage at the Australian Grand Prix and watch firsthand."

JOHN WINNING - CEO, WINNINGS GROUP
"We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Walkinshaw Andretti United team in the 2020 Virgin Australia Supercar Championship.

"After a successful end to the 2019 season, where Appliances Online was involved in the last four races, we are excited to continue our support as a major partner in 2020, of Car No. 25.

"We share great synergies with the Walkinshaw family, who are synonymous with racing. I founded Appliances Online as part of family's century old business and over the past two decades my family has been involved with and supported Australian sports and sporting events. We couldn't be prouder to be part of a great team, including driver Chaz Mostert. We wish Chaz and the extended Walkinshaw Andretti United team, the best of luck for the season ahead," said Mr Winning.

Courtney's emotional sign-off from WAU

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 14:00:00 GMT

Supercars veteran James Courtney held back tears as he thanked the Walkinshaw Andretti United team following his final drive with the squad at the Coates Hire Newcastle 500.

The race marked the end of an era for both parties, with Courtney having been the team's star signing nine years ago as the reigning champion.

Courtney raced on Sunday with his helmet covered in signatures from crew members, while the team presented bonnets to both Courtney and fellow departee Scott Pye filled with farewell messages.

Although Courtney's nine-year Walkinshaw tenure largely failed to deliver the results it promised, the 39-year-old is grateful for the team's efforts.

"This moment's about these guys [the team]," said a clearly emotional Courtney, who in October announced a deal with Jonathon Webb's new Team Sydney venture for 2020.

"It's hard to put into words, it's been nine years and amazing.

"I can't thank the Walkinshaw family enough, all the supporters, from HRT times, all the way through Walkinshaw Racing into WAU.

"All these guys and girls have spent so much time away from their families, just so I can do what I do."

Trackside: Mostert delivered to new home
Play Video
The Sunday race netted an 11th-place finish for Courtney, despite a puncture caused by a clash with Anton De Pasquale and a drive-through penalty for an unsafe pit release.

Ironically, the team had released him into the path of Chaz Mostert, who was 'delivered' to WAU by Tickford mechanics post-race ahead of his high-profile defection to the Holden squad for 2020.

Eleventh in the race replicated Courtney's position in the final championship standings, beating Pye over a season for the first time since they became teammates in 2017.

Pye had a rollercoaster Newcastle weekend, which included a social media spat with Scott McLaughlin on Thursday and a stomach bug that left him hospitalised Friday night.

He'd starred in the Saturday race, charging from last on the grid following a qualifying crash to finish sixth, before starting and finishing fifth on Sunday.

"My time here is short, but this place is so close," Pye said of WAU ahead of a move to Team 18's new second entry in 2020.

"There's such a family atmosphere and obviously it's a family team, but I've made some good friends in a short period of time and that's why I think you see both of us [emotional].

"It's strange, I live 15 minutes from all of them and it's a weird feeling.

"There's no bitterness, there's nothing, no leaving on bad terms or anything, it's just a bunch of mates that have been able to go racing for three years.

"We never got what we wanted out of that time, but it's fun when you can go racing with mates.

"I didn't get the results, but there's going to be people that I'm sure both of us will stay very close with for a long time."

Pye's 2018 Albert Park victory is the only win for WAU since the new team structure was formed ahead of that season, while Courtney and Jack Perkins scored its sole podium of '19 at Bathurst.

Mobil 1™ Racing set for Auckland

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 14:00:00 GMT

The iconic red white and blue of Mobil 1™ will once again take primary position on both cars, who have stepped up their visibility for the New Zealand round.

2019 marks the 26th year of partnership between Mobil 1 and the team, as their presence increases from their renowned spot on the bonnet, to now include the sides of both cars for the weekend.

Adding to the news, both entries will compete under the Mobil 1 Racing moniker, with a team logo to be released in the coming days.

Both Mobil 1 Racing Holden Commodores will take to the track for this first time this Friday, September 13, for Practice 1 and 2.

RYAN WALKINSHAW

"Mobil 1 has been a part of this team for 26 years, it's an incredible relationship which we are privileged to have, and we can't thank them enough for all that they have done over the journey.

"The fact that they have stepped up their support for the Auckland SuperSprint shouldn't surprise anyone, because it's that type of support this year, and the other 25 years, that has made them such a fantastic partner of this team.

"Mobil 1 is a part of our DNA and resonates with our fan base, young and old. I'm sure everyone will love the look of this car as much as we do."

COLIN SMITH - MOBIL MOTORSPORT MANAGER AUSTRALIA

"For over 26 years, the iconic Mobil 1™ brand has remained a technology partner of the Walkinshaw Racing team. In conjunction with our authorised lubricant distributors in Australia and New Zealand we are very excited with the opportunity to be able to increase our brand representation with the team."

Max Verstappen wins German F1 grand prix

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 14:00:00 GMT

Max scored an incredible seventh career win in an incident-packed, rain-affected German Grand Prix that saw Mercedes fail to make the podium for the first time in a year, Sebastian Vettel climb from last to second and Daniil Kvyat take Toro Rosso's first podium finish in 11 years.
With a wet start in prospect following steady rain in the 90 minutes before the race start, it was decided that the field would complete four formation laps in order to assess the conditions and disperse any standing water.
But when the lights went out at the start of the now 64-lap race, both Max and Pierre got away poorly and both were immediately swamped by rivals. Max dropped to fourth behind the Mercedes cars of race leader Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas and the Alfa Romeo of Kimi Räikkönen. Pierre, meanwhile, dropped to eighth place.
Max was swiftly past Räikkönen and set off in pursuit of Bottas, but at the start of lap two the race was suddenly neutralised when the conditions claimed their first victim. Racing Point's Sergio Pérez lost control as he headed towards the stadium section and after he slid into the trackside wall, the safety car was deployed.
Sebastian Vettel, already to P12 after a good start, was the first to react and the Ferrari driver dived into the pits for intermediate tyres.
The leaders also took the opportunity to pit and when the inters had been bolted on and the order shook out Hamilton led from Bottas, Haas' Kevin Magnussen (who had not pitted) and Max.
For Pierre, though, the SC period, in which he also took on intermediate tyres, was not successful and he dropped to the back of the field, taking up P18 behind the safety car.
When the SC left the track at the end of lap four, Max immediately breezed past Magnussen and began to close in on Bottas. Pierre too made the most of the re-start and he was soon up to P14.
It was Vettel, though, who profited most and when the German eased past the fading Magnussen he found himself in seventh place and hunting down Räikkönen.
With light rain continuing to fall and with little chance of making a move to slick tyres, the race then settled somewhat. On lap 21 Magnussen became the first driver to make the switch to slicks, with the Haas man taking on soft tyres. Vettel followed suit and then, on lap 25, Max pitted, taking on medium tyres.
That sparked a general move to slick rubber, but as the field gambled on the quicker tyres, the rain actually began to intensify and on lap 27 Charles Leclerc slid off track at the final corner, beaching his Ferrari and bringing out the safety car again.
The field returned to the pit lane to head back to intermediate tyres. Hamilton's switch was enforced, however. The race leader lost control in the same place as Leclerc and slid into the barrier. The Briton managed to avoid a terminal impact but having sustained front wing damage he crawled out of the gravel trap and crossed the track to the pit entry.
Unprepared, Mercedes' mechanics had no intermediates ready and Hamilton's stop for repairs and fresh tyres took over a minute to complete. It would prove a costly mistake. The delay dropped Hamilton to fifth. And when Bottas pitted for inters, Max claimed the race lead behind the safety car.

There was more woe for Hamilton soon after. In crossing the track to the pits after his off he had gone in on the wrong side of the bollard at the pit entrance. The offence earned the champion a five-second time penalty.
When racing resumed on lap 33, Max powered away from second-placed Nico Hulkenberg and quickly opened up a five-second gap to the German. Bottas and Hamilton were soon past Hulkenberg but the gap from the lead Mercedes to the Red Bull stood at nine seconds.
However, Max's advantage was soon erased. On lap 40 Hulkenberg also went off in the final corner and with his Renault deep in the gravel the safety car was once again deployed.
During the cautionary period the conditions began to steadily improve and when racing resumed on lap 46, a flurry of pit stops immediately followed as drivers looked to exploit the improving conditions and take on slick tyres.
Max was first in, at the end of lap 46, and the race leader switched to soft compound tyres.
Hamilton, too, pitted during the third safety car phase and also took his time penalty during the stop. He emerged in P11.
At the front, after the stops had taken their effect, Max led from unlikely podium contenders Lance Stroll of Racing Point and Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat. Bottas lay fourth ahead of McLaren's Carlos Sainz and Vettel.
On lap 51, Kvyat made a bid for a Honda-powered one-two finish, the Russian powering past Stroll to claim second place.
Behind them, though, Bottas was beginning to apply pressure and the expectation was that Max would have the Mercedes driver for company in the closing stages.
It wasn't to be, though. On lap 57 Bottas carried too much speed into turn one and the Mercedes driver lost control on the exit of the corner, slid left into the gravel trap and hit the barrier hard. With Hamilton in P11 it would eventually mean that Mercedes would miss out on the podium for the first time since last year's Austrian GP.
Bottas' crash brought out the safety car for the fourth time but once again Max was in control and when racing resumed on lap 60 he simply powered away from Kvyat. In the final few laps, as Max managed the gap, it was Vettel who made the biggest moves. The Ferrari driver powered past Sainz as if the McLaren wasn't there into Turn 6 on lap 60.
On lap 63 Pierre went for the overtake on Albon and as the Frenchman went to the right of the Toro driver, in turn so did Albon to defend. However, Pierre failed to react and collided with him, which in turn put an end to Pierre's race, forcing him to retire.
Back at the front, Vettel in the Ferrari kept up his push as Stroll and Kvyat were dismissed over the following two laps before settling into P2 on the final lap, having climbed from dead last at the start.
There was no denying Max though and the Red Bull driver sent the huge Dutch contingent in the grandstands wild as he crossed the line to take his seventh career win and Team's 61st.

Behind Vettel, Kvyat hung on to claim his third career podium finish and Toro Rosso's first podium finish since Vettel won the 2008 Italian Grand Prix for the team. Fourth place went to Stroll, with the Canadian driver finishing ahead of Sainz and the second Toro Rosso of Alex Albon.
The Alfa Romeos of Kimi Räikkönen and Antonio Giovinazzi finished the race in seventh and eighth places but after the race both were handed 10-second stop and go penalties due to issues over the team's clutch torque application at the race start.
The ruling meant that Haas' Romain Grosjean and Kevin Masgnussen took seventh and eighth places respectively, while Hamilton jumped to ninth place to maintain a 23-race long record of points finishes stretching back to last year's British Grand Prix.
The final point on offer thus went to Williams' Robert Kubica. The point is Williams first since last year's Italian Grand Prix and Kubica's first since the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

That's a wrap 2018

Sat, 24 Nov 2018 14:00:00 GMT

James Courtney has finished fifth, and Scott Pye 10th in the final race of the 2018 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, rounding out the year with a pair of top-10's.

That result means the team finish, fifth in the Teams Championship, while Scott Pye records a career high seventh in the Drivers Championship, with JC in 14th.

The final day of school for 2018 started with mixed emotions in qualifying. JC set the fifth fastest time to advance to the shootout, but Scott struggled with the car balance, having to start from 24th today.

After setting the sixth fastest time in the shootout, all eyes quickly shifted to the final 250km race for the year.

Scott made a great start to pick a few up off the line while JC moved into fifth.

JC stopped a lap before the only safety car of the race was called, while Scott dived in the lane as the yellows came out.

They went different on fuel loads, which meant their pace was different in the second stint, but that all levelled out after the second round of stops.

In comparison to yesterday, today was relatively uneventful. After the final round of stops, JC had moved into fifth, while Scott had moved into 10th.

The last 40 laps were mixture of tyre saving and fuel saving.

JC was just shy of passing SVG for ninth, while Scott was able to hold off Lowndes on fresh tyres.

And so the curtain closes on the 2018 season. Overall, we took a lot of steps forward this year, with some real positives to take.

It's a step in the right direction, with plenty of improvement still to come.

Thanks for your support all year, we couldn't do it without you.

Bring on 2019.

JAMES COURTNEY

"It was a really solid weekend for us, with a great haul of points.

"We weren't far off today, just needed that little bit more.

"It's been an up and down year for me, but we are definitely on the right track. The results prove that.

"Really looking forward to 2019 and continuing on what we've done this year. Thanks to the whole crew for all the work they've put in this year."

SCOTT PYE

"It was a good fight back today from everyone. To move forward 10 spots was really pleasing.

"Overall, to finish seventh in the championship is something I'm proud of.

"We're definitely on the right track, and there's more to come.

"It's been my best year in Supercars, so I can't thank the team enough."

Pye And Luff Finish Second At Bathurst

Sat, 06 Oct 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Scott Pye and Warren Luff have gone back-to-back with second place finishes at the Bathurst 1000, in an outstanding drive at The Mountain.

The news wasn't as good for James Courtney and Jack Perkins, who suffered a heartbreaking mechanical engine failure in the opening half of the race, ending their day.

Today's result was Pye's second podium at Mount Panorama, and staggeringly, Luff's fifth.

After a positive warm up this morning, the decision was made for James Courtney to start in car 25, and like last year, Luffy to handle the opening stint in Car 2, against 23 other main drivers.

After a clean start, both drivers settled into a rhythm.

At the first round of stops, Jack Perkins jumped in car 25, and Scott took over car 2, both in a healthy position.

This is where the race changed for both cars.

Scott was a man on a mission. The crew got the mandatory rotor change done smoothly, and he set off picking off cars one by one.

By the time he handed back over to Luffy on lap 56, the car was inside the top four. That was where the result was born.

On the other side of the garage, disaster struck on lap 34 when Jack pulled the car off to the side of Mountain Straight. It was a heart-breaking moment that ended their charge.

Up until that stage, their pace was strong, and both were happy with the car.

From the half-way point, both Luffy and Scott dealt with all challenges put in-front of them.
There were spots of rain, safety cars, long stints, but they handled it with ease.

Heading into the final round of stops, Scott was third, but when David Reynolds was handed a drive-through penalty, it put him in P2.

The gap to Lowndes over the last 20-laps was a steady eight-seconds, he just didn't have that last little bit to reel him in, but did well to hold off Scott McLaughlin behind.

Consecutive seconds in the biggest and toughest race of the year is a proud moment for this team, and for Scott and Warren.

It was a case of what could have been for JC and Jack, but you know they will come back even hungrier at the Gold Coast.

SCOTT PYE

"Today was really special. The car was fantastic, it really came to us today, the stops were mega and they boys did a really good job. Once again Luffy was amazing as well.

"Anytime you're on the podium at Bathurst is special.

"While you always want to win, if we couldn't today as a team, it was fitting that Craig did, finishing his full-time driving career at Bathurst with a win.

"Next year, we will come back and look to go one better. Thanks to everyone for their support."

WARREN LUFF

"What a day. It's always special to be on the podium here, it's unbelievable.

"Scott drove superbly, especially to get the car up the front, and the whole team did a great job all weekend. A lot of the credit has to go to them.

"I have to admit I couldn't watch the last stint, I spent most of it in the caravan watching the F1 but Scott did an amazing job.

"Also happy for my mate Lowdnesy; if our team couldn't win, I'm glad it was him."

JAMES COURTNEY

"It's definitely not how we pictured our afternoon playing out this morning that's for sure.

"It's my first engine failure with the team in eight years, so it's not like it's common. Things just happen, and unfortunately, today it happened to us.

"Shattered for my mate Jack, but we've got a chance to go again in a few weeks time. Congratulations to the team, and to Scott and Luffy."

JACK PERKINS

"I'm gutted for the whole team.

"The guys in the engine shop do a fantastic job, it's definitely not their fault, just one of those things.

"Congratulations to Scott and Luffy.

"We will be back at the Gold Coast…"

Another Top 5 for Pye in Darwin

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Scott Pye has come oh-so-close to another podium in 2018, finishing fourth in race one of the weekend in Darwin.

As for James Courtney, his afternoon didn’t go quite as well, suffering from a front-end vibration, bringing the car home in 24th.

For Pye, who’s finish has moved him into fifth in the championship, a lap good enough for eighth in qualifying put him in a strong position to contend this afternoon.

James Courtney’s day started off on the back foot, pinching a brake on his flying lap when track conditions were at their best, meaning he would start in 23rd.

Both drivers made strong starts in the race, with JC up to 18th and Scott seventh.

JC stopped on lap seven of 42, while Scott went longer, stopping on lap 21.

Not long after the stop, JC got on the radio to report a front-end vibration which was impacting his speed.

Meanwhile, Scott was punching out good numbers on older tyres.

After Scott eventually stopped, he was released into the pack with fresh rubber compared to most around him.

In no time he was able to move past Whincup, Lowndes and Kelly, and into fourth on the road.

That was all he had though, just lacking the last bit of speed to close the gap on the front three.

It’s another great result for the team, making it four podiums and two fourths for the year to date.

The attention quickly turns on tomorrow now, with qualifying, a top-10 shootout and a 200km race to come.

SCOTT PYE

“It was another really strong day for us today. We improved the car overnight and it showed in qualifying.

“The guys made a great call on strategy, and the car was really good throughout the entire race.

“It would have been nice to pick up that extra spot and get on the podium, but we aren’t far off. Hopefully tomorrow we can find a bit more and grab another trophy.

“It’s nice to move inside the top five of the championship as well. Bring on Sunday.”

JAMES COURTNEY

“Not much went right today unfortunately.

“I made a mistake in qualifying that really cost us a good lap, and that put us back for the race.

“The car was quick early but once that vibration crept in, it made life difficult.

“The car is straight and we can go again tomorrow.”

2nd Place for Scott Pye at Winton

Fri, 18 May 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Scott Pye has claimed his second podium of the year by finishing second in Saturday’s 120km race at the Winton SuperSprint, with both cars inside the top-10.

After starting in fifth, he drove superbly all afternoon, just missing out on claiming his second win this year.

After returning from illness today, James Courtney moved from 13th to ninth during the race, in what was a solid drive considering the limited amount of laps he has had this weekend.

Courtney returned for practice 3 this morning, after missing all Friday running with a bug. Jack Perkins, who was in the car for the co-driver session in the morning, stayed in car 25 for the remainder of the day, and did an excellent job.

Scott put in a great second lap in qualifying to move into the top five, while JC did a good job to put the car in 13th despite only having nine laps before rolling out.

Come race start, the cars split their strategy.

JC stopped on lap 6, with most of the field, while Scott stayed out.

A chunk of time was lost sitting behind Stanaway, who was not in the race for the lead after being forced to stop on lap 1, but once Scott cleared him on lap 17, the pace of the car was on show.

Despite being on older tyres than most, his pace was as good as anyone.

He eventually stopped on lap 23, popping out in fourth, and on the hunt for the top 3.

Meanwhile, JC was locked in a battle for top-10 positions.

After getting past Coulthard for third, and pulling up on the back of Kelly for second, the safety car was called with nine to go.

Scott had fresher tyres than the two cars in front but everyone on new tyres lost their advantage as the pressures dropped in cold conditions.

After getting past McLaughlin on the restart, he was able to hold off Van Gisbergen for the last seven laps, but just didn’t have enough to move past Kelly in the dying stages, crossing the line in second.

JC did a great job to hold those around him off after the restart, finishing in ninth.

A good day for the team, with some more gains in qualifying made. Bring on Sunday.

SCOTT PYE

“It was a really good day for everyone, and it’s great to be back on the podium again.

“The car was great today, and the guys made a really good call on strategy which put us in the position to win at the end.

“We just didn’t quite have enough for Rick at the end, who’s pace was excellent in the closing stages, so it would have been nice to grab another win but hey, second is great.

“Looking forward to tomorrow now. Bring it on.”

JAMES COURTNEY

“It was nice to be back in the car that’s for sure. Still not feeling 100 per cent, but a lot better than yesterday.

“A big thanks to Jack for stepping in and doing a really good job, it gave us a good base to go off today.

“There was a little left in the table in qualifying which was disappointing, we could have been a bit higher up, but we moved forward in the race which was nice.

“Congratulations to Scott and the team on second today, shows the car is good so we will look to capitalise tomorrow.”

Two Top 6's To Round Out Tassie

Sat, 07 Apr 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1™ Boost Mobile Racing has capped of a solid weekend in Tasmania with both cars inside the top-six in race eight of the championship, leaving the weekend second in the overall Teams Championship.

James Courtney crossed the line in fourth, with Scott Pye two spots behind him in sixth in the 200km race around Symmons Plains.

Following on from yesterday’s podium, James Courtney advanced directly through to stage two of qualifying after recording the sixth best time in practice 4. Scott just missed out, in 12th.

Both cars made it into the third stage of qualifying, which determined the top-10, resulting in a seventh place start for JC and a 10th place start for Scott for the 84-lap race.

Both cars showed strong pace in the opening stint, despite different strategies.

JC stopped on lap-24, and immediately was able to move his way up the order due to some blistering laps out of the box, which included the quickest lap of the race.

Pye went six-laps longer, meaning he would have the advantage of fresher tyres at the end of the race.

After the second round of stops, JC found himself in fourth, just out of striking distance from the top three, where he would go on to finish.

Scott was on the charge late, moving up three spots to come home in sixth, a few laps away from claiming a top-five.

All-in-all, it was a great result for the team. Both cars’ race pace was strong, and both qualified in the top-10 for both races, a real key focus of ours.

James walks away from the round in fourth in the Drivers Championship, with Scott in seventh.

The momentum continued to build this weekend, now it’s about taking another step forward at Phillip Island in a few weeks time.

JAMES COURTNEY

“It was another great day for the team.

“It’s a real positive sign when we are not content with two top-six finishes, it shows the confidence and the belief among the group that we can achieve great things.

“The car was really good today, we just used a little too much of the tyre early in the last stint to have a go at the guys on the podium.

“I’m already looking forward to Phillip Island.”

SCOTT PYE

“Overall, a really positive weekend where we definitely took another step forward.

“Qualifying was a little bit disappointing in that we just didn’t get enough out of the tyre, but to still be in the top-10 was great.

“The car today was good. We were able to move forward in the race and grab another solid result.

“We are headed in the right direction, but we will continue to work hard over the next week and have another crack at Phillip Island.”

ExxonMobil shares insights from used oil analysis service

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 14:00:00 GMT

Since launching its Mobil Serv ^TM Lubricant Analysis platform in 2016, ExxonMobil has processed more than one million samples. This first-hand experience has provided unique insights, which when combined with the tens of millions samples the company analysed using previous platforms, has given ExxonMobil vast intelligence around how to interpret used oil analysis results.

The four key learnings are:

1. A single test does not always tell the full story

Receiving an alert for a single test is not necessarily indicative of an equipment performance issue. Instead, it’s important to look at all test results for the same sample together to determine what might be happening. For example, a common test for gas engines is Acid Number (AN). In the samples ExxonMobil processed, AN results did result in alerts more than 5% of the time in these applications.

But, assessing the AN result alone does not provide insight into how the gas engine is performing. Operators need to consider the significance and relevance of the test when making maintenance decisions. In terms of relative importance, consider oxidation, nitration, viscosity, wear metals and BN (Base Number) results to truly understand if the lubricant is still performing well. Relying solely on the AN result may lead to the wrong interpretation. This is why consistent monitoring of the complete analysis results trend is an effective method to understand what is happening inside the equipment.

2. Consider the trend, not the absolute test limit

A single alert doesn’t necessarily mean the lubricant is underperforming. In some cases, test limits may not always indicate a cause for concern or may not account for equipment design. Operators must look at the trend over time to understand true performance. A consistent alert over multiple sampling periods, for example, would certainly be cause for closer inspection.

For example, the test for copper wear metal appeared consistently as a top alert in the diesel engine samples tested by ExxonMobil. However, some engines have undergone significant design and component changes in recent years. The testing programme must therefore adapt to changes that may affect the limits applied to properly confirm the actual engine condition, and as a result, a single copper alert may not indicate a performance issue. Instead, operators should monitor the trend to see if the copper wear increases over time.

3. Sometimes, lubricant formulation can influence test results

When evaluating used oil analysis results, it’s important to consider the lubricant formulation as well as the metallurgy of the equipment. In some cases, components in the formulation can cause alerts for certain tests. For example, some hydraulic oils are formulated with zinc-based additives. These lubricants may cause metal wear test results – including copper tests – to seem abnormally high. In those instances, operators should take a closer look to understand if copper is actually entering the system or if components in the lubricant formulation may in fact be triggering the alert.

4. When dealing with water, perform the right test

Water contamination is a major challenge for several industrial applications, including compressors, steam turbines and paper machines, so this potential contaminant deserves its own callout.

There are two types of tests that are typically used to measure water contamination in industrial applications – Karl Fischer titration and the hot plate test. The hot plate test only signifies if water is present, but it doesn’t provide insight into how much. The Karl Fischer titration gives a quantifiable measure, providing far more insight into whether or not the lubricant is suffering from water contamination. Therefore, operators should consider the hot plate as a conditional test to decide if the more in-depth Karl Fisher analysis should be conducted to determine the actual level of contamination.

For example, more than 25% of compressor samples tested by ExxonMobil came back with hot plate alerts, but the Karl Fischer test showed alerts around 5% of the time. The implication is that water isn’t yet an issue for most of the equipment tested, and relying on the hot plate test alone may not provide an accurate picture.

To learn more about how ExxonMobil can help, visit mobilserv.mobil.com or contact East Coast Lubes, your local ExxonMobil Representative.

Lucky 'Ask for Mobil' winners drive away with once-in-a-lifetime prize.

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil customers presented with keys to new limited edition HSVs

Mobil 1 - the world's leading synthetic engine oil manufacturer - has revealed the three grand prize winners of its ‘Ask for Mobil’ consumer promotion at a special presentation event hosted by Mobil 1 HSV Racing drivers, James Courtney and Scott Pye.

The three Grand Prize winners - Steve Williams from Victoria, Lizzie Stubbings from Queensland and Neville Roesler from South Australia - were presented with the keys to their brand new limited edition HSVs at an exclusive lunch at the world-famous Walkinshaw Production Facility.

The consumer promotion offered Mobil lubricant customers the chance to win $250,000 worth of prizes including one of three limited edition HSV vehicles, $15,000 worth of Visa gift cards or instant Mobil 1 product.

1 Mobil Retail Manager, Christie Torwick, said the ‘Ask for Mobil’ promotion had proved hugely popular with Mobil customers as it rewarded loyalty with the opportunity to secure top notch prizes.

“Our new and loyal customers know and trust Mobil 1 to deliver the most advanced performance benefits and is trusted by drivers to keep their engines running like new. We receive stunning brand loyalty from our consumers, and we saw this as a great opportunity to give something back to them.

“This fun, exciting promotion - offering prizes that were second to none - was hugely successful and we congratulate all our winners, especially our grand prize winners,” Ms Torwick said.

Grand prize winner and new HSV GTS Sport owner, Steve Williams, said he was thrilled to learn of his win and believes it’s a testament to his loyalty to Mobil 1 products over the last 20 years.

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve always used Mobil 1 products in my vehicles as I know I can trust them to keep my engine running smoothly and efficiently. It’s brilliant to be rewarded for years of loyalty to Mobil 1 and I’m stoked to have won this amazing grand prize.

“Picking up the keys to my very own piece of Australian automotive history is a moment I’ll treasure forever. I’m still pinching myself that I’ve actually won,” Mr Williams said.

Another grand prize winner, Neville Roesler, said he was ecstatic with his win and was looking forward to getting behind the wheel of his brand new HSV Maloo Sport and putting it through its paces.

“I’ve never won anything in my life so this feels very surreal. I’m passionate about Mobil 1 products as its oil has kept all my vehicles running like clockwork over the last two decades. When I spotted the promotion I decided to enter instantly however, I never expected to actually win! I can’t wait to drive into retirement in my brand new HSV,” Mr Roesler said.

Pye and Luff claim podium at Bathurst

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 14:00:00 GMT

Scott Pye and Warren Luff have claimed second position at the 2017 Bathurst 1000. What a day for them, and the team.
Both Scotty and Luffy drove flawlessly for the 1000 kilometres around the mountain, charging forward in the last stint to stand on the second step of the podium.
Unfortunately for the other side of the garage, their race copped a major blow with 20 laps to go, when JC tagged the wall over the top of the mountain, forcing him in the garage for the majority of what was left.
They were running 10th at the time, with fuel on board to get home.
The day spiced up while we were on the grid, as the rain began to fall.
The field started on wets, as JC and Luffy took the start line.
Luffy’s first stint, against the main drivers, was a defining moment of the race. After starting 20th, he found himself as high as eighth before handing the keys to Scotty.
All four drivers hardly put a foot wrong all day. Jack Perkins was constantly moving forward throughout, putting in a really solid drive.
The majority of the race was wet, which meant it was lengthy, but went relatively uninterrupted race, which was surprising.
JC jumped in for his final stint at the 99-lap mark, while Luffy and Scotty swapped places on lap 115, setting it up for an exciting finish.
The biggest guessing game came late in the race. There was a decision to be made whether you pit before the last fuel window to take slicks, or stay out on wets, and wait for the magic number.
While that was happening, JC was handed a drive through penalty for weaving behind the safety car once its lights were out.
That put him back in 13th, while Scott was in p6.
Another safety car with 27 to go bunched the field up.
That last 25 laps were nothing short of crazy. Sprinkles of rain, worries about fuel, more safety cars and accidents, and JC hitting the wall.
Scott Pye was as cold as ice in the closing laps, withstanding challenges from Van Gisbergen and Coulthard, securing second spot. It was the second defining moment, and one he can be very proud of.
It was an incredible day for the team that was built from hard work.
This one is for you guys though. Thank you for all your support this year, it’s been incredible, and we wouldn’t be here without you.

SCOTT PYE
“It’s so cool being on the podium at Bathurst. I’m so happy to get this result, and so happy for the team as a whole. Everyone here deserves this, they have worked so hard this year.
“It was difficult out there, the conditions were crazy. Full credit to Luffy, he did a mega job to get us right up there, which set up our day.
Safety cars came and went, but we felt like a couple of them didn’t work in our favour, and a couple did. That’s what Bathurst is about, you’ve got to keep looking forward and staying positive.
That restart at the end was crazy.
It took a while to get going, it was great fun, the conditions at the end made it even better.
“I’m just rapt for everyone involved.

WARREN LUFF
“This is amazing. To be on a Bathurst podium with this team, in this car, is incredible. Everyone in the team deserves this.
“It’s an amazing event, and to finish the race on a high on the podium, and for it to be Scott’s first here is extra special.
“There’s been a lot going on with the team with the recent, and exciting announcements of our new partners, so a result like this couldn’t have come at a better time.
“We had a really good overall day today, everyone played their part, the car was good, and Scott did an incredible job at the end to bring it home in second.”

JAMES COURTNEY
“I’m devastated for the team for it to end like it did today. They did a great job all week, to get us in the shootout and then all day today.
“We had the fuel advantage, but it came undone over the top.
“Jack did a great job today as well, he didn’t put a foot wrong. I’m proud of him.
“We’ll be back at the Gold Coast.

JACK PERKINS
“Today didn’t end how we would have liked but there were still some positives to take from the weekend.
“We are disappointed now, but we made the shootout, and were in the hunt at the end.
“The race was tricky today, especially at the end with the conditions changing, but that’s Bathurst.
“Eyes forward to the Gold Coast now.”

Mobil 1 sponsored motorsports teams blaze ahead with hat trick victories around the world

Sun, 16 Jul 2017 14:00:00 GMT

• Partners in performance, Porsche and Mobil 1 got their first-place win in 24 hours of racing in Le Mans, ensuring a third successive Le Mans victory.

• In Formula One™, Daniel Riccardo brings home the first win of the season under the new ExxonMobil and Red Bull Racing technology partnership.

• In the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup, Kevin Harvick for Stewart-Haas Racing secured another first win of the season for Mobil 1™ at the technically challenging Sonoma Raceway track.

Singapore, 17th July 2017 – The month of June proved to be one full of celebrations with Mobil 1 sponsored motorsports teams bringing home three major racing wins around the world. Helping drivers deliver performance beyond expectations, the victories demonstrate why Mobil 1 has long been and continues to be the lubricant of choice for top racing teams around the globe.

Towards the end of June, Formula One fans were treated to a dramatic and incident-packed race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo emerged at the front of the pack in a race that included three safety-car periods and a red-flag race stoppage. Azerbaijan was the 121st win in Formula One for Mobil 1 and Esso and the first win since Mobil 1 and Esso became Red Bull Racing’s team partner for lubricants and race fuel.

Earlier in 2017, it was announced that ExxonMobil would be the official fuel, lubricant and motor oil partner to Red Bull Racing in 2017, providing the team with leading-edge Mobil 1 lubricants and Synergy Race Fuels. Mobil 1 advanced synthetic motor oil is engineered for extreme and is proven to deliver exceptional performance and protection for modern engines.

In what is touted as the world’s most extreme endurance race three OEM partners – Porsche, Toyota and Corvette, powered by Mobil 1, demonstrated endurance and determination over 24 hours of racing in Le Mans. Living up to its reputation as the most iconic and demanding event in the endurance racing calendar, 24 Hours of Le Mans 2017, was an exciting, action-packed race with Porsche clinching the top spot.

And finally, Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick, returned to the victory lane with his first win of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season. Notorious for its technically challenging course, the Sonoma Raceway track features 11 turns demanding both supreme navigation skills and stellar engine performance. Harvick led the race for 24 laps and this is his first win at Sonoma.

ExxonMobil uses racing as a development and proving ground for its products enabling further testing and development of Mobil 1 lubricants that are eventually made available for consumers around the globe.

About ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading inventory of resources and is one of the world’s largest integrated refiners, marketers of petroleum products and chemical manufacturers. For more information, visit www.exxonmobil.com or follow ExxonMobil on Twitter www.twitter.com/exxonmobil .

About Mobil 1 in Motorsports

Racing provides the Mobil 1™ brand the ultimate testing ground to improve the technology in our range of oil and lubricants. Each race season, their advanced products go to work to help improve vehicle performance and efficiency. Mobil 1 full synthetic motor oil serves as the lubricant of choice for many of the world’s top race teams competing in highly demanding motorsports series. The knowledge they gain through these partnerships helps their scientists and engineers push the boundaries in developing cutting-edge technologies.

ExxonMobil partners with Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR’s Monster Energy Series; Red Bull Racing in Formula 1; Porsche and TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship; TOYOTA GAZOO Racing in the FIA World Rally Championship; Corvette Racing and Porsche North America in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship; and numerous teams competing in the Pirelli World Challenge, USAC, World of Outlaws, NHRA and numerous pavement and dirt track series.

Along with its status as the Official Lubricant Technology Partner and Official Motor Oil of NASCAR, Mobil 1 serves as the title sponsor of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and the Official Motor Oil of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). Mobil 1 technology is trusted by more than 50 percent of teams in NASCAR’s top three series. For more information, visit: www.mobil1racing.com .

About Mobil 1

The world's leading synthetic motor oil brand, Mobil 1 features anti-wear technology that provides performance beyond their conventional motor oils. This technology allows Mobil 1 to meet or exceed the toughest standards of car builders and to provide exceptional protection against engine wear, under normal or even some of the most extreme conditions. Mobil 1 flows quickly in extreme temperatures to protect critical engine parts and is designed to maximize engine performance and help extend engine life. For more information, visit mobil1.com , on Facebook, www.facebook.com/mobil1 and on Twitter @mobil1 .

Mobil launches new promotion

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 14:00:00 GMT

‘Ask for Mobil’ is the tagline of global oil giant’s push for new Aussie premium customers.

OIL giant Mobil launched a new consumer push for its premium Mobil 1 synthetic oil recently, leveraging heavily on their long standing sponsorship of the Walkinshaw Supercars racing team.

The ‘Ask for Mobil’ promotion offers Mobil 1 customers the chance to win $250,000 worth of prizes including one of three limited edition HSV Commodores, $15,000 worth of Visa gift cards or instant Mobil 1 product.

The new promotion was launched at the Walkinshaw racing team’s workshop with both Mobil 1 HSV Racing drivers, James Courtney and Scott Pye, present along with Walkinshaw Group CEO Tim Jackson.

Mobil 1 retail manager, Christie Torwick, said the new ‘Ask for Mobil’ promotion gave customers the chance to feel part of the Mobil 1 HSV family and she hoped customers would thoroughly embrace it in the coming months.

“Our cutting-edge Mobil 1 products are packed with ultimate performance and protection and are trusted by drivers globally to keep their engines running smoothly, be it on the track or on the road,” she said.

“We love giving people the opportunity to access exclusive and unique prizes so we’re especially excited to have this promotion up and running.

“This is a great opportunity for our customers to get their hands on a limited edition HSV vehicle – as well as a host of other excellent prizes – so we encourage everyone to ‘Ask for Mobil’ at their local participating automotive retail store or mechanic and get involved,” Ms Torwick said.

“Mobil 1 and Walkinshaw Racing have had a close relationship for 24 years,” said Walkinshaw Group CEO, Tim Jackson. “It is based on a long-term, collaborative affiliation between two iconic brands firmly committed to Australian motor racing and lubricant technological manufacturing.

“We are extremely proud to work with Mobil 1 and we look forward to continuing to growing and developing the relationship well into the future,” Mr Jackson said.

The challenge for all manufacturers of premium quality synthetic oils is educating consumers of its benefits to their vehicle and persuading them to pay the high price that such products command. It is not unusual for a five-litre pack of premium fully synthetic oil to cost $75, and many modern cars take seven or more litres at an oil and filter change.

Promoting premium oils via motorsport is a well proven path, one that Mobil is continuing to embrace.

As part of the company’s recent promotion launch, GoAutoNews Premium was taken on a tour of the Walkinshaw racing facility hosted by acting general manager of motorsport Mathew Nillson.

The comprehensive and informative tour was certainly an eye opener for those not familiar with motorsport, and deeply interesting for the more informed.

Mr Nillson was keen to reinforce the benefits of links to a large oil company. Aside from cash sponsorship input, he said the Walkinshaw team had received significant assistance over the years via the development of specialist lubricants able to withstand the rigours of racing and extend components life while minimising power losses.

Just the sort of message that will help persuade people to part with extra cash for a better oil.

The Mobil 1 ‘Ask for Mobil’ consumer promotion runs until October 31.

Preview: Clipsal 500

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 14:00:00 GMT

A new season. A new chapter. The same team. The same goal.

Yep, it’s Clipsal 500 time, and we’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll in 2017.

After what seems like an eternity since Sydney 2016, this weekend we are firing up the Mobil 1 HSV Racing cars for the first 2017 Virgin Australian Supercars Championship round, with eyes firmly focused on getting the job done on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

After a successful shakedown of the Walkinshaw powered machines at Sydney Motorsport Park last week, the team is ready for what the streets of Adelaide hold.

In terms of events, they don’t come much tougher. It’s a weekend that puts everything under the microscope.

The drivers will battle cockpit temperatures in excessive of 60 degrees if it’s a South Australian scorcher, each race is 250 kilometres long, the track is known as a concrete jungle, and no one has raced a Supercar since the first weekend of December last year.

For James Courtney, the Adelaide Parklands Circuit has been a happy hunting ground in recent times. The last three years, JC has been on the top step of the podium in one of the races across the weekend.

That’s something he hopes continues.

For Scott Pye, it will be the first time he takes the starting grid in his new colours.

It didn’t take him long to feel at home in his 2017 ride at the test day, which allowed him to knuckle down on car set up and tyre information in the afternoon session.

He is looking to continue his qualifying form from 2016, after taking pole in Saturday’s first race.

The Clipsal 500 also sees the first race on one of the two new Dunlop control tyre compounds for 2017. This weekend, we will be using the soft compound, which is the harder of the two new tyres.

On the team front, Walkinshaw have started 38 races on the streets of Adelaide since 1999, getting the win in 14 of those. Add to that five pole positions across the year, and it’s a track we perform well at.

The cars hit the track from the first time on Friday, before two 250 kilometre races take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

From the cockpit

James Courtney
“I’m looking forward to just really getting back behind the wheel and driving again. It’s been a rather long off-season, I’m just excited to get back out there that’s for sure.

“The way we finished last year and the success we’ve had there in the past are two really good reasons to be confident. It’s a great, exciting time of year, everything’s new from the driver line ups to the liveries, but on the other hand the results have been good so you always enjoy going back to somewhere you have had success.

“In terms of the driving challenges we face, the biggest thing is that it’s probably more of a mental thing than anything. You start this weekend knowing how hot and how hard it is, but then once you go to sleep Saturday you know you have to wake up and do it all again.
“It’s a challenging weekend, both mentally and physically.”

Scott Pye
“It has felt like the break has been longer than usual. Being more excited than ever about getting in the car has made it feel like a long time.

“For me, Clipsal is a place that I want to do really well at. It’s a favourite of mine, and because it’s my home event, you really want to tick that box and stand on the top step of the podium.

“Having some really good speed their last year was promising, and now moving over to Mobil 1 HSV Racing, they have done well there in the past, so I’m really excited to see what the package has.

“The test day was a busy one for us, having to do a few things on track in the morning that you can’t do at the shop, but in terms of the balance of the car, I feel confident. We made progress during the day.

“Heading into Clipsal, we are all confident of a good result.”

REVEAL OF LANDMARK TEAM'S NEW ERA

Sun, 05 Feb 2017 14:00:00 GMT

Synonymous with motorsport, long-term backers Mobil 1 and Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) have come together to share the naming rights of Supercars’ most prestigious race team.

The joining of these two iconic brands and Walkinshaw, form the powerhouse trio behind the new Mobil 1 HSV Racing team.

This launch marks a new era in the team’s long and prestigious history in Australian motorsport, and Team Owner Ryan Walkinshaw says the team’s relentless passion for success is as fierce as ever.

“We have two of the most recognisable and longstanding partners in the sport – Mobil 1 and HSV, who have come together as the naming rights sponsors of our new team.

“Together with the extensive expertise in the Walkinshaw garage, we believe we are in a perfect position to kick-start our new chapter.”

The new team will share the major branding positions of the car through a rotational partnership model that delivers a range of unique liveries throughout the season including the launch livery presented today.

“Today I am proud to reveal our stunning launch livery which features Mobil 1 and HSV branding.”

Walkinshaw Racing has a proud 26-year history in Australian motorsport which includes eight Driver Championship wins, seven Team Championship wins, nine Bathurst 1000 wins and 212 race wins. Both Mobil 1 and HSV have shared in all those wins under the Walkinshaw banner.

“For many years the iconic Mobil 1ä brand has remained a technology partner of the Walkinshaw Racing team, and in conjunction with our authorised lubricant distributors in ANZ we are very excited to further enhance our relationship with the team for 2017” said Mobil Motorsport Manager Australia, Colin Smith.

Holden Special Vehicles CEO Tim Jackson says for HSV this partnership allows us to perform under one banner, as one team.

“HSV’s are performance vehicles bred from the race track, so aligning more closely with the race team provides a way for our passionate HSV fans to be a closer part of who we are, at all levels of performance,” said Jackson.

As announced in 2016, Mobil 1 HSV Racing also boasts a strong driver line-up including James Courtney and Scott Pye. Returning for the endurance season are Jack Perkins, who will team up with Courtney for a third consecutive year, and Warren Luff who will pair with Pye for the first time.

Walkinshaw veteran and 2010 Supercars Championship winner James Courtney is entering his seventh year with the team and said the dedication and passion of the Walkinshaw fans is a significant part of why he loves the Walkinshaw team.

“Our fans have such a strong connection with us that it doesn’t matter whether we carry a new name or wear different colours, they know our goal is to win races.

“It’s their team, it’s their journey and I want to be bringing that team back to the glory days.

“This has been my home for so long and I can’t wait to give our loyal supporters who have stood by us something to cheer about this season,” said Courtney.

New-recruit Scott Pye says it’s an exciting time to be joining the team and he is particularly excited about being part of their new direction.

“It’s going to be a huge year for Mobil 1 HSV Racing. I have seen how deep the passion for this team runs in our supporters, our partners, and our crew, and it feels really good to be part of that environment,” said Pye.

Mobil 1 HSV Racing will take to the track for the first time at the Supercars test day at Sydney Motorsport Park, 21 February 2017.

HEAVY-WEIGHT BRANDS LINK WITH MOBIL 1 HSV RACING IN 2017

Sun, 05 Feb 2017 14:00:00 GMT

Following on from the exciting launch of Mobil 1 HSV Racing yesterday, the team has been further bolstered by the signing of a range new and existing partners backing the team into the future with more announcements still to come.

Mobil 1 HSV Racing Managing Director Adrian Burgess says along with the new naming partners the Mobil 1 HSV Racing team has secured an extensive list of both new and returning partners who will be supporting them throughout the season.

“We are excited to welcome new partner, Visa Global Logistics.

“Visa Global Logistics will be the official provider of transporting the team merchandise from site-to-site, delivering a bespoke retail store as well as being the official partner delivering a high-quality customer experience to our fans.

“Sharkbite Plumbing Solutions have re-signed on a new multi-year agreement after joining the team at the beginning of the 2016 season,” said Burgess.

Burgess believes having the support of global and Australian brands who are leaders in their fields is a testament to the hard work and collaboration of the whole team.

“The calibre and strength of the brands who are associated with our historic team really shows the level of esteem the Walkinshaw name has built over the past 26 years in this industry.

“Our dedicated and passionate fans, and our position as pioneers in the racing industry are assets few other teams can offer. We are working hard to ensure our position remains strong and we are once again the leader in our field.

“We are proud to have such a highly-regarded group of partners supporting us on our journey as we write a new chapter in our team’s story,” said Burgess.

Along with the new partners, Mobil 1 HSV Racing has secured on-going support from valued partners who have been associated with Walkinshaw for many years.

“We are also very proud to announce the re-signing of SP Tools, Morris Finance, Biante, Scania and PPG which further demonstrates their continued commitment and partnership with our new-look team into 2017.”

Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90 Product Detail

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90
Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90 is a synthetic drive train lubricant engineered to meet the most demanding extended drain and warranty requirements. It is designed for use in heavy-duty drive trains that require gear lubricants with relatively high viscosity and excellent load carrying capability and where extreme pressures and shock loading are expected. Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90 incorporate the latest technology in synthetic base stocks and advanced additives providing significant advantages over mineral gear oils.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in:
• Gearboxes requiring API GL-5 performance
• Not recommended for applications requiring API GL-4 Level performance
• Not intended for automatic, manual, or semi-automatic transmissions for which engine oil or automatic transmission fluids are recommended
Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90 meets or exceeds the requirements of: API GL-5 & MT-1, SAE J2360, Scania STO 1:0, and ZF TE-ML 07A/08.
Has the following builder approvals:
Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90 has the following builder approvals: DANA SHAES 429 & DANA SHAES 256 Rev C, Flender BA 7302 Table R1, International TMS-6816, Mack GO-J PLUS, MB-Approval 235.8, MAN 342 Typ M2, Voith Turbo 132.00374401/132.00374402, and ZF TE-ML 05B/12L/12N/16F/17B/19C/21B, Hyundai Dymos P110SS AXLELow Floor Rear Axle, Scania STO 2:0 A, Volvo 97312, Meritor O76-N

Mobilube 1 SHC 75W-90 Product Detail

Sun, 15 Jan 2017 14:00:00 GMT

Mobilube 1 SHC 75W-90
Mobilube 1 SHC 75W-90 is a fully synthetic, high performance commercial gear lubricant formulated using advanced base oils and the latest technology additive system. This lubricant is engineered for heavy duty manual transmissions and rear axles where operations require gear lubricants with excellent load carrying capability over wide operating temperatures and where extreme pressures and shock loading are expected. Mobilube 1 SHC 75W-90 has excellent thermal and oxidation stability, high inherent Viscosity Index (VI), extremely low pour point, and outstanding low temperature fluidity.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in:
• On-highway light- and heavy-duty trucks, buses, vans, and cars
• Off-highway industries including construction, quarrying, and agriculture
• Transmissions and axles and other applications where lubricants meeting API GL-4, GL-5 or MT-1 where mild extreme pressure gear lubricants are recommended
• Not intended for automatic, manual, or semi-automatic transmissions for which engine oil or automatic transmission fluids are recommended
• Applications where extended service intervals and warranties are required
Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API GL-5 & MT-1, Scania STO 1:0, and ZF TE-ML 07A
Has the following builder approvals:
JSC AVTODIZEL YaMZ Gearboxes, MAN 341 Typ E3, MAN 341 Typ Z2, MAN 342 Typ M3, MB-Approval 235.8, and ZF TE-ML 02B/05B/ 12L/12N/16F/17B/19C/21B, SAE J2360
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring:
API GL-4 and ZF TE-ML 08

Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube LS 75W-90 Product Detail

Thu, 22 Dec 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube LS is a supreme performance, synthetic, multi-purpose, SAE 75W-90 automotive gear lubricant designed to help meet the highest level performance requirements of modern passenger vehicles in all types of operating conditions including limited slip applications, as well as, deliver outstanding power transfer performance. Compared to conventional hypoid gear lubricants, Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube LS 75W-90 performs exceptionally over a wide range of temperatures.
Mobil 1 Synthetic Gear Lube LS 75W-90 achieves this through a unique proprietary formulation that delivers optimized viscosity temperature properties together with the highest level of inherent formulation stability. It also helps to protect against thermal and oxidative degradation, wear and corrosion, and viscosity loss associated with premature shearing. It also can be used in extended service and for aiding in fuel economy performance.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in:
• Modern high performance automobiles including SUV’s, vans and light duty trucks requiring API GL-5 level performance
• Initial fill, topping up or refilling differentials, final drives, transfer cases and other gear applications where lubricants meeting
API Service GL-5 and multi-purpose or mild EP gear lubricants are recommended
• Not recommended for automatic, manual or semi-automatic transmissions for which engine oil or automatic transmission fluids are recommended.
• Where extended service intervals and warranties are required
Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API GL-5

Mobil ATF 3309 Product Detail

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil ATF 3309 is an exceptionally high performance lubricant that meets original equipment manufacturers’ specifications for use in certain slip-controlled lock-up automatic transmissions.
The unique formulation of Mobil ATF 3309 is designed to provide excellent lubrication in slip-controlled lock-up automatic transmissions. These outstanding performance capabilities translate into significant operational benefits.

Mobil ATF 3309 is recommended for use in transmissions requiring fluids of JWS 3309 or GM 9986195 quality levels. It is also recommended for service fill applications where Toyota T-IV or T4, T-III or T3 are called for.
Mobil ATF 3309 meets or exceeds the requirements of Ford WSSM2C924-A and VW TL 52540 A.
Mobil ATF 3309 is also of the following quality level: Audi G-055-025-A2, Saturn GM 99866195, Toyota T-IV, VW G-055-025-A2
Please refer to the owners’ manual for proper fluid requirements.

Mobil Dexron-VI ATF Product Detail

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Dexron-VI ATF is a high performance, synthetic blend formulation that meets or exceeds the stringent requirements of GM’s Dexron-VI specification and provides warranty protection for 2006 and newer GM vehicles. It also provides improved performance in older GM vehicles, wherever Dexron is specified.
Advantages offered by Mobil Dexron-VI ATF over Dexron/Mercon type transmission fluids:
• Extended fluid life
• Improved oxidation and thermal stability
• Optimized frictional properties that provide smooth gear shifting during low temperature operation and help prevent transmission vibration
• Outstanding resistance against sludge and deposit formation
• Improved anti-wear protection which contributes to extended transmission life
• Outstanding low temperature performance
Mobil Dexron-VI ATF provides warranty protection for 2006 and newer GM vehicles.
Mobil Dexron-VI ATF meets or exceeds the requirements of:
General Motors’ Dexron-VI

Mobil ATF LT 71141 Product Detail

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil ATF LT71141 is a high performance ATF with long drain performance to be applied in automatic vehicle gearboxes.
Mobil ATF LT71141 features balanced additive performance ensuring a smooth transmission and is designed to meet the specific requirements of automatic transmissions.
Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
According to ExxonMobil , Mobil ATF LT 71141 is of the following quality level: VW TL52162
Has the following builder approvals:
MB Approval 236.11, Approved ZF TE-ML 04D/11B/14B/16L/17C Approved Voith Turbo H55.633639 (G1363)

SYDNEY 500: Sunday Race Wrap

Sun, 04 Dec 2016 14:00:00 GMT

HRT Race Highlights:

• POLE POSITION AND AND A PODIUM FINISH FOR TANDER
• Both HRT cars qualified strongly and made the Top Ten Shootout. Tander went on to take out pole position and started at the front of the grid for the final Sydney 500 race. Courtney started 3rd.
• Tander was impressive off the start line and immediately pulled a gap between him and the rest of the field. He had more than a one second lead by the end of the first lap. Meanwhile Courtney dropped one place to 4th.
• By lap 10 Van Gisbergen had made up some ground and was within striking distance to pass.
• Car #22 was the first HRT car, and one of the first cars in the race, to pit for tyres and fuel; this happened on lap 12.
• Van Gisbergen and Tander had been battling for much of the opening stages of the race and on lap 20 Van Gisbergen took the lead of the race from Tander.
• Car #2 ran a similar strategy to yesterday and ran a long first stint, not pitting until lap 24. There was a controversial release in pit lane by Van Gisbergen’s crew, which saw him make contact with Tander at the exit of pit lane. It was investigated by the stewards but they found there had been no breach of the rules.
• Once the first round of stops was completed, Courtney found himself in control of the race and Tander was in 3rd position.
• On lap 40 Courtney was called in for his second and final stop of the race. A safety car was called, just as he left pit lane, for debris left on the track from a crash involving two cars at turn eight. Tander took advantage of this and made his second stop.
• At the restart Tander was 2nd and Courtney 4th and from there it was a 30-lap race to the finish line.
• A third safety car was called on lap 47 when Bright hit the wall and ended up stranded down an escape route.
• With 12 laps remaining Whincup was looking for a way past Courtney. Courtney ran wide and opened the door for Whincup and McLaughlin to pass. Courtney dropped to 6th. Tander and Van Gisbergen were still battling for the lead and there was just 0.4 seconds separating them.
• With nine laps to go, a final safety car was called when car #15 stopped on the track then rolled at a snail’s pace back to pit lane.
• The restart came with six laps to go and while Tander tried to match the pace of Van Gisbergen, he couldn’t and crossed the finish line in 2nd place.
• A deflating tyre on car #22 saw Courtney slow for the final few laps, but he still managed to hold on and finish in 6th place.
• The race was time certain and was reduced to 73 laps.
• To top off the final weekend of racing for HRT, Courtney clocked the fastest lap time of the race: 1.28.1700 on lap 14.

The 2016 Supercars Championship has come to end and the Holden Racing Team would like to thank all its sponsors and supporters for their unwavering backing throughout the year, and over the last 26 years.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“I had a good start today’s race and had a good first couple of laps. I struggled with the balance of the car in the second half of that first stint where Shane caught me, and I just let him go because there was no point trying to battle him at that stage of the race.”

“Then as the race went on and we made some changes during the pit stops the car got better and better, but we still just didn’t have enough speed to go with Shane. Obviously I’m really happy with second, particularly after pole this morning. It wasn’t quite the perfect way to finish my chapter at HRT but certainly wasn’t far off. I’m happy with the performance, happy with the result, and looking forward to the future.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“We qualified well today and it was good to make the shootout. In the race, I didn’t get the best of starts and dropped back one place. Then in the last few laps of the race I had a deflating tyre, so I just had to slow and nurse that home.”

“It was another great result for GT today and a really nice way for him to finish the year and finish with the team. I’m now looking forward to a good holiday before we come back next year and do it all again.”

SYDNEY 500: Saturday Race Wrap.

Sun, 04 Dec 2016 14:00:00 GMT

HRT Race Highlights:

• Both HRT cars qualified inside the top 10 with Tander in 5th and Courtney in 6th. Tander was one of five cars to break the qualifying lap record at Sydney Olympic Park, with a time of 1:27.0533.
• It was anything but a dull start to Race 28 with plenty of changes to positions in the opening stages of the race. Courtney was quick off the line and moved up to 4th place. Tander uncharacteristically lost one place and completed the first lap in 7th.
• For the first eight laps Tander tucked in closely behind Van Gisbergen and Winterbottom, patiently waiting for an opportunity to pass. He didn’t have to wait long; on lap nine Winterbottom and Van Gisbergen came together and Tander safely manoeuvred his was around and move up to 5th.
• Courtney was the first of the HRT cars to pit for fuel and tyres, and he did this on lap 19. He re-joined the race behind McLaughlin and Lowndes.
• Tander was one of the last to make his first stop and completed a 24 lap first stint.
• Courtney’s second stop came on lap 41 and he re-joined the race in front of McLaughlin (who had short fuelled on his first stop) and Lowndes, which affectively put him in a podium position. Tander made his second stop on lap 44 and re-joined the race ahead of Courtney. Both HRT cars now were in contention for a podium finish.
• With just 25 laps remaining, the first and only safety car of the race was called when car 96 stopped on the track. The race restarted with 22 to go and with the field now bunched, everyone around the HRT cars were racing them for position.
• With just five laps remaining Courtney was defending his position from McLaughlin and Van Gisbergen who were surging from behind. Van Gisbergen was on fresher tyres and had come storming though from the back of the field.
• Van Gisbergen passed McLaughlin and was desperate to pass Courtney. Courtney had his elbows out and did not make passing an easy task. In a nail biting finish, Van Gisbergen slipped passed but was re-overtaken on the next corner. Just moments later Courtney faulted and opened the door for both Van Gisbergen and McLaughlin to pass.
• Courtney finished in 5th while Tander cruised home and took 2nd place on the podium.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“Qualifying was good today. I completely stuffed the start of the race up and I had to recover from that. Then there was all that drama with Shane and Winterbottom, and I had to get through that. Once I cleared that I had to catch the bunch in front.”

“I actually spent most of the first half of the race in clear air, and the boys did a great job in strategy to keep me in clear air and take advantage of the car speed we had over everyone else. Then after the last pit stop we popped out ahead of everyone else and we were in second.”

“I knew that I wasn’t going to be fast enough to go with Jamie in those last 20 laps, so it was just a matter of pulling a gap and sitting there. It was a pretty boring last few laps but it got the result we wanted.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“We really sat in traffic for much of today’s race and the front tyre temp just went through the roof. At the end there, Shane was coming at warp speed factor nine; he had that much pace he probably would have got Garth as well if there were a couple more laps.”

“I tried to keep Shane behind we and it was quite a good battle for the last few laps. I didn’t have mirror on that side so I couldn’t see where he was. I just slightly snagged the front and couldn’t rotate it enough, so that was it.”

It was good fun and a good, hard battle all day. The temperatures in the cabin were crazy hot but it was a great job done by the team on the other side of the garage.”

PREVIEW: Sydney 500

Tue, 29 Nov 2016 14:00:00 GMT

The final event of the 2016 Supercars Championship is finally upon us. From the highs of winning at the Clipsal 500 and the Sandown 500, to the lows of crashing out of Bathurst, the season has provided the expected amount of theatre.

The Sydney 500 marks several “last times”, the last time the Supercars Championship will race around the streets of Sydney Olympic Park, the last time Garth Tander will drive for the Holden Racing Team, and the last time Walkinshaw Racing will race under the Holden Racing Team brand.

Since its inception in 2009, the Sydney 500 has been the finale of the Supercars and over the years has been the place where Champions have been crowned, where torrential rain has forced the cancellation of racing, and where conditions have been so hot drivers have suffered severe dehydration. In 2017 the season finale will be contested on the streets of Newcastle.

We also say good-bye and thank you to Garth Tander who been with Walkinshaw Racing (WR) for a total of 12 years; nine of those with the Holden Racing Team. He achieved 50 race wins with WR out of a total of 54 in his Supercars career so far.

After 26 years of being one of the most famous brands in Australian motorsport, the legendary lion and helmet logo will be seen on the side of a Holden supercar for the final time before being retired. Since its first race back in 1990 at Amaroo Park, the Holden Racing Team has won a whopping 179 races which is more than any other Supercars Team. Add to that seven Bathurst wins, six championships, and five teams’ championships and you have an impressive resume.

FROM THE BOSS’ DESK

Adrian Burgess, Managing Director:
“We’re looking forward to Sydney, it’s the last race of the year and we’d like to finish on a high note. It’s been a long season and a tough one with mixed results for us.”

“We have made some good progress with the cars over the last six months and while this year’s championship is out of our reach, we head to Sydney with a focus on further car development and preparing for the 2017 season.”

“It’s GT’s last race with us and it’s our last race as the Holden Racing Team, and I’d like to thank Garth and Holden for helping our team achieve what we have to date. We’d like to finish this chapter of our history off strongly and hopefully come away with second place in the teams’ championship.”

Mobil ATF 3309 Product Detail

Wed, 23 Nov 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Bathurst 1000: Weekend Wrap

Sun, 09 Oct 2016 14:00:00 GMT

• The Holden Racing Team had a trouble-free lead up to the today’s 161 lap race having completed six practice sessions, a qualifying session and a Top Ten Shootout across the opening three days.
• Car #2 made yesterday’s hotly contested Top Ten Shootout and Tander bettered his team’s 9th place qualifying result to start the ‘Great Race’ in 8th. Car #22 started in 16th.
• Both main drivers took the first driving stint, and while anticipation was at its peak they both had a clean start with Garth up to 5th straight out of the gate. Courtney also made a solid start and moved up to 13th on the opening lap.
• The early stages of the race saw the line of traffic hustle for positions as the drivers settled into a rhythm and brought brake and tyre temperatures up.
• With 15 laps completed Tander was comfortably placed in 7th and the crew called him in for his first stop; Tander handed over driving duties to Luff. There was a small delay when the car dropped as Luff secured his seat belts before leaving the pit box which saw them lose some track position.
• Courtney was called in for his stop on lap 17 after weaving his way up to 9th place in his opening stint. He too vacated his seat for Perkins to take over.
• Car #22’s second stop came on lap 34 with fuel filled and a change of rubber. Car #2 followed with its second pit stop just two laps later. Both Perkins and Luff remained in the cars.
• Perkins was frustrated and calling for blue flags on lap 46 when car #360, which was 1.3 laps down, was blocking him from passing. He managed to get around on turn two of the following lap, hoping he hadn’t lost too much valuable time. At this point of the race Perkins was positioned in 8th and Luff 13th.
• At the half way point of the race, not one safety car had been called which was one of the longest non-safety car periods in a Bathurst race in since its introduction in 1987. Both HRT cars had completed four of their seven compulsory pit stops and were trucking along nicely with good car speed and co-drivers back behind the wheel. One car was out of the race from damage caused by a broken rocker and there had been plenty of mechanical issues for others.
• With 91 laps down the first safety was finally required when car #8 went into the wall just before skyline, between turns 10 and 11. Both HRT cars were called to pit but avoided ‘double stacking’ due to the gap between them. Only car #2 did a driver change which put Tander back behind the wheel. Perkins hadn’t completed his minimum number of laps so was forced to stay put and press on. At the restart Perkins was 6th and Tander 11th.
• Garth was hungry for positions and within two laps had made his way up to 9th. Perkins was overtaken by a number of cars through the chase and down the main straight, and had dropped to 12th.
• On lap 109 car #34 suffered an engine failure on Mountain Straight and in a cloud of flames and smoke stopped on the side of the track. Again both HRT cars were called for a pit stop and it was Tander who was first in for service. Perkins was double stacked but only for a short period; Courtney jumped back in the car and headed out to find the safety car queue. At the restart Tander was 7th and Courtney 16th. With the laps counting down fuel was becoming an increasingly important factor in the race, Courtney was asked to conserve.
• Tander had another thundering re-start gliding past McLaughlin into 6th, while Courtney wasn’t holding back either moving up two places to 14th.
• Within minutes of the re-start another safety car was called when car #3 stopped on the circuit and again both HRT cars were called in for fuel. With the stops only short Tander had already vacated the pit box by the time Courtney pulled up.
• Winterbottom fired it into the sand trap at The Chase on lap 133 and a safety car made yet another appearance. Tander and Courtney both pitted and were instructed to fuel save.
• With the retrieval of Winterbottom’s car a slow process, the team chose to pit both cars once more to top up with fuel in hope of making it to the end of the race. Tander narrowly jumped both Whincup and Davison in pit lane and had only Coulthard and McLaughlin (who had a lap less fuel than Tander) ahead of him for position.
• Courtney was investigated for driving too slowly under the safety car and eventually copped a Pit Lane Penalty which dropped him back to 17th.
• It was an intense final 20 laps as it all came down to fuel strategy. Who could conserve the most? Who could make it to the end?
• With 14 laps to go Courtney’s cool suit failed but he was able to get to the end of the race.
• Coulthard needed to pit for fuel, so it was all eyes on the three frontrunners: Whincup, Tander and McLaughlin. They were all hungry for position and as they hurtled towards The Chase McLaughlin was pushed off the track by Whincup and he detoured off-track and across the sand. Whincup appeared to redress the situation but it was done so on Tander’s racing line. In an attempt to avoid Whincup, Tander moved right as McLaughlin was re-entering the track. Tander was sandwiched. He crashed into the side of McLaughlin, spun and the two both hit the wall heavily. In a heartbreaking second the race was over for Tander and McLaughlin while Whincup continued unfazed and into 1st position.
• It was little constellation for HRT but Whincup was handed a 15 second time penalty which ruled him out of podium contention.
• With just five laps remaining the safety car was called when R Kelly hit a tyre wall but that wasn’t the end of the drama. With three laps remaining Courtney was caught up in an incident at the chase which resulted with a car in the sand trap. Luckily it didn’t effect Courtney’s position and he crossed the finish line in 13th.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“It was a disappointing end to what was looking like a promising race. It’s a shame we got caught in other people’s dramas and you would expect more from a six time champion and a four time winner of this race. To drive the way he did was disappointing.”

“I can’t change the result but at least it shows we were in for the win, we had plenty of fuel up our sleeve and we could have pressed on to the end but it just wasn’t to be.”

Adrian Burgess, Managing Director:
“Clearly we are all a bit devastated. We didn’t have the quickest car this weekend but we’ve got a bloody good team here and we bought ourselves a ticket to the last 20 laps with Luffy and GT. We were in a good position and we were good on fuel. Those around us were definitely in a lot more pain than we were and we get taken out by someone’s ambitious manoeuvrer and someone else’s dangerous re-entry.”

“But this is Bathurst and they don’t call it heartbreak hill for nothing. We are all gutted but this is motorsport, we’ll pick ourselves up and go to the Gold Coast with a spring in our step and try and repeat what we did there last year.”

PREVIEW: Bathurst 1000

Tue, 04 Oct 2016 14:00:00 GMT

This year’s Bathurst 1000 marks the 56th running of the famous endurance event, but more importantly the 2016 event will be celebrating the life of the great Peter Brock - 10 years on from his passing.

Coming away with a win from the recent Sandown 500, the Holden Racing Team and its drivers are feeling positive as they make the annual pilgrimage to Mt Panorama.

While in 2015 James Courtney missed what is undoubtedly the biggest event on the racing calendar due to injury, he is back at full strength and will be making his 150th event start in the Supercars Championship.

With a podium finish (3rd) in 2015 and a car that proved its competitiveness at Sandown, Garth Tander and Warren Luff are feeling confident heading to the mountain and will be eager to claim the Peter Brock Trophy in this special anniversary year.

If we take a look at the history books, the Holden Racing Team has fared very well contesting The Great Race:
• HRT holds the record for the most number of pole positions -7
• No active team has won more race wins than HRT – 7
• HRT sits just one off matching the all-time Bathurst wins record which is held by the Holden Dealer Team – 8.
The Bathurst 1000 is a race which has proved anything can, and will happen. Don’t forget this is the only Supercars race of the year which is not time certain, so on Sunday teams will fight it out for the full 161-lap distance.

FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“Obviously I’m looking forward to Bathurst. The best form is winning form and that is certainly what we are taking with us at the moment. Warren did an awesome job last year at Bathurst and he showed again what a great job he can do at Sandown. Both of us are really excited and looking forward to the race, and hopefully we can have a successful weekend.”

Warren Luff, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“It was great to be on the podium at Bathurst last year. We are coming off the back of a very strong Sandown where we had great car speed and were able to win, so we are very confident heading to the next event.”

“The challenge heading to Bathurst is you only get to race there once a year and it’s such a daunting track. The first time you go out in practice one you look at the time sheets and wonder how you clocked the times you did the year before. As the track gets better and you get more confident that all comes back.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“I’m looking forward to making our annual pilgrimage to Bathurst again this year, unfortunately last year I was there in attendance but I wasn’t driving which was frustrating. So it’s been two years since I’ve driven around there and I am really looking forward to getting there and hopefully getting a good result with Jack.”

Jack Perkins, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“I am really excited for Bathurst, it is our biggest race of the year and I’m looking forward to actually racing with James this year. The team showed we had really good speed at Sandown, we didn’t quite get the strategy right and a couple of things didn’t go our way but obviously with car #2 winning it puts us all in good stead.”

“I know James is pretty pumped up as is Warren and Garth so we can’t wait to get there. I’m just in awe of the place every time we go and the first thing I want to do is drive a slow lap in the rental car. The first practice lap around there is breathtaking, then you settle in for the weekend.”

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Thu, 29 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

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Walkinshaw Racing Secures Stellar Driver Line-Up for 2017

Thu, 22 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Walkinshaw Racing has unveiled its stellar driver line-up for 2017 which includes 2010 Supercars Champion James Courtney and upcoming talent Scott Pye.

The re-signing of star driver and fan favourite, Courtney, will see him continue with the team for a further three years until the end of 2019, totalling nine years with the Walkinshaw Racing team.

Pye joins the driver roster on a multi-year deal providing stability and continuity for the Melbourne based squad.

Not wanting to leave with unfinished business, Courtney said he wasn’t ready to give up his dream of winning a championship with the team.

“When I first came to Walkinshaw Racing I set myself the goal to win another championship with this team and I’m even more determined now to achieve that.

“Everyone in the team, from engineering staff to management and commercial, have all put a ridiculous amount of effort into preparing my car and giving me the opportunity to win races.

“I’ve also put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this team and would hate it if I walked away from here and someone else rolled in and started getting all the success we have worked so hard for,” Courtney said.

Apart from the six years of hard work, Courtney said he also made a special promise to the team’s founder the late Tom Walkinshaw.

“The first contract I signed with the team I did with Tom and he saw me as the guy to help bring the team back to where it needed to be, so I made the commitment to him that I would do everything I could to help him, and now Ryan, achieve that.”

“I certainly believe it’s possible to win another championship here. If I didn’t think that, then I wouldn’t still be here - I’m as loyal, committed and enthusiastic about the future of the team as I have ever been.”

During the 2016 season Pye has proved his skill and determination by scoring his first pole position at the Clipsal 500 and a place on the podium at Phillip Island, and is eager to achieve success with his new team.

“When the opportunity came up to sign with Walkinshaw Racing it’s something I didn’t have to think too long about.

“Since joining the championship in 2012 I haven’t really had any real continuity and I’m excited about having the next three years locked away and knowing that I will be working with the same group of people.

“It’s a team that has proven what they are capable of and even this year there has been some tough times, but the way they have turned it around has been impressive,” Pye said.

Pye also realises the value in being close to his team and will make the move back to Melbourne in the new year.

“I think it is important to be close to the team so I will be moving back to Melbourne. I think coming into a new environment I need to be able to show my face regularly, get to know the team, and start building those relationships.”

As Walkinshaw Racing enters a new chapter Owner Ryan Walkinshaw said locking down the team’s drivers was the first priority.

“There will be many changes and exciting announcements for the team in the coming months and the first key element was securing competitive drivers.

“James has been with the team for many years, is a proven Champion, and capable of many more race and Championship wins.

“James was offered substantial deals from other teams down pit lane and abroad, and we are thrilled that he decided to stay with us and be part of our exciting future.

“Scott brings new energy and ideas, and has demonstrated he can mix it with the best in Supercars,” Walkinshaw said.

Walkinshaw also thanked outgoing Walkinshaw Racing driver Garth Tander for his service and achievements.

“Garth was our longest ever serving driver and achieved an incredible amount of success for the team including 50 race wins, 26 pole positions, 72 podiums, two Bathurst wins and a Driver’s Championship.

“He will always be considered a brother to the Walkinshaw family and we wish him the very best of luck with his future.”

Sandown 500: Sunday Wrap.

Sun, 18 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Sandown 500: Sunday Wrap.

HRT Qualifying Highlights:

• Tander and Luff WIN the Sandown 500! !
• Starting positions for today’s 500km race saw Tander and Luff in 2nd, and Courtney and Perkins in 6th.
• Luff smoked Dumbrell off the start line and dived straight into the lead at the first corner. Perkins was in a fierce battle with cars all around him and rubbed panels with Golding through turn one. Golding suffered a tyre failure after getting too close to Perkins’ exhaust and had a huge crash into the tyre wall at turn 6.
• The safety car was immediately called but with an enormous clean-up job, the race was red flagged for the first time in the races’ history.
• There was a 25 minute delay while the wall was repaired and being a time certain race the number of laps was reduced to 143. A rolling start recommence race proceedings with Luff controlling the field behind. Perkins was positioned in 7th.
• A slippery kerb was causing havoc into turn four with multiple cars skidding and spinning onto the grass. Perkins benefited from one of these mishaps and moved into 6th on lap 16.
• On lap 36 the rain start to fall and Luff, like most of the field, took the opportunity to pit for wet tyres. Perkins meanwhile continued to circulate but pitted on the next lap for his wets. No driver change took place during either of these stops; Luff re-joined the race still in 1st place and Perkins had jumped up a massive two spots to 4th.
• By lap 46 the track was starting to dry, but with more rain predicted both Perkins and Luff stayed out now concentrating on managing their tyres. Dumbrell had caught up to Luff and was applying the pressure, eager to take the race lead; and he did.
• Canto found himself in the wall on lap 55 and the safety car was again called to the track. Luff took advantage and pitted for new wet tyres, fuel and a driver change. A mistake in the stop saw a jack stand left under the car, but the crew quickly lifted the car and retrieved it.
• While some time was lost in the stop Tander didn’t let that or the rain dampen his spirits. All the cars ahead of him had co-drivers steering, so Tander demonstrated his passing skills and quickly stormed up to 5th. Perkins meanwhile was positioned in 3rd place, yet to make his second stop.
• Tander wasn’t content with 5th and with fresher tyres soon found himself behind his teammate Perkins. He wasted no time passing and moving into 3rd and before long he was back in touch with the race leader.
• On lap 73 Perkins had lost a number of places to cars on fresher wets and with the track drying up it was time for new rubber. He was called in for slick tyres, fuel and a driver change. On the next lap Tander made the call to also stop for slick tyres and fuel. It was a fast stop by the crew and when Tander re-joined the race we was effectively 1st.
• A slippery track saw Tander faulter momentarily at turn four but it was enough to let McLaughlin sneak by and move into the race lead. Tander regained composure and was only a few tenths of a second behind. Courtney was positioned back in mid-field but with good car speed was able to climb back up to 14th by lap 89.
• On lap 100 Tander was still fighting to get past McLaughlin; he’d made numerous attempts but a slippery track made it difficult and risky. To make matters harder, Van Gisbergen had joined the back of them and was hoping for a mistake to be made. Lap after lap Tander was knocking at the door just inches from being able to pass McLaughlin.
• Tander came in for his final stop on lap 105. When the race leaders McLaughlin and Van Gisbergen stopped on the next lap, Tander sailed passed them down the straight as they re-joined the race.
• At this stage Courtney was up to 8th still to make his final stop, he completed this on lap 106.
• As the laps were counting down, car #2’s left front guard came loose and was dangling off the car. There was nervous moments while the team waited to know if the car would be black flagged. Supercars technical team were happy to let Tander continue!
• When the chequered flag was waved Tander (and Luff) crossed the line 1st and Courtney (and Perkins) finished just outside the top 10 in 11th.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“It was obviously a very good day and the encouraging thing was the car speed was there all weekend. The car qualified really, really strongly on Saturday then was strong again in the qualifying races. Even in the mixed conditions today the car was fantastic.”

“Waz did an awesome opening stint in what were really trying conditions and then we made some great strategy calls through the back half of the race. We were doing it quite easy to be honest. But then when the front guard came loose the car became quite difficult to drive.”

“Luckily we had enough margin to get the job done. It’s a great result for the team and particularly for the car #2 guys, they’ve been working really hard and it’s nice to be taking a big trophy home.”

Warren Luff, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“I am super excited tonight and to win at the Sandown 500 is an amazing result. To win for the Holden Racing Team is something very special. There has been so much effort go into the enduro preparation so it is a full credit to the guys on the team and everyone back at the factory.”

“Everyone has put so much effort into building this new car and right from Friday practice it’s been sensational. Again I can’t speak highly enough of the team, I’m very excited and it is great to come away with the win.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“The cars are obviously quite speedy and Garth and Luffy won the race which was excellent. Our lap times were good but we were really out of the race when we missed the opportunity to stop under the safety car. It was disappointing but I’m really excited for the team and what’s to come.”

Jack Perkins, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“Today was good and bad. It was great that the team won but I felt like we deserved a better result with car #22. I gave it my all today but just didn’t have the speed there at the end of my stint on the old wets. James recovered for us well and we finished just outside the top 10 which is really encouraging for the whole team heading to Bathurst.”

Sandown 500: Saturday Wrap

Sun, 18 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Qualifying Race 1 (co-drivers only) and Qualifying Race 2 (main drivers only)

HRT Qualifying Highlights:

• The Sandown 500 has a unique qualifying format which consists of a qualifying session followed by two qualifying races. In the first of the qualifying races is a co-driver only race. Their finishing positions become the starting positions for the second qualifying race which is contested only by the main drivers. The finishing positions for the second qualifying race sets the grid for Sunday’s 500km Endurance Cup opener.
• This morning’s Qualifying saw Tander clock the 4th fastest time and teammate Courtney the 8th fastest.
• In the qualifying race, Luff was quick to react off the start line and held his ground as he knuckled down short 60km race. Perkins was a little slower at the get-go but avoided a three-car crash at turn 1 and only dropped one place to 9th on the opening lap. Luff was hot on the heels of Youlden who was one car ahead but not wanting to make any silly mistakes he patiently sat back and waited for Youlden to burn up his tyres. With just two laps remaining Luff took the opportunity to overtake, and with caution and precision he moved up to 3rd place.
• Perkins meanwhile had trucked along nicely for 20 laps, stayed out of trouble and finished in 9th with a straight car to hand over the Courtney.
• In the second qualifying race Tander had a blistering start and dragged Davison to the first corner. Tander came out ahead and moved into 2nd place. Tander then found himself in clear air behind the race leader.
• Meanwhile Waters swerved in front of Courtney down the straight and into turn 1. There was nervous moment for Courtney heading into turn two as Waters got loose and fired off into the grass. The safety car was immediately called while he was retrieved.
• At the restart on lap 5, Tander stuck like gum to the Whincup who was leading the race. With pole position at stake Tander chose not to risk a front row starting position and sat comfortably behind him. With McLaughlin proving he had good pace Tander carefully watched his back as the laps counted down.
• With ten laps remaining Courtney was looking for a way around Davison and when the opportunity arose he pounced, moving into 8th.
• On lap 18 a tussle ahead of Courtney between Van Gisbergen and Coulthard saw Coulthard punted onto the grass. Van Gisbergen was ordered to redress behind him, handing Courtney a two place boost up to 6th.
• For tomorrow’s 500km blockbuster Tander and Luff will start on the front row in 2nd, and Courtney and Perkins will start on the third row in 6th.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“To be honest I was a little bit disappointed with qualifying today, I made a couple of mistakes on the second two runs and didn’t improve. So I think there was more speed in the car in qualifying.

“We got to the front row in the two races today, Waz did an awesome job and my race was pretty solid as well. We got a lot of information today so we will go to bed tonight and see what the skies look like in the morning.”

Warren Luff, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“I was very happy with the pace of the car today and we learnt a lot about what the tyre degradation will be like for tomorrow. Being behind Youlden I could see that they were in a fair bit more trouble tyre wise and I just had to bide my time and not do anything too silly.”

“I was able to get past with two laps to go and I was very happy. Garth starts P3 for the next qualifying race so fingers crossed for that and tomorrow.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“The car was pretty good today, although maybe a little stiff for us. The car was bouncing a bit and we were a little unhappy on the kerbs, and probably too aggressive on the bumps. So we’ll have a look what car #2 is doing because that side of the garage was obviously very good today.”

“Starting on the third row is a great position for Jack and myself and we were able to move forward in today’s qualifying races. Starting from the third row; the race is anyone’s from there.”

Jack Perkins, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“Unfortunately I didn’t make a very clean start which is a bit disappointing but a few cars in front took themselves out of the race. We had pretty good pace in the race and I just got stuck behind a few cars.”

“Overall our car is good and I think it’s a lot better than where we just finished. We just need to sneak forward and start tomorrow’s race inside the top 10. I think we can win from inside the top 10 and we need to keep the car as clean as we can. Now I will watch James.”

PREVIEW: Sandown 500

Tue, 13 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Did you know that AFL Footy Show Star Sam Newman took pole position at the Sandown 500 in 2002? This fascinating piece of trivia is in no way related to the Holden Racing Team but given the Sandown 500 kicks off this week we thought it was a fun fact we would share. And just so you know Newman was driving a Ferrari in the second of two years where the race was run for Nations Cup and production cars.

It is the start of the much anticipated endurance season and the Holden Racing Team welcomes back Warren Luff who is again co-driving with Garth Tander, and Jack Perkins who teams up with James Courtney for a second time.

As the reigning PIRTEK Enduro Cup Champions, Luffy and Tander are eager for a repeat of last year’s performance to claim the trophy for a second year running. If they win the cup again, Luffy will become the only driver to have won the title three times.

Perkins and Courtney are excited at the prospect of actually racing together for 2016’s three endurance events after Courtney was side-lined last year for Sandown and Bathurst with injury. When Courtney did make his return at the Gold Coast 600 the pair won the Sunday race and Perkins claimed his first ever race win in Supercars.

There is an important rule change for the Sandown 500 with the number of compulsory pit stops (CPS) reduced from four to three. The additional CPS was originally introduced in 2013 to help new manufacturers with new multi-valve engines who were struggling to match the fuel consumption of the pushrod engines used by existing competitors. With this no longer a problem, Supercars have reverted to the three stop rule which is expected to open up strategy.

There has also been a change to tyres with only the Dunlop soft tyre compound being allocated for this event. This should make racing a lot more interesting over the course of 161 laps.

FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“We’re coming off a reasonably solid Sydney Motorsport Park event and a very good test day, so I’m looking forward to Sandown. Last year we finished fourth there and I feel like we are stronger now than this time last year.”

“It’s going to be a very different race this year because of the soft tyre, last year we used the hard tyre for the 500 so that will make things interesting. The change in compulsory stops doesn’t really affect us as we could already do the race on three stops, it will be all about the tyre.”

“Luffy does an awesome job every year for us. He just jumps in, drives the car with no fuss, contributes to set-up and does important set up work in the lead up to the events that we can trust. He’s a pro and that is why we keep having him back.”

Warren Luff, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“This is obviously an exciting time of year with the endurance season about to get underway and it’s a great time to be part of the team. For Garth and I we going into it as the reigning PIRTEK Enduro Cup Champions and would obviously love nothing more than to back that up and do it all again. We just have to take each race one at a time but we had a test last week so we are feeling confident.”

“Garth and I have worked really well together over the previous years and we like the same things in the car and our feedback is the same, so from a team’s prospective that obviously helps with the development of the car. When you have two guys in the car you have to take into account feedback from both the drivers, so it helps when you say similar things.”

“I’m very happy with the new car and at our recent test day it was good just to go through the process of pit stops, driver changes and all those sorts of things you don’t normally have to worry about during the year. It was good for Jack and me to get some laps in the car and just get back in the groove of things.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“I’m excited to get to Sandown and it’s a track I’ve had a lot of success at in the past. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve driven there and it’s a street circuit type of track which typically I have, and our cars have, performed well at. Jack had good car speed there last year with Russell as well so I’m really looking forward to racing there.”

“It’s great being teamed up with Jack again, he likes everything the same way I like it and is pretty open minded with the way the seat is and he doesn’t really have to change anything in the car. This is good because there is no need for compromising.”

“Jack’s an experienced campaigner, has done a lot of main game racing and has been driving these cars pretty much the same time as I have. So he’s got a good amount of experience and isn’t a stress-head. He doesn’t get too worried about things so we gel well together. It’s great that we got the win at the Gold Coast last year and we would both like to replicate that again.”

Jack Perkins, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“It’s really cool to be heading into the enduros with the prospect of driving with James for all three events this year. Russell and I did a good job last year as two co-drivers but James is one of the leading drivers in the category and is on his game at the moment, so I’m really looking forward to doing all three events with him.”

“We’ve done two races together and we finished fifth and first, so we’ve got a good average, but for me it’s about proving that the Gold Coast win wasn’t one hot day. It takes more than that to make a summer. We need to try and continue those strong results. We will be aiming for podiums in all the races and we’d certainly love to win another won.”

“We had a test day last week and it was good to get some laps and work with Robbie and the boys on car 22. It was kind of a dress rehearsal for what we need to do at Sandown. This year there is only the soft tyre for Sandown which means things will be different from last time we raced there, but then we will be back to the hard tyres for Bathurst. So from an engineering point of view there are a lot of things to be on top of, but I have a lot of confidence in the team.”

U.S. mechanics name Mobil 1™ best overall motor oil

Tue, 06 Sep 2016 14:00:00 GMT

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SMP SuperSprint: Sunday Race Wrap

Sun, 28 Aug 2016 14:00:00 GMT

HRT Race Highlights:

• In today’s 20 minute qualifying session Courtney’s second last run looked promising, but the lap time was not recorded due to kerbed hopping. He qualified in 12th and his team mate Tander was one place behind in 13th.
• With the grid set and ready, the tension became too much for some and a number of cars moved off the grid before the lights went green. So the start was aborted and drivers were instructed to complete a second formation lap.
• The second attempt at a start went smoothly. The HRT duo both jumped up two places off the line and were side-by-side through the first three turns.
• On lap five Courtney and Tander had R Kelly one place ahead and they were both looking for an opportunity to pass, but Kelly wasn’t giving an inch. For now Courtney and Tander had to be content with 10th and 11th consecutively.
• On lap 10 Tander was called in for his first stop and took on tyres and fuel. It wasn’t until lap 14 that Courtney was radioed for his first stop.
• After the first round of stops were completed by all, Tander had made up substantial ground and was sitting in 4th while Courtney was positioned in 14th.
• Tander was being hunted by McLaughlin and Mostert, but with his elbows out he wasn’t going to make their job easy. Mostert passed McLaughlin and had Tander next on his hit list, and on the final corner of the lap 19, made the pass.
• Mostert’s celebration, however, was short lived as Tander took back track position down the straight. The roles of hunter and prey changed over and over throughout the next lap until Mostert, who was on the newer tyre, finally pulled ahead.
• Four laps later Tander conceded to Moffat who surged from behind to overtake both his own team mate (McLaughlin) and Tander.
• On lap 29 Tander was 8th and Courtney 11th as the field began the second round of stops. For Tander this came on lap 30 and for Courtney lap 34.
• As Courtney re-joined the race he was immediately battling against Pye and Caruso for position, but having the assistance of fresher tyres it wasn’t long before he gained the advantage over both.
• With 15 laps remaining Tander was 8th and Courtney 11th. In similar circumstances to yesterday it was now down to who could managed their tyres best to the end.
• On lap 40 Courtney’s newer rubber came into play once again as he passed both Kelly brothers and moved up to 9th, now just one place and five seconds behind Tander.
• A late Pit Lane Penalty for car #34 benefited the Holden Racing Team drivers and each moved up one place.
• The race was shortened by one lap due to the aborted start and once the 51 laps had counted down Tander was 7th and Courtney 8th.
• The next Virgin Australia Supercars Championship race at Sandown 16-18 September, will kick off the PIRTEK Endurance Cup.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“I was a bit frustrated with qualifying because I think we actually had a car good enough to be around 6th - 8th but we got the timing of our runs wrong. We’ll live and learn from that one. We were 4th after the first run and we should have gone again straight away.”

“In the race we had an aggressive strategy and pitted early which made the middle stint hard work. But it got us a lot of track position and to go from 13th to 7th, well I’m reasonably happy with that. Our tyre life looks pretty good relative to the opposition and we have a couple of things to tune up on the car. We have a test day coming up in a week and we’ll get to understand the new car a bit more. Overall really, really happy with the debut for the car.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“Today obviously didn’t go as well as Saturday did, qualifying hurt us and then I don’t think the strategy was ideal because we lost too much time through the mid-part of the race. Overall I think the car speed was better than where we finished today.”

“We had to pass a lot of cars every time we came out of the pits which cost us time. Having said that, we had two straight cars both inside the 10 and finished one behind each other, but of course we would like to be further up the front.”

PREVIEW: Sydney Motorsport Park SuperSprint

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 14:00:00 GMT

…….And we’re back! It feels like forever since the crew has been at a race track, but this weekend the Holden Racing Team heads to Sydney Motorsport Park (SMP) for races 18 and 19 of the Supercars Championship.

While there has been quite a gap, five weeks in fact, between events the HRT workshop has been alive with activity and today the team would proudly like to introduce you to its newest creation – Chassis 23. Or otherwise known as the new Car #2.

Garth Tander couldn’t wait to get his hands on it this week and headed to Winton for a 20-lap shakedown. While the weather wasn’t kind (hey this is Victoria, it’s to be expected!), the rain didn’t dampen the day and it all ran smoothly.

James Courtney is looking forward to racing at SMP this weekend after missing the race last year when he was injured in a freak accident cause by a low flying helicopter. While that was definitely a stroke of bad luck, the Holden Racing Team has actually been very lucky at this circuit in the past.

HRT holds the record for the most number of wins (16) which is more than double any other team’s haul. The team also has been on pole position more times than anyone else (7) making them the most successful team in history at this track. In fact Peter Brock won his first ever ATCC/VASC race and round at SMP in 1994.

This is the final event before the start of the PIRTEK Enduro Cup season.

FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“The shakedown of the new chassis we well. It was pretty wet and we only got in three dry laps at the end of the day but it wasn’t really about lap times, it was about shaking all the bugs out of it before SMP. And there were no bugs, the car ran faultlessly straight out of the gate so the guys have done a great job and the car runs really nicely.”

“With the new car we expect that this will react to the set-up changes we make over the course of a race weekend a bit more consistent then the car we previously had. Given the weather at the shakedown there was no way of feeling any difference between the new car and the old car.”

“We’ve had a nice break between events but I haven’t had holidays, I’ve actually been away racing with Leanne. Then the rest of the time I spent getting stuff done around the house before we head now into a very busy period of racing.”

“This is the last race before the endurance campaign but we remain focussed on what’s at hand and getting the best result we can. We’ll then test again after SMP in preparation for Sandown and Luffy will spend a lot more time in the car then.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“It will be nice to actually race at Sydney Motorsport Park this weekend as I didn’t get that opportunity last year after getting taken out by flying debris. I can guarantee I will not be watching any aerial displays this year and I am staying well away from any helicopters that’s for sure!”

“I had a good break and spent some time on holidays with my family, so I’m feeling recharged and relaxed heading into this weekend’s racing. This is the last event before the start of the endurance season, but I don’t do anything special at this event to prepare for the next."

"We are always focussed on trying to win races so that will be the goal this weekend. Jack, however will have some time in the car at our ride day on Monday which will help with his preparation for the endurance season.”

“A lot has been said in the press about the team in the last couple of weeks, it will be nice to put all that aside and just go out and race.”

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Sun, 21 Aug 2016 14:00:00 GMT

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Ipswich SuperSprint: Sunday Race Wrap

Sun, 24 Jul 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Ipswich SuperSprint: Sunday Race Wrap
Sunday 24th July 2016
RACE 17

Race Distance: 200kms
Laps: 65
Compulsory Pit Stops: One – must change at least two tyres and/or add fuel
Tyre Allocation: Soft tyre compound only
Weather: Dry, sunny, and 22 degrees

HRT Race Highlights:
• Qualifying positions were similar to yesterday’s race with Courtney again starting in 11th and Tander 23rd.
• The HRT boys were quick off the start line and both drivers made up places on the opening lap. Some of their competitors opted to make stops on the first lap, improving HRT’s positions further in the queue.
• Courtney was handed an early pit lane penalty (PLP) for contact on car #17, which he completed on lap 4. This put him back to 22nd, meanwhile Tander had charged up to 15th.
• Tander took track position over Courtney which meant he also commanded boom priority and was the first of the red cars to pit for fresh tyres and fuel.
• The Car #22 crew decided to run a longer first stint and it was one of the last cars to complete its first stop. This came on lap 19.
• With 40 laps and a second pit stop still to go Courtney, showed good car speed. But the earlier PLP had hurt his race and he was back in 25th, five seconds off the next car.
• Tander battled through the middle stint and slowly progressed passed the slower cars ahead. On lap 28 he found himself swiftly moving past car #8 into 12th position. He was on the charge and just a few laps later was up to 11th.
• On lap 35 car #17 found itself in the wall (for the second time this weekend) and teams scrambled as it was thought the safety car would be called. Car #17, however, made its way out of the gravel under its own steam, so the HRT stayed out and race on.
• One lap later Tander was in for his second stop. Out of sync with pit stops Courtney carried on with his crew mapping out their own race strategy.
• Car #22’s final stop came 10 laps later and he re-joined the race in 23rd. With 18 laps to go, every car was for position and valuable championship points. Tander, meanwhile, was 16th with just one car left in front to complete its final stop.
• Courtney wasn’t holding back and with his fresh set of rubber was making up as much ground as he could. He was the fastest car on track, clocking the quickest lap of the race with 1.10.4685’s, and soon found himself one place behind his teammate.
• Courtney was one second a lap quicker than the cars ahead and was soon past Tander and looking for the next car in the queue. It looked as though Courtney would salvage a good result after a disappointing start to the race.
• However, with just four laps remaining Courtney suspected a broken steering arm when he clashed with another car he was trying to overtake. He was forced to the team’s garage and did not return to the race.
• Tander passed the chequered flag in 13th, a massive 10 places up from his starting position.

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Townsville 400: Saturday Race Wrap

Sun, 10 Jul 2016 14:00:00 GMT

HRT Race Highlights:
• James Courtney qualified for Race 14 on the second row, in 3rd place. Meanwhile a braking issue hampered Tander’s qualifying session which saw him start further down the grid in 20th.
• At the start of the race, Courtney was quick off the mark and jostled into 2nd place at the first corner. He was on the outside at the second turn and was forced back to 3rd.
• Meanwhile Tander made up four places off the line and had moved to 16th. He didn’t stop there as he stormed his way past two more cars before he completed the first lap.
• Tander narrowly missed an incident where two cars had collided in front of him on the second last corner of lap two. This helped him move up another two places to 12th.
• Tander then found himself in a battle with Moffat, but by lap 9 had hustled past him and was up one more place to 11th.
• Courtney was the first of the HRT cars to pit, he did this on lap 13 and took on tyres and fuel. His teammate stopped on the next lap.
• After all the first stops had been completed by the field Tander was up to 7th, while Courtney was still trucking along in 3rd.
• On lap 40 Mostert managed to pass Courtney as he was on fresher tyres. Courtney pitted that lap for new rubber and fuel. Mostert pitted two laps later but Courtney was unable to catch him before he re-joined the race. Tander also pitted on lap 42, for his last scheduled stop of the race.
• After all the second stops were completed Courtney was positioned 4th while Tander was 7th.
• Van Gisbergen and Mostert were fiercely battling it out for 2nd position; lap after lap they swapped positions at nearly every turn. Courtney, just 1.4 seconds behind the pair, bided his time hoping for a mistake by either of them.
• Winterbottom quickly approached from behind and soon joined the trio, he overtook Courtney who then dropped back to 5th.
• It looked as though this would be the first race in the history of the Townsville 400 where all starters were classified as finishers – but that wasn’t the case. With just five laps to go car #222 came unstuck, hit the wall and was stranded on the circuit. The safety car was called into action to set up a dash for the cash over two laps.
• The race was restarted on lap 69 and it was a sprint to the finish. But with a number of lapped cars separating the front runners, the congestion made it difficult to move forward.
• Courtney was pipped at the post by Davison and he finished 6th. Tander was just one position behind in 7th.
Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“We had some brake issues going on in our car which obviously hampered us pretty heavily in qualifying, that was the big problem there. We changed a couple of things but didn’t really get on top of it in the race. It’s not hurting the ultimate race pace but it’s certainly accelerating the tyre wear, therefore our tyre life is not great because we are locking the rear tyres on entry.”

“We also need more rear grip leaving the corner as well. So it’s a bit of a perfect storm, the two things you don’t want for hurting your tyres, we’ve got. To go from 20th to 7th though, well you couldn’t really ask for more than that. The car is straight so tonight we can really concentrate on what we need and try to qualify a little bit better tomorrow.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“The car was better than what it has been in qualifying so there was an improvement there, but we were still three or four tenths off to Whincup. We will have to find some improvements overnight because everyone will step up again tomorrow. We can’t just bolt on what we had this morning and hope for the best, we’ll have to make some adjustments.”

“In the race it was nice to have a nice clean start and not have anyone climbing all over you. The whole race was pretty clean for me which means the car came home pretty straight. The car, however, was nowhere near good enough today in the drive phase of the corner. That just killed our tyres so we really have to work on that area before tomorrow’s race."

Townsville 400: Sunday Race Wrap

Sun, 10 Jul 2016 14:00:00 GMT

HRT Race Highlights:
• Today’s qualifying was another close affair as Courtney qualified 12th and Tander 10th. With a ticket to the Shootout Tander’s crew opted not to run green tyres, instead saving these for the race. In a very tight session which saw him just 0.001 second off the car ahead, he wasn’t able to advance his starting position higher than 10th.
• The charge from the start line saw Tander move through the field and into 7th place by the end of the first lap. Courtney stayed in 12th.
• The first 13 laps were fairly uneventful as the drivers settled in for the 200km finale. Courtney was the first HRT stop make a pit stop for fuel, a change of rubber and some adjustments to a crumpled bonnet.
• Tander stayed out for another two laps before coming in for his first stop. Unfortunately a wayward wheel nut which made its way into pit lane which cost the crew time and a post-race penalty. Tander re-joined the race behind his teammate.
• With 45 laps remaining Courtney was sitting in 7th while Tander was just two places behind in 9th.
• On lap 30 Courtney had Davison hunting him down, and he managed to get past the #2 Commodore leaving the HRT boys 8th and 9th consecutively.
• Car 18 found its way into the wall on lap 32 and the safety car was called while it was cleared. Both HRT cars were radioed to pit which meant Tander was left to double stack.
• This was to be the last stop before then end of the race, and with 38 laps remaining Courtney’s engineer, Rob Starr, warned “you’ll need to do massive tyre saving”.
• When the race restart came on lap 37 Courtney was 8th and Tander 21st. Of course Tander did what he does best and began his charge forward, by lap 40 was up four places to 17th. He was taking no prisoners and was soon up to 15th.
• On lap 49 Courtney found himself in a Lowndes-Waters sandwich. He was punching at the back of Lowndes, itching to get past. Just two laps later he got the job done and was into 7th.
• With 15 laps to go Tander was deep in the battle back and was slowly, one-by-one, picking his way up the order. He had the top ten well in his sights as he held position 12.
• The race was nearing the end but with nine laps to go a second safety car was called when a car was stopped on the track. Courtney was called in as the crew opted to bolt on fresher tyres.
• Tander, along with the other frontrunners, stay out on the tyres he had on. Courtney was the first of the cars with new tyres. At the restart Tander was 8th and Courtney 9th and there was just 6 laps to go. Which strategy would reap the reward?
• The restart was intense as Courtney immediately made his move on Tander. From there it was one of the most exciting finishes ever at the Townsville 400 circuit as Courtney stormed from 8th to 2nd place, just pipping Winterbottom at the finish line. Unfortunately for Tander luck was not on his side today and he came home in 20th.
• This was the fourth year in a row that Courtney has finished 2nd in the Sunday race.

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“Today we pitted early because that worked well for us yesterday. Then the safety car was called and it all sort of came to us. It was a great call today from Robbie – when he said pit with seven laps to go I was watching and when the guys in front didn’t go in I thought geez. Then I went in and was watching in my mirrors, and every car behind me came in which worked out well for us.”

“Then I had to really not go too crazy in those first couple of laps with everyone bunched up, I just had to pick them off. Most of them (the cars ahead) just let me through but Mark was probably the one who fought the hardest. Poor bloke had no chance with tyres their age. It was a really good call on strategy from the boys and that’s now four years in a row I’ve come home 2nd on Sunday here.”

PREVIEW: Townsville 400

Tue, 05 Jul 2016 14:00:00 GMT

The tropical far north Queensland city of Townsville is the next stop on the 2016 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship and this is one place that holds special memories for the Holden Racing team.

For HRT the biggest achievement at the Reid Park was a 1-2 finish two consecutive years in a row (2013 and 2014). It’s hard enough just finishing since no race has ever had 100 per cent of its starters classed as finishers.

It been a tradition in recent years for the red garage to run the State of Origin colours on the cars and it’s a popular talking point for fans. In 2016 the tradition continues and the fierce rivalry reignited with James Courtney showing off his beloved Blues on the side of his Commodore VF and Garth again supporting the reigning champions, the mighty Maroons.

The Holden Racing Team is one of only three teams to have had multiple wins in Townsville and in 15 race starts the team has had a total of 14 podium finishes. Tander has had a perfect run at the event finishing every race he has started and he has stood on the podium 10 times. In the event’s short history teammate Courtney has finished an impressive five times in a podium position.

Tander’s #2 Commodore will also be running a special number this weekend – W2 – in memory of Shane Krikke.

FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore:
“It is great to be running the State of Origin colours again this year. It creates a lot of rivalry among our own fans. A lot of the social media interaction we have with the HRT fans over this week is to do with Queensland (QLD) verses New South Wales (NSW).”

“I run QLD on my car by default because James is from NSW and a lot of people give me a hard time because I’m from Perth and have QLD on my car; but someone has to run it. It’s good because QLD seem to win a lot at this Origin caper.”

“The support for the Townsville event is one of the things I like most about going to this event. I guess the Townsville and Darwin events are quite common in that people travel from interstate for these races. So it has this real atmosphere of being quite relaxed and embracing.

“We’ve had pretty good memories on-track there and I think the first 1-2 that James and I had in 2013 was the best. We actually decided to redesign some parts for Sunday’s race while we were away at the event. These were designed in Melbourne on the Friday night, manufactured on the Saturday and flown up that night in time for Sunday’s race. That result was achieved by the truest sense of teamwork.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore:
“I really enjoy heading up north at this time of year, the Townsville 400 is a great event where all the locals really get behind it. The NRL team is very strong up there but for motorsport there aren’t many events in that part of the world so the Townsville 400 it always popular.”

“I won there at the very first Townsville event which was very special to me and of course you can’t forget mine and Garth’s 1-2 there two years in a row. The track holds good memories and last year I was lucky enough to have my family there to help me celebrate my podium finish on the Sunday.”

“I am a mad NRL supporter so I love having the State of Origin colours back on my car again this year. I know I am brave heading into Queensland territory with the Blues colours but I don’t care about that, I was born in NSW and that is what it is all about. It’s been a tough 11 years for them but I will stand by my team.”

Norm Wright - Go Carts are him.

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 14:00:00 GMT

We received this message from Norm.....

We had a mint enduro at Lakeside last Sunday consisting of 2/50 laps

The first race I came second & the second race I came 1st & lapped the pole sitter.

My refreshed briggs motor is getting stronger with the back up of Mobil oil

Which means I don't have any worries.

Motorcycle Oils vs. Automotive Oils

Wed, 08 Jun 2016 14:00:00 GMT

This article is found on the website, http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/oil.html. Check out the full article and see where Mobil 1 rates. Might be top of the pile!!

The end of the "Oil Thread" and why we change our oil every 1000 miles

Motorcycle Oils vs. Automotive Oils

from Motorcycle Consumer News
Surprising New Evidence on the Viscosity-Retention Question

Walk into any motorcycle dealership parts department and you are virtually guaranteed to see prominent displays of oils produced specifically for use in motorcycle engines. Since dealers are not about to waste valuable floor or counter space on a product unless it produces a decent profit, it is obvious that motorcycle-specific oils have become one of the premier parts department cash cows of the 1990s.
Of course advances in lubrication technology have resulted in some fairly expensive premium, synthetic and synthetic-blend products for automobiles also. But as you can see from our pricing research at a half-dozen auto parts and cycle parts stores, the average purchase price for the motorcycle-specific lubricants runs about 120 percent higher for petroleum products and 185 percent higher for synthetic products than do their automotive counterparts. (See Figure 1)

The companies marketing these high-priced motorcycle lubricants would have us believe that their products are so superior to the automotive oils as to justify paying two and three times the price. But are we really getting the added protection promised when we purchase these products? MCN decided to look beyond the advertising-hype, specifically to see if the claims of prolonged and superior viscosity retention could be verified. What we found may very well change your mind about what should go into your motorcycle's crankcase in the future.

So The Story Goes ...

Many motorcyclists have long doubted the need to pay the inflated prices asked for most motorcycle-specific engine oils. An even larger number of us have harbored at least some degree of skepticism about the claims made for motorcycle oils, but have been reluctant to turn away from them, for fear of damaging our precious machines if the claims should happen to be true. Most of this fear comes from very successful marketing campaigns mounted by the manufacturers and distributors of motorcycle-specific lubricants.

For example, a monthly trade publication for motorcycle dealers recently published an article suggesting, "negative selling techniques" to "educate customers" against purchasing automotive oil for their bikes. The example in the article begins with the benevolent dealer looking the poor, dumb customer in the eye and asking, in an incredulous voice, "You're not really using that in your motorcycle, are you?"

The idea, of course, is not so much to educate as to frighten the customer into paying for the more expensive motorcycle oil that only guess-who sells. Such techniques have played on our fears with great effect, to the point where high-priced, motorcycle-specific lubricants have become staple profit producing items in the majority of motorcycle dealership parts departments throughout the country.

The campaigns promoting motorcycle-specific oils have successfully indoctrinated an entire Generation of motorcycle riders and mechanics. The doctrine is now so ingrained in the industry that questioning its veracity instantly marks you as an ill-educated outsider. Even MCN has fallen victim to the hype, espousing the superiority of such products in these very pages. Our own technical experts from the American Motorcycle Institute have repeatedly advised our readers against the dangers of straying from the straight and narrow path.

What we, as well as the AMI, your local mechanic and all the other motorcycling publications have been doing is simply repeating what we have been carefully taught to believe over the years. The only problem with this approach is that our only source of information has been the people who stand to profit from our faith in the superiority of motorcycle-specific oils.

Stretching the Truth - Just a Bit

Motorcycle oil producers make a multitude of claims for their products, some of which are extremely difficult to substantiate, and others which are simply outdated and no longer applicable. This is not to say that all claims made for the superiority of motorcycle oils are necessarily false, only that the actual differences between them and their automotive counterparts may be considerably less than we have been lead to believe. For example:

Claim - Since the introduction of catalytic converters in utomobiles, the best anti-wear agents have been limited by law to the amount that an be used in automotive oils, but are present in greater concentration in motorcycle oils.

Fact - Phosphorous deteriorates the catalyst in converters and is therefore restricted to a very small percentage in automotive oils. Phosphorous is also an essential element in one of the best anti-wear agents, ZDDP (zinc dialkyldithiophosphate), which is a primary component of such over-the-counter engine additives as STP Engine Treatment.

While it is true that slightly increased concentrations of ZDDP are found in some motorcycle oils (such as Spectro products), it is also true that these concentrations still fall under the governmental limits, otherwise these oils could not be used in the new converter-equipped motorcycles from BMW and Yamaha. Also, it should be noted that ZDDP is a "last line of defense"-type additive, generally only coming into play under extremely severe conditions where actual metal-to-metal contact occurs within an engine, something that should never happen under normal operating conditions.

Claim - Motorcycle engines run hotter and rev higher than automobile engines, therefore requiring oils with more expensive, shear-stable polymers and additives than automotive oils.

Fact - This is one of those statements that was much more true in the 1970s than in the 1990s. The big, slow-revving Detroit automobile engines of the past have mostly been replaced with smaller, higher-revving four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines that have much more in common with their counterparts running on two wheels. Keeping pace with the development of the small, high-revving, automobile engine, automotive oils have improved considerably, to the point where the newer, SG-rated automotive oils are nearly identical to motorcycle oils.

In most cases where motorcycle oil producers show comparisons between their products and automotive oils, you will find them using SE- or SF-rated oils as the "automotive standard." These are oils that were designed and rated for the cars of 10 to 20 years ago. We have yet to see a motorcycle oil compared in testing to the 1990's standard, SG-rated premium automotive oils.

The Viscosity-Retention Claim

By far the loudest and most-believed claim made for motorcycle oils is that they retain their viscosity longer than automotive oils when used in a motorcycle. The standard claim made in most advertising is that motorcycle-specific oils contain large amounts of expensive, shear-stable polymers that better resist the punishment put on the oil by the motorcycle's transmission, thus retaining their viscosity longer and better than automotive oils would under the same conditions.

This quote comes directly from the back of a bottle of Spectro 4 motorcycle oil, and is similar to the advertising line used by nearly all motorcycle oils: Because of its special polymers, Spectro 4 maintains its viscosity, whereas the shearing action of motorcycle gears quickly reduces the viscosity of automotive oils.

We've all heard it a thousand times before. Our transmissions are the culprits that force us to buy special, $6-a-quart motorcycle oil instead of the 99 cent special at Pep Boys. We hate to have to do it, but we all know that it's true--or is it?

The question begged an answer, so MCN went looking for evidence that motorcycle oils really are more shear-stable than their automotive counterparts.

Help From the Scientific Quarter

About the same time we began looking into the oil viscosity retention question, we received a letter from John Woolum, a professor of physics at California State University - and a motorcyclist - who noted that he was investigating in the same area on his own. Not being ones to look a gift horse in the mouth, we contacted Dr. Woolum and encouraged him to expand his research on our behalf.

Later in this article Dr. Woolum explains the laboratory procedures he used to generate the statistics used in this article. but for the mean-time let's just take a look at the bottom line when five popular oils (three automotive and two motorcycle) were compared for relative viscosity retention after use in the same motorcycle. (See Figure 2)

As can be seen from the figures, the best-performing oil of the group tested was Mobil 1 automotive oil, a fully synthetic product. In today's market, virtually all oils sold are to some extent para-synthetic, since even standard petroleum products usually contain at least some synthetic-derived additives. However, for the sake of simplicity in this article we have listed the products as petroleum if the primary components are from basic petroleum stock. Those listed as synthetics have their primary components derived from basic synthetic stocks, and may or may not contain any additives derived from petroleum products.

Preliminary Conclusions

The results of these tests seem to support some of the long-standing theories about oils while casting serious doubt on others. Going by these tests it would seem logical to assume that:
The viscosity of synthetic-based oils generally drops more slowly than that of petroleum-based oils in the same application.
Comparing these figures to viscosity retention for the same oils when used in an automobile (see later text by Prof. Woolum) would indicate that motorcycles are indeed harder on oils than cars.
The fastest and most significant drop in the viscosity of petroleum-based oils used in motorcycles occurs during the first 800 miles (or less) of use.
All of these results (1-3) agree with everything the oil companies have been telling us all along. However, the same test data also indicates that:
The viscosities of petroleum-based oils, whether designed for auto or motorcycle application, drop at approximately the same rate when used in a motorcycle.
There is no evidence that motorcycle-specific oils out-perform their automotive counterparts in viscosity retention when used in a motorcycle.
These last two results (4-5) definitely do not agree with what the motorcycle oil producers have been telling us. In fact the test results not only indicate the two motorcycle oils being outperformed in viscosity retention by the two automotive synthetic products. but even by the relatively inexpensive Castrol GTX, which is a petroleum product. This directly contradicts the advertising claims made by the motorcycle oil producers.

The Oil Companies Reply

At Spectro Oils we talked to three different company spokesmen, all of whom were helpful and provided us with a great deal of information about their products. Unfortunately, despite our repeated requests for the testing data on which their advertising claims were based, the 15 pages of "Lubrication Data" they supplied us contained nothing that could not be found in their regular advertising and marketing packages. No verifiable testing data has been forthcoming.

The Spectro spokesmen were not pleased when informed of our test results, but when pressed, none could come up with a valid reason why their product should have scored the lowest, either. The only comment we got was, "We only wish you had tested our Golden Spectro synthetic instead of the petroleum-based Spectro 4."

Undoubtedly the Golden Spectro would have outscored the regular Spectro in our tests, though how well in comparison to the Mobil 1 and Castrol products we can only guess at this point.

When asked why the Spectro 4 petroleum product sold for $5.00 a quart when comparable automotive oils could be found at less than $1.50 a quart, a Spectro spokesman insisted theirs was "a superior, premium petroleum product, with expensive, shear-stable additives that should outperform automotive oils." That being the case, it should have been the perfect product for our testing.

We made a half-dozen calls to several different divisions within American Honda, but could find no one willing to make any statement regarding their HP4 motorcycle oil. All of the Honda employees we reached were friendly, and tried to help as much as they could, but you must keep in mind that Honda is a huge conglomerate and sometimes the person with the right answers to a question is difficult to track down through the corporate maze. Their Accessories Product Management Division noted that they had a lubrication expert that might be able to help us, but also that he was out of the country on vacation for the next month and could not be reached before this article went to press. Should someone from Honda wish to comment at a later date, we will certainly make room in a later issue.

Spokesmen at both Mobil and Castrol were a bit surprised at our questions, since neither makes any claims for their products in a motorcycling context. However, when we explained the test results, neither company spokesman seemed the least bit surprised, both noting that automotive oils in general had made a quantum leap in viscosity retention technology in the past five or six years. Both companies claimed to be using the very latest in shear-stable polymers for viscosity retention, and while claiming no knowledge of the motorcycle-specific oils' formula, expressed serious doubt that they could contain some type of additive that was superior in this context to that already being used in their automotive oils. Our test results support their assertion.

THE TEST

As we noted earlier, the viscosity-retention figures reported in the table were the result of a series of tests conducted by Dr. John C. Woolum, Professor of Physics at California State University. Since the validity of these tests is likely to be called into question by motorcycle oil marketers, following are Dr. Woolum's lab notes and explanations of the procedures he followed.

Relative Viscosity Retention Comparisons Among Five Brands of Automotive and Motorcycle Oils

by John C. Woolum/ Ph.D.

Professor of Physics
California State University, Los Angeles

The central dogma of motorcycle oil manufacturers and distributors has always been that motorcycles put different demands on their lubricants than do automobiles. In particular, they point to the facts that motorcycles run at higher temperatures and use the same oil in their transmissions as in their engines. The transmission gears supposedly put extreme pressures on the oil molecules, thus causing the long oil polymers to break down. High temperatures can have the same basic effect, as well as additional effects such as the increase in oxidation products.

When the size of the oil polymers decreases ("cut up by the transmission gears," as at least one manufacturer claims), the oil thins. In other words, its viscosity decreases, as well as its ability to lubricate properly. For example, what started out as a 40-weight oil could effectively become a 30-weight oil, or even a 20-weight, after prolonged use. What this means, effectively, is that if the claims of the motorcycle oil producers are valid, they can easily be verified through measurement of viscosity changes on various oils as they are used in different applications.

Measuring the viscosity drop in oils did not seem like too difficult a task, especially since measuring viscosity of solutions of large molecules is a common practice in many biophysics laboratories - mine included. My lab had all the correct equipment - in fact the viscometers that I normally used for solutions of DNA and proteins were originally designed for oil measurements.

Setting the Stage

Viscosity is a measure of the friction between two layers of a liquid sliding relative to one another. It is usually measured in poise, or grams per centimeter per second (g/cm. sec). The basic principle of many viscometers is to measure the time required for a known amount of a liquid to pass through a capillary tube under gravitational force. The time taken will depend on the viscosity and the density of the liquid. The more viscous or less dense the liquid. the longer the time it will take to flow through the capillary.

Therefore in reality, this kind of viscometer does not measure viscosity directly, but rather the ratio of the viscosity to the density of the liquid being tested. This ratio is called the kinematic viscosity. and the common unit for expressing it is in stokes or poise cm^3/gram.

The viscometer used for my measurements was an Ostwald-type, Cannon-Fenske 200, designed to measure kinematic viscosities in the range of 10 to 100 centistokes (a centistoke is one-hundredth of a stoke). The oils being measured had kinematic viscosities between about 10 and 25 centistokes.

For the test samples, I decided to use two types of oils designed specifically for motorcycles and three types of fairly standard automotive oil.

The automotive oils were Castrol GTX 10W40 (petroleum based, $1.24/qt.), Castrol Syntec 10W40 (synthetic, $3.99/qt.) and Mobil 1 15W50 (synthetic, $3.48/qt.). The motorcycle oils were Spectro 4 10W40 (petroleum based, $4.99/qt.) and Honda HP4 10W40 (petroleum/synthetic blend, $5.99/qt.).

Each of these oils was run in the same motorcycles 1984 Honda V65 Sabre-under as near to identical conditions as possible. The oils were sampled for testing at 0, 800 and 1500 miles each.

As temperature has a strong effect on viscosity, I had to make certain it was carefully controlled for the experiments. Using a laboratory temperature control chamber, all measurements were made at 99 degrees Celsius (error factor of plus or minus 0.5 degrees), which is about 210 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the most common temperature used for oil viscosity measurements. It usually took about 15 minutes for each sample to achieve equilibrium within the chamber.

Each oil's kinematic viscosity was compared with its own kinematic viscosity at 0 miles to establish the viscosity ratio. In addition, measurements were made of each oil's density at each state of the tests. The densities were found to change by less than one percent, which is about the limit of the accuracy of the measurements. Therefore, a ratio of the times taken for the oils to pass through the viscometer effectively gives the ratio of their actual viscosities, since the densities cancel out.

What this all means in layman's terms then, is that the ratio established for each oil at the end of each test is a percentage of the amount of original viscosity retained at that point. For example. the Castro] GTX sample at 800 miles showed a relative viscosity of 0.722, meaning it had retained 72.2 percent of its original viscosity. Or, if you want to look at it the other way, the Castrol had lost 27.8 percent of its viscosity after 800 miles of use in the motorcycle.

Just for comparison sake, I also tested the viscosity drop of the Castrol GTX automotive oil after use in a 1987 Honda Accord automobile. At 3600 miles of use, the Castrol GTX showed a relative viscosity of 91.8 percent.

As the Mobil 1 had retained so much of its viscosity after the 1500 mile test, it was the only oil I allowed to run longer in the motorcycle. After 2500 miles, the Mobil 1 recorded a relative viscosity of 79.1 percent.

Also, it is worthy of note that from a testing standpoint, the two most similar oils were the Castrol GTX automotive oil and the Spectro 4 motorcycle oil. By similar, I mean that they tested as having almost the same absolute kinematic viscosity and density right out of the container. So starting out as equals, the Castrol maintained its viscosity several percentage points higher than the Spectro, under the same use in the same motorcycle yet the Spectro costs about four times the price of the Castrol.

The Error Factor

As a scientist, I must always ask myself. Are there possible errors in these measurements that would make them invalid? One possibility here would be that there was more particulate matter (contaminants) in some oil samples than in others, which would increase the viscosity numbers of that oil. Particulates disrupt the streamline flow and so increase the viscosity. (Einstein was the first to derive the quantitive expression for the increase in viscosity due to spherically, shaped particles.)

Large particulates should have been removed by the oil filter, and a new filter was used for each test. Still, to determine the effect of smaller particulates the oil samples were centrifuged at 11,000 g (11,000 times the acceleration of gravity) for a period of 10 minutes. A considerable amount of particulate matter was found and removed in all of the 800 mile and 1500 mile samples. However, the change in viscosity made by eliminating these particulates was found to be negligible.

Another possible source of error would be that the conditions to which the oils were subjected were different. In all cases, the distances were comprised of approximately 70 percent city riding and 30 percent freeway riding. The range of temperatures and the average ambient temperature during which the motorcycle was ridden were approximately the same. If anything, the average ambient temperature was higher during the operation of the motorcycle with the Mobil 1 oil, which should have put it at a disadvantage, yet it scored the highest overall in the viscosity retention tests.

Of course the motorcycle did age somewhat during the testing period, which took place over a year-long span. It registered about 4000 miles at the beginning of these tests and about 14,000 at the end. The order in which the oils were tested was:
1) Castrol, 2) Spectro, 3) Mobil and 4) Honda.

Other Criteria

The motorcycle oil producers have suggested that other criteria. such as the amount of wear metals and contaminants, might be unacceptable when using automotive oil in a motorcycle. To test this theory, I sent a sample of the Castrol GTX at 1500 miles to SpectroTech. Inc., for a complete oil analysis. Their findings were that all contaminants (water, dirt, coolant and sludge) were normal.

SpectroTech also reported that all wear elements (antimony, titanium, silver, copper, lead, tin, aluminum, nickel, chromium, cadmium, sodium and boron) were normal except for iron, which was reported as "mildly above normal" at 51 parts per million.

SpectroTech lists acceptable levels for all of the above listed metals except iron, for which they state, "values vary greatly with systems and parts." so it is not clear what exactly is meant by "mildly above normal." Perhaps it was in comparison to cars with 1500 miles on the oil. Also, this could have been due to cam wear, since the early Honda V-4s were known for excessive cam and rocker arm wear.

In any case, again I could find nothing to support the argument that automotive oils were somehow less effective than motorcycle-specific lubricants when used in a motorcycle.

Bottom Line

It could appear from this data, then, that there is no validity to the constantly-used argument that motorcycle-specific oils provide superior lubrication to automotive oils when used in a motorcycle. If the viscosity drop is the only criterion, then there is certainly no reason to spend the extra money on oil specifically designed for motorcycles. There does, however, appear to be a legitimate argument for using synthetic and synthetic-blend oils over the petroleum based products.

MCN's Conclusions

In speaking to a number of people involved in the production, marketing and distribution of motorcycle-specific oils, we could not find anyone who could present a valid argument for discrediting the testing done by Dr. Woolum. In general, they all tried to turn the conversation another direction by bringing up other possible advantages to using their products, while ignoring the viscosity-retention question. Yet without exception it is their own advertising that consistently brings the subject up, touting the special shear-stable polymers as the primary reason motorcyclists should purchase their products.

It is this practice to which we take exception, as we have been unable to find evidence to support these claims. In short, it seems to be nothing more than a clever marketing ploy designed to enhance their products' image and separate motorcyclists from their money.

MCN is ready to print any research or test results provided by the oil companies to support their claims of superior viscosity retention, with this one proviso: The comparisons must be against actual, SG-rated oil products that can be purchased off the shelf at the average auto parts store. Tests against generic, basic-stock mineral oil or against the lower-rated SE and SF oils would lack any credibility in a real-world context.

Despite more than six months of research, reading all the claims and counter-claims printed by dozens of industry experts and lubrication experts, MCN cannot and does not purport to know all there is to know about the differences between automotive and motorcycle oils. However, what we do know is that we can find no substantive evidence that using a high-quality, name-brand automotive oil in an average street motorcycle is in any way harmful or less effective in providing proper lubrication and protection than using the more expensive, motorcycle-specific oils.

Surat Basin Mining and Energy Expo - 16th, 17th June

Thu, 26 May 2016 14:00:00 GMT

East Coast Lubes will be attending the Surat Basin Expo in Toowoomba on 16th and 17th June 2016. Come along and say hello on stand P218.

It is FREE to attend if you register online at www.suratbasinexpo.com.au

Mobil Delvac Synthetic ATFProduct Detail

Tue, 24 May 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac Synthetic ATF is a fully synthetic fluid recommended by Allison Transmission, Inc. approved against the Allison TES- 295 Specification. The fluid is designed to meet the demanding requirements of modern heavy duty automatic transmissions. The synthetic base oil composition enables excellent performance even in some of the harshest of operating conditions. It offers outstanding gear shifting and power transfer performance. Versus conventional ATF fluids, the inherently high viscosity index and stability of Mobil Delvac Synthetic ATF protects against thermal breakdown at high operating temperatures, while still providing outstanding performance at sub-zero temperatures.
Mobil Delvac Synthetic ATF is recommended by ExxonMobil for use in modern high performance trucks, buses, utility vehicles, haulers, vans and other equipment requiring Allison TES-295 or MB-Approval 236.91 performance levels.
Has the following builder approvals:
Allison TES-295 (Approval No. 051005), Allison TES-468, MB-Approval 236.91, Voith Turbo H55.633639, and Voith Turbo / DIWA Service Bulletins 013 & 118 for extended drain.

Winton Super Sprint: Sunday Race Wrap

Sun, 22 May 2016 14:00:00 GMT

HRT Race Highlights:
• The team’s qualifying form wasn’t much better today, with Tander qualifying 19th and Courtney 20th for the afternoon’s 200-kilometre marathon.
• Tander was off to a flying start, jumping four spots up to 16th before the end of the opening lap. Courtney came into pit at the end of that same lap for fuel and tyres, while Tander opted to stay out. The field was divided on strategy, with some teams opting for two stops, and others three; Both HRT cars opting for the latter.
• Tander moved through the pack and towards the front of a train, passing Pye on lap four to find clean air and slotting into position nine.
• Tander eventually pitted from 6th position at the conclusion of lap ten for tyres and fuel, before slotting back in 18th, behind his teammate. With Tander on fresher rubber and the HRT duo running two different race strategies, they switched positions on lap 14.
• The first and only Safety Car of the weekend was deployed on lap 18 after Holdsworth’s car was stopped stranded on the track. Both drivers pitted, Tander from 11th and Courtney from 13th. The #22 driver was forced to double-stack, in the hope that a short second stint would pay dividends later in the race. Tander re-joined the field 18th and Courtney 24th.
• With the field bunched back up, the race restarted at the end of lap 20 but it was only short-lived for Courtney, who returned to pit lane just two laps later with after a hard hit from Mostert. The incident at turn ten left damage to the passenger side of car #22 and ultimately damaging the upright. No penalty was handed down to Mostert.
• While the #22 Holden sat stagnant in the garage for repairs, Tander was brought in for his third and final pit stop on lap 27, Tander finding the grass on his entrance into pit lane. With the stop complete, Tander charged through the field to make his way up to 12th by the end of lap 67.
• Although no longer in contention, Courtney returned to racing on lap 34 to collect vital Championship points. He pitted again with just three laps remaining, taking the last of his minimum fuel drop, before passing the chequered flag 25th.

Thoughts on the day:

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore
“It wasn’t the best weekend for us with both cars really struggliing for pace all weekend. Practice on Friday wasn’t too bad and either was qualifying yesterday but then we had dramas in the race with Cam Waters.

“Then today it was his teammate Mostert; I gave him some room and I think he locked the rears and hit me pretty bad. I could actually see under the car, that’s how high it went.

“So it wasn’t the best of weekends, we were out of the race from then on and I just cruised around to finish. We are going to Darwin next and we qualified on pole there last year so let’s hope we get a bit more luck there.”

PREVIEW: Winton Super Sprint

Wed, 18 May 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Event five of the Virgin Australian Supercars Championship is hosted by Winton Raceway this weekend and it’s somewhat of a home event for the Holden Racing Team who will travel just three hours up the Hume Highway from HQ. Winton is also the team’s testing track.

During the summer break the circuit underwent a resurface and while HRT have held two test days there since the beginning of the year, this is the first time the Supercars Championship will race there since the makeover. Joining the team this weekend for a dedicated practice session are Endurance Series co-drivers Warren Luff and Jack Perkins.

Both HRT drivers have previously enjoyed success at Winton with Tander achieving four wins and four podiums, and teammate Courtney having had three race wins, five podiums and two pole positions.

Surprisingly there has been a number of HRT stars who did not record a race win while racing for the team. They include Lowndes, Skaife, Murphy and T Kelly. The great man himself Peter Brock never won a race at Winton in his whole ATCC career.

The only year HRT has not raced at Winton since the team’s inception in 1992 when they were only participating in a partial season of the ATCC, but the team hasn’t missed an event since.

Again the Supercars Championship has chosen to make only the Dunlop soft tyre compound available for the two qualifying sessions and two races. With fast lap times predicted, the use of soft tyres promises to spice up the racing and make this weekend’s on-track action unmissable.

FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore
“The schedule so far this year has been good and I like it a lot compared to last year. What the Championship needs is regularity in the calendar and that’s what we have been able to achieve in this first part of the year. It’s obviously tough on the team logistically but to help continue to grow the sport I think it has been good.”

“In reality we should go well at Winton because we test there and that’s probably going to be more of an advantage this year because of the change of surface. The circuit was resurfaced during the summer break and even since we tested there in February to April the track was considerably faster.”

“The track has a different characteristic now, it’s got a lot more grip and therefore you need a car that reacts and behaves differently to what Winton required in the past. So having that bit of experience on the new surface will certainly give us a bit of a head start on the Queensland teams.”

“It’s a strange quirk that the Queensland teams have better stats there, but we have beaten them up at their home test track too. When it’s your test track you tend to get a bit narrow focussed with the setup of the car, whereas when you go to any other circuit you are quite open minded.”

“The beauty of having Luffy in the car on Friday is he has been with us for a while now. He was at the test day last month and he was with us at the test day in February; so he has driven the car quite regularly at Winton. We will have a couple of pre-programmed test items for him to try and if he says it’s better that will stay in the car.”

“The hard tyres need to be destroyed, never to be used again. The soft tyre is a much better tyre and the racing has been better because of its predominant use. The new surfer will have minimal degradation so the hard tyre is not what you want at all.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore
“Winton is our team’s test track but there isn’t really any advantage this year purely because the track has changed so much with the resurfacing. It is constantly evolving and it will get faster and faster until it starts to deteriorate in the future.”

“We may have had a slight advantage over the Queensland teams given we just had a test day there, but Whincup came down to test with Holdsworth, so he would have taken home a heap of data to his team.”

“Normally we have found that with a new surface they have a lot of grip so hopefully at Winton the surface will produce a lot of good racing. You should be able to run off-line and still have quite a lot of grip and hopefully that will be the case this weekend.”

“It is awesome for Jack that there is a co-driver session just for them on Friday. He has been super quick in the car and did a great job for me last year when I was out on the side, then obviously we won at the Gold Coast."

"It’s a strange thing to say but I am already looking forward to the endro season already, so getting him in the car and getting some more laps under his belt is a good thing. On Friday he will start with a testing programme for us and give us a bit of direction.”

“I agree with Garth in that it is good just being soft tyres for the weekend, I think the other tyre is a waste of time. The soft tyre should produce some exciting racing and I’m looking forward to it.”

Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF Product Detail

Wed, 18 May 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF is a multi-vehicle, fully synthetic fluid designed to meet the demanding requirements of modern passenger vehicles. Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF outperforms conventional ATFs and helps to provide outstanding resistance to oil breakdown and deposits. The inherently high viscosity index and stability of Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF helps to protect against thermal breakdown at high operating temperatures, while still providing outstanding performance at ambient temperatures as low as -54º C. Further, it helps to improve overall transmission durability and cleanliness.
Applications:
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Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
Ford Mercon V and JASO 1-A
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring:
Allison C-4, Ford Mercon, GM Dexron, GM Dexron II/IID/IIE/IIIG/IIIH, MAN 339 Typ V-1, Voith Turbo H55.6335.3X and Volvo 97340 & 97341

Mobil Agri Super 15W-40 Product Detail

Wed, 04 May 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Agri Super 15W-40 is a high performance, multi-functional lubricant for most farm equipment applications. This Super Tractor Oil Universal (STOU) lubricant provides good performance in diesel and gasoline engines, transmissions, hydraulics, final drives, and oil-immersed brakes operating in agricultural service. Mobil Agri Super is recommended for use in a wide range of heavy-duty applications and operating environments found in the farming industry.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in:
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Has the following builder approvals:
ZF TE-ML 06B/07B
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring: Allison
C-4 (agricultural applications only), API CF-4/CF/SF, API GL-4, Caterpillar TO-2, John Deere J27 and Massey Ferguson MF1139/1144/1145

PREVIEW: Perth Super Sprint

Tue, 03 May 2016 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team is going west, no this isn’t a Village People song, the drivers and crew are heading to Barbagallo Raceway in Perth, Western Australia, for the next round of the V8 Supercars Championship. The tight turn-around between events has been keeping everyone very busy at HQ, but the team did manage to squeeze in a vital test day at Winton last week.

Barbagallo Raceway (or Wanneroo Raceway as it was formerly know) has been a happy hunting ground for the Team which currently holds a number of prestigious records at the circuit. HRT holds the record for the most number of race wins with a total of 20. No other team in the category even has double digits so you can expect HRT to hold on to this one for some time yet.

HRT also holds the record for most number of wins in a row with 10, and it was Greg Murphy who won all bar one of them. Finally, the Team holds the record for the most number of pole positions taken in a row with six.

Garth Tander is also one of only six drivers who has taken a clean sweep of race wins over a weekend, he did this in 2007. Unfortunately James Courtney is yet to score a win, podium or pole position at the circuit but you can expect qualifying times to be close, very close. History shows that out of 48 pole positions at Barbagallo, 19 have been won by less than one tenth of a second, and 30 by less than two tenths.

The V8 Supercars Championship continues to shake up the racing format and tyre allowance. Only soft compound tyres are allocated for the weekend, and just one longer race is scheduled for Saturday and one race on Sunday.

FROM THE ENGINEER’S DESK

Blake Smith, Race Engineer #2 Holden VF Commodore
“At our recent test day our aim was to try and improve the consistency of balance in the car, the only way to confirm if achieving this goal converts into relative performance is to compare with the rest of the field at the race meeting and make incremental improvements from there.”

“The difficult part of Perth is the very high tyre degradation due to the long loaded corners and the sandy surface. This ultimately means that any changes made to the car are clouded by the rapid drop off in tyre performance, so it’s very difficult to get an accurate read on the performance gain or loss. This makes the Friday Practice pretty tough going for drivers and engineers.”

“The soft compound tyre is very suited to Perth, the soft tyre gives a lot of extra grip in long corners and the drivers like the extra confidence it brings, but the sandy surface and high loadings wear the tyres out quickly so the performance drops away very quickly.”

“The drop off in tyre grip also makes the Saturday strategy particularly interesting as those who pit early will degrade and those that pit late will run them down at the end, as long as we don’t have safety Car intervention it could be some of the best Saturday viewing this year.”

“The one race per day format introduces some pit stops on the Saturday race which involves the whole team and makes the drivers manage their speed during the race, this brings more excitement to Saturday. The tyre management this year is also a lot better so we don’t have to compromise tyres between each day so there is more opportunity to see some flat out racing.”

Alistair McVean, Race Engineer #22 Holden VF Commodore
“We felt we had a positive test day exploring some new directions with the car setup with the aim of improving our performance on circuits where we lack enough consistency of balance to provide a positive platform for our drivers to exploit.”

“Perth is characterised by very long duration corners which test the lateral performance of the car. The majority of the corners are right handers which in theory allows the setup to be biased to turning that direction. Care needs to be taken though as the left hand corner that takes you up and over the hill is a critical corner where you can drop a significant amount of time. The other very critical factor is the low grip level from the surface and the impact this has on both the feeling the car gives back to the driver and also on the level of tyre degradation.”

“The track surface at Perth has taken a beating from being in close proximity to a lot of sand and being in a windy location. The track surface therefore cops a lot of sand blasting that has worn away the best of the track surface. This has taken the goodness out of the track which has significant implications on how you set the car up to allow the drivers to extract lap time from a surface that does not want to play any part in the process.”

“I like the new race format. From an engineer’s perspective it is a more enjoyable format as the combination of only one qualifying session along with a longer race means there is less emphasis on qualifying and more on the racing. In my opinion this is the way it should be. The reduction in races and the change in the tyre allocations now means we can do the job properly in terms of racing and don’t have to scrimp and scrounge our way through a weekend in terms of managing the rubber. This ensures a much more aggressive approach to the racing than we would have seen last year.”

Mobil Delvac 1240 Product Detail

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac 1240 is a heavy duty, diesel engine oil formulated from high performance base oils and a balanced additive system of ashless dispersants, metallic detergents, and inhibitors to control oxidation, wear, corrosion, and rust. It is used in a wide range of applications where a SAE 40 monograde lubricant is recommended including 2-cycle diesel applications (e.g. the Detroit Diesel’s Series 53, 71, and 92 two-cycle engines).
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Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring:
API CF-2/CF/SF

Mobil Delvac 1330 Product Detail

Thu, 21 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac 1330 is a high performance, heavy duty diesel engine oil formulated from advanced technology base oils and a balanced additive system. It is specifically engineered for performance in intercooled, turbocharged engines operating under severe on and off highway conditions. Mobil Delvac 1330 monograde is used in a wide range of applications where a monograde lubricant is recommended.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in:
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• On highway light and heavy duty trucking
• Off highway industries including: construction, mining, quarrying, and agriculture
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring:
API CF/SF, MB 227.0, and Allison C-4 (Delvac 1330 only)

Mobil Delvac 1640 Product Detail

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac 1640 is an extra high performance diesel engine oil formulated from advanced base oils and a balanced additive system to meet or exceed the demanding specifications of the world’s leading builders of modern diesel engines. It is recommended by ExxonMobil for use in European and Japanese-designed intercooled, highly turbocharged engines operating under the most severe on and off highway conditions where a monograde lubricant is recommended.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in:
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• On highway light and heavy-duty trucking
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Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
JASO DH-1
Has the following builder approvals:
MAN 4-Stroke Medium Speed Diesel Engines & MAN 270, MB Approval 228.2, MTU Oil Category 2, Wartsila Medium Speed Diesel Engines, and ZF TE-ML 04B.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring:
ACEA E2-96 Issue 5, and API CF/SF

Phillip Island Super Sprint: Sunday Race Wrap

Sun, 17 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

HRT Race Highlights:
• For the start of Race 7 Courtney qualified in 13th and Tander 20th.
• Tander had another explosive start and gained five places off the line. In an earlier interview today Tander joked he would overtake Courtney by turn four despite being a lot further back on the grid. His prediction was almost spot-on as he was just one place behind his team mate in 13th at the end of the opening lap.
• Tander was the first of the HRT cars to pit for fuel and tyres, and when he re-joined the race he immediately went into battle with Holdsworth who was hot on his heels.
• Once all first pit stops had been completed Courtney was just inside the top 10 and Tander was in lucky 13th position.
• On lap 14 Courtney made his way around T Kelly and was hunting down Van Gisbergen and R Kelly who were immediately ahead. He made a bold move just two laps later to pass the kiwi.
• Carefully calculating his next assault he overtook the other Kelly brother not long later.
• Tander was still struggling with car balance and on his second stop the crew not only changed tyres and added fuel, they made an adjustment to the front of his car to try and improve the handling.
• With just 12 laps remaining Waters punctured a tyre which sent debris flying down the front straight creating a hazard for the cars behind. The first safety car of the weekend was called while crews cleared the track.
• While the safety car was still circulating, Bright was stopped at turn four with a problem and had to be towed off the track.
• The race resumed with just seven laps remaining and Courtney had Caruso in his sights. He was almost past him on lap 41 but wasn’t able to complete the move.
• There was the usual last minute jostling for positions as the laps counted down until finally Courtney crossed the finish line in 7th and Tander 16th.
• On the Championship points table Tander is placed 8th overall and Courtney 9th.

Thoughts on the day:
Adrian Burgess, Managing Director
“It wasn’t a great weekend, we managed to get James up to 7th today and he looked fairly pacey on the second set of tyres. But the last set of tyres clearly weren’t as good and the progress halted there.”

“GT’s car just wasn’t balanced all day and it wasn’t a particularly comfortable race car for him. So we have to apologise to the boys and our fans, and we need to go away and do a better job.”

Mobil Delvac1630 Product Detail

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac 1630 is an extra high performance diesel engine oil formulated from advanced base oils and a balanced additive system to meet or exceed the demanding specifications of the world’s leading builders of modern diesel engines. It is recommended by ExxonMobil for use in European and Japanese-designed intercooled, highly turbocharged engines operating under the most severe on and off highway conditions where a monograde lubricant is recommended.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in:
• Diesel-powered equipment from leading diesel engine manufacturers
• On highway light and heavy-duty trucking
• Off highway industries including: construction, quarrying, and agriculture
Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
JASO DH-1
Has the following builder approvals:
MAN 4-Stroke Medium Speed Diesel Engines & MAN 270, MB Approval 228.2, MTU Oil Category 2, Wartsila Medium Speed Diesel Engines, and ZF TE-ML 04B.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring:
ACEA E2-96 Issue 5, and API CF/SF

Mobil Delvac MX 15W-40 Product Detail

Wed, 13 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac MX 15W-40 is a high performance diesel engine oil that provides excellent lubrication of diesel engines and promotes extended engine life. This high performance has been proven in the field in a wide variety of industries, applications, and mixed fleets.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in:
• Naturally aspirated and turbocharged diesel powered equipment from leading Japanese, European and American manufacturers
• On highway light and heavy-duty trucking
• Off highway industries including construction, mining, quarrying, and agriculture
• Mixed fleet applications
Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API CI-4/CH-4/SL/SJ, ACEA E7, Caterpillar ECF-2, Cummins CES 20076/20077/20078, JASO DH-1, Isuzu DEO (w/o DPD Equipped Vehicles), Isuzu Small Manual Transmission Oil
Has the following builder approvals:
Mack EO-N/Mack EO-M PLUS, MAN M 3275-1, MB-Approval 228.3, Volvo VDS-3, and Renault Trucks RLD-2
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring:
API CG-4/CF-4/CF, ACEA A2/B2, Cummins CES 20071/20072, Detroit 7SE 270 (4-Stroke Cycle), MTU Category 2, Renault Trucks RLD, and Volvo VDS-2

PREVIEW: Phillip Island Super Sprint

Wed, 13 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The V8 Supercars season is well underway as the Holden Racing Team heads just a couple of hours down the road from HQ to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, and on-board the transporter is very special cargo; the Holden VF Commodore donned with a proud tribute to the ANZAC spirit.

For the fourth consecutive year the team has donated the HRT lion and driver logo space to the Returned & Services League to display the famous ANZAC Rising Sun logo. The livery was unveiled at dawn on Wednesday, in the lead up to the Phillip Island event.

This weekend isn’t special for only the Holden Racing Team, the category is celebrating another major milestone as Phillip Island hosts the 500th round of the ATCC/V8 Supercars Championship. While talking milestones it is worth mentioning that HRT still holds the record for the most ATCC/V8 Supercars race wins at Phillip Island – 17 out of 54 races.

Of the HRT drivers it is Garth Tander who has performed best at this track finishing in the top 10 in his last 25 races. He has also had five race wins and been on the podium eight times. James Courtney has not been so lucky at this circuit, he is yet to score a race win, podium or pole position but of course that could all change this weekend.

Changes to his year’s Phillip Island event include a shuffle in calendar dates from November to April and, like the Symmons Plains event, Saturday’s race will be a longer 120 kilometre race and will include a pit stop. So will these modifications make for better racing? It’s hard to know at this stage, but if Tasmania is anything to go by then we can expect it to be another intense, action filled weekend of racing.

FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore
“I’m very proud to again have a special ANZAC livery on my commodore for the Phillip Island event. I think it is important because last year there was a lot of celebration around the 100 year anniversary of the Gallipoli landing and this year we want to make sure ANZAC is not forgotten.”

“We have done a lot of different liveries on the cars over the years, but every year we do a tribute to ANZAC and it is certainly one of the proudest thing that we do, so it is very cool.”

“I think changing the format for Phillip Island, like they did in Tassie, is something I definitely like. I don’t think you will find too many people who liked the 60/60 format particularly at Phillip Island on the hard tyre. The finishing positions in the 60 kilometre races was just whatever the order was at the first lap, but now with the 120 kilometre race, some pit stops in there and some tyre degradation, it will certainly make it interesting.”

“We struggled for speed in Tasmania and we have done a lot of work since then as you would expect, but Phillip Island is a very different circuit. We have a few things to sort on Friday in the practice sessions but hopefully we will have a strong car for the weekend.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore
“It’s fantastic to have the ANZAC appeal on our cars again for the fourth year, I think the team has done a good job in evolving the livery. I think it is also great the amount of awareness we have been able to raise and hopefully we have done the cause proud.”

“Like Tassie, we have just the once race on Saturday and I think this worked really well. I think it’s a much better format and I didn’t like the 60/60 races. This format brings the team and the strategy into play and hopefully the racing at Phillip Island will be as good as it was at Symmons Plains.”

“The Phillip Island race is a lot earlier this year and the thing about it is you can never predict the weather there. We will play the cards we are dealt when we arrive, but we have been there in summer when it has been bitterly cold, and equally we’ve been there in winter when it has been quite warm. The weather can change within half an hour there, but the one thing I know is it will still be hot in the car.”

A dawn unveil for the Holden Racing Team's annual ANZAC tribute

Tue, 12 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

• Garth Tander and James Courtney unveil commemorative ANZAC tribute their HRT Commodores will carry at Phillip Island V8s this weekend

Holden and its factory Holden Racing Team have unveiled their annual tribute to the ANZAC spirit, V8 Supercars Champions Garth Tander and James Courtney revealing the stunning livery at dawn.

Tander and Courtney’s VF Commodore V8 Supercars will carry the tribute at this weekend’s WD-40 Phillip Island SuperSprint at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, beginning Friday.

In its fourth year, the ANZAC livery sees space usually occupied by Holden’s famous HRT lion and driver logo on the Commodore race cars donated to the Returned & Services League to display the famous ANZAC Rising Sun logo.

A silhouette of diggers from the original Gallipoli landing features down both sides of the cars complimenting the ANZAC Rising Sun while paying homage to the birth of the ANZAC legend and those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

ANZAC Appeal signage also occupies the rear wings and the leading edge of the roof above the front windscreen.

The initiative is designed to not only pay respect to the ANZAC spirit, but to also raise awareness to the RSL’s major annual fund raising activity, the ANZAC Appeal, which enables it to assist in the welfare of veterans and their families.

“Holden and the Holden Racing team are proud to continue their associations with the Returned & Services League and its ANZAC Appeal,” GM Holden’s Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager Simon McNamara said.

“We consider it an honour to carry the ANZAC Rising Sun on our factory race cars and we are delighted to help raise awareness to the appeal and assist in raising vital funds to help veterans and their families when in need.”

The RSL's Victorian Branch Appeals Manager, Peter Smith OAM, thanked Holden and HRT for its continued support, and asked that V8 Supercars fans contribute to its appeal.

“We thank the Holden Racing Team for their ongoing support of veterans through the RSL’s 2016 ANZAC Appeal,” Smith said.

“We encourage all members of the community to attend a commemorative ANZAC Day service and to show that they care by buying an ANZAC Appeal badge and wearing it with pride this April.”

Holden Racing Team Managing Director, Adrian Burgess echoed the words of Simon and Peter and urged V8 Supercar supporters to get behind the appeal.
“The ANZAC Appeal is very a worthy cause, one the Holden Racing Team takes great pride in being associated with,” Burgess said.

“I encourage all supporters of V8 Supercars, not just those who support Holden or HRT, but the whole V8 community to help raise funds and awareness this ANZAC Day.”

Tander said he believed this year’s tribute was even more important following last year’s centenary of the Gallipoli landings.

“Last year was the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, so it is important we continue to recognize the contribution of the original ANZACs, as well as every person who has served Australia and New Zealand since then, including those serving today,” Tander said.

“I am honored to be part of HRT’s annual ANZAC tribute; it is our fourth year of carrying the Rising Sun on our cars and promoting the RSL’s ANZAC Appeal, and it is a livery the entire V8 community gets behind.

Courtney said he was proud to carry the ANZAC Rising Sun on his HRT Commodore.

“HRT’s annual ANZAC tribute has become a fantastic tradition which I look forward to every year now,” Courtney said.

“While the livery stirs up the emotions, it is important to remember our main aim is trying to raise awareness to the ANZAC Appeal and the great work the RSL does in supporting veterans and their families.”

The Holden Racing Team encourages everyone to support the ANZAC Appeal by purchasing an ANZAC Appeal badge and wearing it with pride, or by donating online at www.anzacappeal.com.au.

Mobil Delvac XHP ESP 10W-40 Product Detail

Sun, 10 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac XHP ESP 10W-40 is a synthetic extra high performance diesel engine oil engineered to provide lubrication to modern, high performance, low emissions engines used in severe applications. This engine oil is designed using high performance base oils which provide excellent low temperature fluidity, high temperature viscosity retention and volatility control. The new advanced additive system has been expertly engineered to help towards long engine life and maintain the efficiency of emission reduction systems including the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Its specifications and approvals allow Mobil Delvac XHP ESP 10W-40 to target mixed fleet applications.
Applications:
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• Heavy Duty Diesel Engines using low sulphur diesel fuels and many biodiesel fuel formulations
• Naturally Aspirated and Turbocharged Diesel Powered Equipment
• On Highway Short-Haul and Long-Haul Trucks and Buses
• Off Highway Mining, Construction and Agricultural Equipment

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
ACEA E9/E7/E6/E4, API CJ-4/ CI-4 Plus/ CI-4, JASO DH-2, DAF Extended Drain, Cummins CES 20081, CAT ECF-3

Has the following builder approvals:
MB-Approval 228.51, MB-Approval 235.28, MAN M 3477/M 3575/ M 3271-1, MTU Oil Category 3.1, Volvo VDS-4/ VDS-3, Renault Truck RLD-3/ RLD-2, Deutz DQC IV-10 LA, Scania Low Ash
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring:
Renault Trucks RXD/ RGD

Mobil Delvac MX ESP 15W-40 Product Detail

Thu, 07 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac MX ESP 15W-40 is formulated with Trimer additive technology and a mixed detergent system to deliver cutting-edge performance in both new and older engines. In addition to reducing oil thickening due to soot build-up, and outstanding TBN retention for long drain intervals, its advanced technology also provides outstanding resistance to oxidation, corrosive & abrasive wear, and high temperature deposits, as well as reduced oil consumption.
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in:
• The latest low emission, high performance diesel applications equipped with after treatment systems using Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) technologies
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Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API CJ-4/CI-4 PLUS/CI-4/CH-4/SM/SL, ACEA E7 & E9, Caterpillar ECF-3, Cummins CES 20081, Isuzu DPD Equipped Vehicles, JASO DH-2, and Renault Trucks RLD-3
Has the following builder approvals:
Detroit Fluids Specification 93K218 / 93K214, Deutz DQC II-10 LA, Mack EO-O Premium Plus & Mack EO-N Premium Plus 03, MAN M 3575, MB-Approval 228.31, and Volvo VDS-4/ VDS-3 / VDS-2
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring:
API CG-4/CF-4/CF-2/CF and MAN M 3275-1

Mobil Delvac 1 ESP 5W-40 Product Detail

Wed, 06 Apr 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac 1 ESP 5W-40 is a fully synthetic supreme performance heavy duty diesel engine oil that helps extend engine life while providing long drain capability and potential fuel economy for modern diesel engines operating in severe applications. Mobil Delvac 1 ESP 5W-40 utilizes state-of-the-art technology to deliver exceptional performance in modern low emission engines.
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Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API CJ-4/CI-4 PLUS/CI-4/CH-4/SM/SL, ACEA E7 & E9, Caterpillar ECF-3 & ECF-2, Twin Disc S364A and Cummins CES 20081
Has the following builder approvals:
Detroit Fluids Specification 93K218 & 93K214, Deutz DQC III-10 LA, Mack EO-O Premium Plus, EO-N Premium Plus 03, MAN M 3277, MB-Approval 228.31 & MB-Approval

Mobil Delvac 1 LE 5W-30 Product Detail

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Delvac 1™ LE 5W-30 is a fully synthetic, heavy-duty diesel engine oil that combines advanced engine protection for modern low emissions vehicles with enhanced fuel economy potential and other sustainability-related benefits such as engine durability, emissions system protection and extended drain capability.
Mobil Delvac 1 LE 5W-30 utilizes state-of-the-art technology to deliver exceptional performance and is well suited for an extensive array of diesel-powered commercial vehicles for both on- and off-highway use in industries such as transportation, mining, construction and agriculture. Mobil Delvac 1 LE 5W-30 meets or exceeds an extremely broad range of industry and manufacturer specifications from around the world.
Features and benefits
High output, low emissions engines significantly increase demands on engine lubricants. Tighter engine design reduces oil consumption, resulting in less fresh oil makeup to replenish depleted additives. Thermal stresses on the lubricant are increased with the use of inter-coolers and turbochargers. Higher fuel injection and cylinder pressures and retarded timing improve burn efficiency, but also increase engine temperatures, volatility, and soot loading of the oil. The advanced technology in Mobil Delvac 1 LE 5W-30 delivers exceptional performance in these severe conditions while protecting emissions systems.
• Advanced Wear Protection Engine Durability
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Applications:
Heavy Duty Diesel Engines for Modern Low Emissions Vehicles Utilizing Technologies such as Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF), Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), Continuously Regenerating Traps (CRT), Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOC) and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Naturally Aspirated and Turbo-Charged Diesel Powered Equipment On-Highway Short-Haul and Long-Haul Trucks and Buses Off-Highway Mining, Construction and Agricultural Equipment

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

ACEA E9, E7, E6
API CJ-4/SN
JASO DH-2
Caterpillar ECF-3
Cummins CES 20081
DAF Extended Drain
Ford WSS-M2C171-E
Has the following builder approvals:
MB-Approval 235.28/228.51/228.31, MAN M 3677/M 3477, Volvo VDS-4 /VDS-3 , Deutz DQC IV-10 LA, Detroit Fluids Specification 93K218, Mack EO-O Premium Plus, MTU Oil Category 3.1, Renault Truck RLD-3/RLD-2
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring:
5W-30 Renault Truck RGD , Renault Truck RXD

Mobil Extra 2T Product Detail

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Extra 2T is a high performance, semi-synthetic, smokeless, two-stroke engine oil developed to meet for high performance motorcycles, snowmobiles and chain saws.
Mobil Extra 2T is pre-diluted to facilitate mixing when added to fuel. Mobil Extra 2T combines a blend of high quality mineral and synthesised high performance base oils with an advanced additive system to provide excellent engine cleanliness and no-smoke exhaust performance.
Features and Benefits:
• Longer engine life
• Cleaner engines resulting in extended spark plug and valve life, reduced ring sticking, piston tightening and prevention of pre-ignition problems
• Smoke-free exhaust
Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API TC, ISO L-EGD, and JASO FC

Mobil 1 Racing 2T Product Detail

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 Racing 2T combines high performance synthetic base oils with an advanced additive technology to help provide outstanding engine cleanliness in the piston and exhaust valve areas, excellent wear protection and lubricity at high temperatures and virtually eliminates smoke production.
This lubricant is engineered to outperform even under some of the severest operating conditions.
Key features and potential benefits include:
• Long engine life protect against premature wear and engine seizing
• Exceptional engine cleaning power helping to result in extended spark plug and valve life, reduced ring sticking, piston tightening and elimination of pre-ignition problems
• Outstanding emissions control
Mobil 1 Racing 2T is recommended for lubrication of two-stroke engines used in the highest performance motorcycles, snowmobiles and lean oil/fuel ratio chain saws. It is ideal for applications where API TC or JASO FD performance standards are recommended.
The product helps to provide outstanding performance even in some of the harshest operating conditions.
Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API TC, ISO L-EGC, ISO L-EGD, JASO FC & FD, and SAE Grade 1 & Grade 2

PREVIEW: Tasmania Super Sprint

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team (HRT) heads to Symmons Plains in Tasmania this weekend for the second event of the V8 Supercars Championship, and they head there still holding the record for the team who has the most race wins in a row at the circuit – seven across 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Holden could break another record this weekend as the first manufacturer to win 500 ATCC/V8 Supercar races, and the likelihood is very high since Holden has won the last 10 races at Symmons Plains. Holden currently sits on 499 wins after a clean sweep of three races at Clipsal, no other manufacturer is even close to this record.

Twelve is the number of race wins HRT have had in total and it was Peter Brock who achieved the team’s first win in 1995 – coincidently he achieved this on his 50th Birthday. Brocky also still holds the record for the most pole positions at the track even though there has been an increase in the number of pole positions on offer on each weekend of the modern championship.

Current HRT driver Garth Tander will be celebrating his birthday while in Tasmania. He has enjoyed much success in Tasmania winning seven races and starting from pole position four times. Teammate James Courtney is yet to win a race or start from pole but has come very close with a best finish of 2nd in Race 1 2014, and has started from 3rd on the grid twice, both in 2015.

2016 is the 44th time the ATCC/V8 Supercars Championship has visited Symmons Plains. The championship has raced there every year since 1969 with the exception of the years 2000 to 2003.

Saturday’s race format differs to last years’ with the 60/60 races abolished and replaced with one longer 120km derby. Another element of difference this year is that teams are only allocated the Dunlop soft tyre compound for the weekend’s racing.

FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore
“I will be celebrating my birthday in Tassie but unfortunately my family won’t be there with me as Leanne is away racing herself, but hopefully both of us will have something to celebrate when we get home on Sunday night.”

“The car is feeling better this year and the Symmons Plains track is probably somewhat of a hybrid between the AGP circuit and Clipsal. Clipsal is obviously a street circuit but you need a lot of driver traction there which you also need out of the hairpin at Symmons Plains. The final corner at Symmons Plains is fast and flowing which is quite similar to Albert Park.”

“From a development point of view the work we did at Albert Park will certainly help us in Tasmania, and hopefully our car speed will be where it needs to be. Racing is quite close at Symmons Plains so we need to qualify up the front.”

“From a driving point of view Symmons Plains is very short and there is really only three main corners, but they are three corners that require a different driving style and a different set up philosophy. So getting the most out of the car is a challenge but that is what makes it enjoyable.”

“Soft tyres is certainly a much better fit for Symmons Plains, there is very, very low tyre degradation on the hard tyre, in fact none. The soft tyre will help spice things up because they will introduce some degradation and that will make strategy more interesting.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore
“Symmons Plains hasn’t been that kind to me, I’ve had a couple of seconds and thirds but I’m yet to win a race, so hopefully this year we can change that. We ran a lot of different stuff in the car at the Grand Prix and that all seemed to go well. We are happy with the changes we made and I feel good now heading to Tassie. I’m looking forward to seeing how those will affect the car at this track.”

“We have run the soft tyre at this event before but not on its own for the whole weekend. The soft tyre lasts really well at this track, it’s not like some other places we race where you really have to manage the tyre. I prefer to race on the soft tyre, so I think the change to only softs this year will be good and will suit me well.”

“I think the new race format is also going to be a lot better this year, I am really happy with that change for this event. I think it was a bit average before, particularly for the fans to watch, with the 60/60 races as they were so short and there wasn’t much passing.”

Mobil Super 4T 20W-50 Product Detail

Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 4T 20W-50 combines highly refined, quality mineral oils and an advanced additive system to provide good engine cleanliness, good wear protection and corrosion protection.
Features and Benefits:
• Good wear protection
• Thermal and oxidation stability
• Good corrosion protection
• Broad viscosity range

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API SJ and JASO MA2

Mobil Extra 4T 10W-40 Product Detail

Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Extra 4T 10W-40 combines a unique blend of high quality mineral and synthesised hydrocarbon base oils together with an advanced additive system to provide excellent engine cleanliness, wear protection and effective corrosion.
Features and Benefits:
• Longer engine component and overall engine life
• Cleaner running engines resulting in smooth flawless operation
• Longer life of valve train and bearing components
• Easier cold weather starting, longer electrical system life
Mobil Extra 4T 10W-40 is specifically recommended for lubrication of all types of four-stroke motorcycle engines, where the latest industry standard qualities are required.
Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API SJ and JASO MA

Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 Product Detail

Thu, 10 Mar 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 combines high performance synthetic base stocks technology with a precisely balanced component system to help provide outstanding engine cleanliness, excellent wear protection at high temperatures and highly effective protection from corrosion. Regular use of Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 helps maintain maximum power output due to the inherently strong performance and protection provided by the synthetic technology.
This specially engineered motorcycle engine oil helps to deliver unsurpassed performance under severe race operation, air-cooled operating conditions and in any driving condition, from mild to severe.
Features and Benefits:
• Consistent power due to reduced frictional losses
• Fluid film protection at all operating temperatures minimizing deposit formation especially at the high operating temperatures found in air-cooled engines
• Outstanding engine cleanliness, smooth and reliable operation
• Long life of critical valve train and bearing components
Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 is specifically recommended for lubrication of four-stroke motorcycle engines in high performance motorcycles, and meets or exceeds standard industry quality levels.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API SJ
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API SG/ SH/CF

PREVIEW: Clipsal 500, Adelaide

Wed, 02 Mar 2016 14:00:00 GMT

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The first event of the 2016 V8 Supercars season is here – the Clipsal 500! As the Holden Racing Team (HRT) heads to Adelaide this week, Garth Tander and James Courtney line up for their sixth season as teammates becoming the longest serving HRT driver combination ever.

HRT first raced at this event back in 1999 and has had an impressive 13 race wins and seven overall wins at the famous street circuit, and they are the only team to have ever won on three straight occasion (2001-2003). In 2016, Courtney could become the first driver to ever win three in a row.

Tander has had his share of success here too, winning three races and starting from pole position three times. He is also one of only two drivers to have lined up on the grid for every Clipsal 500 race.

Another milestone will take place on Saturday at the event with the introduction of soft tyre compounds to the one of the races. This is the first time this type of tyre compound will have been used on the streets of Adelaide.

The Clipsal 500 is 3.220kms of non-forgiving concrete and kerbs. No race at the Clipsal 500 has ever had all cars finish the race, which is no surprise considering 31 of the 35 races held at the event have featured the safety car. That means of the 2,643 racing laps completed at this event, 361 of them have been behind the safety car, that’s a whopping 13.65% of race time.

FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT

Garth Tander, #2 Holden VF Commodore
“Clipsal is such a big event in its own right and the fact that it is the start of the Championship is always exciting. It’s a really enjoyable weekend but it is also a prestigious race, so when you couple those thing together it’s a great event and I am really looking forward to getting there.”

“I have done more driving this off-season than ever before. I did the Bathurst 12-hour in early February, and I also did about five test day since I jumped out of the car at the Sydney 500. So I have done a lot of laps, albeit in a different type of car, but just being at the race track and driving is good to keep yourself sharp. The test day at Winton went well, it felt like I had not been out of the car.”

“James and I are entering our sixth year as teammates which is great for continuity and consistency. It’s a nice little milestone. From a team point of view having the same drivers, engineers, mechanics and management is a great thing.”

“When we first started working together everyone said it wouldn’t work but here were are six years later the longest running HRT partnership. It’s amazing how the experts get it right and get it wrong sometimes.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden VF Commodore
“It’s the start of the season and I am feeling good, it’s always exciting to be heading to the first event of the year. It’s been a relaxing off-season and I have been spending a lot of time with my family which has been really good because once we go racing there is little time spent at home.”

“The first race of the year is always a good one, there is always a great atmosphere with planes flying over and flame throwers. All the cars have new liveries and the feeling right before the first race is fantastic. The crowd always really gets behind the event – when you are driving around the circuit the fence is just lined with spectators.”

“Clipsal is a circuit I have always enjoyed and I have been successful there in the past. Of course I would like do well again this year. But I will approaching the event like everyone else and will just be focussed on getting the most out of the car and doing the best I can.”

“Garth and I being together at the team for six years is a great milestone and we have a good relationship. I respect what Garth does, who he is and what he has achieve, and I don’t think anyone thought we would last this long.”

TRACK FACTS

Track Length: 3.220kms
Direction: Clockwise
Average Speed: 146km/h
Top Speed: 251km/h
Qualifying Lap Record: 1.20.0084s
Race Lap Record: 1.21.0507s
Event Format: Super Street
Tyre Allocation: 24 hard tyres, 8 soft tyres

Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 Product Detail

Wed, 02 Mar 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 combines high performance synthetic base stocks and a precisely balanced component system to help provide outstanding engine cleanliness, excellent wear protection at high temperatures and highly effective protection from corrosion.
Use of Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 helps to maintain maximum power output due to the inherently strong performance and protection provided by the synthetic technology. This specially engineered motorcycle engine oil helps to deliver unsurpassed performance under severe operating conditions in All Seasons, driving environments, from mild to severe and on the racetrack.
Features and Benefits:
• Consistent power due to reduced frictional losses
• Fluid film protection at all operating temperatures minimizing deposit formation especially at the high operating temperatures found in air-cooled engines
• Effective lubrication at low ambient temperatures helping to enable easy starting, rapid wear protection and less drain on starter systems
• Outstanding engine cleanliness, smooth and reliable operation
• Long life of critical valve train and bearing components
Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 is specifically recommended for lubrication of four-stroke motorcycle engines in high performance motorcycles.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API SN/SM/SL/SJ and JASO MA1 2006

Mobil Super 1000 Diesel 15W-40 Product Detail

Sun, 28 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 1000 Diesel 15W-40 is a premium mineral motor oil that is specially designed to suit diesel-powered cars and light commercial vehicles, providing a high level of performance and protection under everyday conditions.
Mobil Super 1000 Diesel 15W-40 is industry proven so you can trust you will get the performance you expect from your vehicle.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API CI-4/CH-4/SL/SJ and ACEA E7
Recommended

Mobil Super 1000 20W-50 Product Detail

Thu, 25 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 1000 20W-50 is a quality premium mineral motor oils designed to provide a high level of performance and protection under most operating conditions.
This product has been engineered for today’s tougher engine specifications. It provides very good engine protection and extends engine life.
Mobil Super 1000 20W-50 is suitable for use in both gasoline and diesel powered vehicles. It is ideally suited for less stressful driving conditions such as highway driving and lower consistent speed conditions.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API SN/SM/SL/SJ
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

MOBIL 1 THE GRID IS BACK IN 2016

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

This weekend, global motorsport TV show Mobil 1 the Grid returns for a brand new, action-packed season of racing. Every two weeks through to November, we'll be bringing you behind-the-scenes, exclusive access to the drivers and teams from the world of motorsport.

You can see where to watch the first episode of Mobil 1 The Grid on our website (http://www.grid1.tv/), where you can also watch individual features from the show and read exclusive motorsport articles from those inside the paddock.

Mobil Super 1000 X2 15W-40 Product Detail

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 1000 X2 15W-40 is a premium mineral engine oil, designed to provide a high level of protection and performance. Mobil Super 1000 products are industry proven so you can trust you will get the performance you want from your vehicle.
• Good wear protection
• Good engine cleanliness
• Good high temperature protection
Mobil Super 1000 products have been formulated to be suitable for use in nearly all vehicles. We particularly recommend it for the following vehicle types and conditions:
• Latest engine technologies
• Gasoline and Diesel
• Passenger cars, SUV’s, light trucks and vans
• Highway cruising
• Normal Operating Conditions

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API SN/SM/SL/SJ and ACEA A3/B3
Has the following builder approvals:
MB-Approval 229.1
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

Mobil Formula S 5W-30 Product Detail

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

The Mobil Formula S 5W-30 range of lubricants are enhanced premium semi-synthetic engine oils, designed to provide an excellent level of protection and performance.
Mobil Formula S 5W-30 products are industry proven so you can trust you will get the performance you want from your vehicle. Mobil Formula S 5W-30 contains low friction semi-synthetic formulation which increases engine efficiency and offers greater fuel economy.
Mobil Formula S 5W-30 provides:
• Excellent wear protection
• Excellent engine cleanliness
• Excellent high temperature protection
• Excellent fuel economy (for SAE 5W-30)

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API SN/SMSL/SJ, ILSAC GF-5
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

Holden Racing Team unveils bold new livery, names unchanged driver line-up for 2016

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

• V8 Champions, Garth Tander and James Courtney team up for record sixth season
• Enduro Cup Champion Warren Luff and Gold Coast 600 winner Jack Perkins complete HRT driver line-up

The Holden Racing Team has released official renderings of its new livery that V8 Supercars champion drivers, Garth Tander and James Courtney will carry during the team’s 2016 V8 Supercars campaign.

HRT also launched its 2016 season by confirming its full driver line-up for the year, with Warren Luff and Jack Perkins returning to partner Tander and Courtney in the annual endurance races after successful campaigns last year.

2016 will also be the sixth season for the Tander/Courtney partnership, becoming the longest serving driver line-up in HRT history.

The work of Holden designer Peter Hughes, HRT’s 2016 VF Commodore V8s feature refreshed graphics incorporating a more dynamic and assertive front-end design.

Hughes said he was proud to have delivered his 14th regular season livery for the official factory team, one that will quickly be identified as distinctly HRT.

“We have focussed on adding fresh, simplistic detailing to the 2016 Holden Racing Team livery, while using the colour ways of last year’s commemorative ANZAC livery to inspire the new car for this season,” Hughes said.

“We have also added a darker, more aggressive front-end appearance, and that delivers an unmistakeably strong message from the team.

“Hopefully that translates to a strong, clean character for race fans at the track, and for those watching them race on the TV at home.”

Tander said he was looking forward to a new season, his 18th full-time year in V8 Supercars.

“I’m extremely optimistic about the year ahead,” Tander said. “We ended 2015 with a lot of strengths – our race pace, strategy and tyre life were very good, but we were also well aware of our weaknesses.

“The focus during the break has been on making improvements in certain areas – in our qualifying speed and our set-up for flowing circuits.

“We’ll test those areas next week and then look to begin the year on a strong note at the Clipsal 500, then carry that through the season.”

Courtney said he was looking forward to a full season, having missed three events – Eastern Creek, Sandown and Bathurst – after being injured in a well-publicised freak accident.

“I’ve been criticised for making rash claims, saying we intend to win races, but if you don’t have the intention to win then you’re in racing for the wrong reasons,” Courtney said.

“Our goals are always to better ourselves as a team and overcome our flaws, and that’s what brings results.”

Courtney said he was proud to be partnering Tander for a sixth season, a team record.

“Some people in the paddock were wishing we were going to be V8’s version of Senna and Prost, but it’s been nothing like that,” Courtney said.

“Sure, we’ve had a couple of scraps, that happens when you’re competitive people racing hard at the front of a pack, but we like working together.”

Luff returns for his third straight enduro campaign alongside Tander, the pair taking out the prestigious Pirtek Endurance Cup last year with consistent performances in the Sandown 500, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 600.

“I’m excited to be back for my third year with HRT; it was a childhood dream of mine to drive for the Holden Racing Team, so I’m excited to be back,” Luff said.

“Driving with GT has been a lot of fun and we’ve enjoyed some good success together, standing on the podium last year at Bathurst and the Gold Coast and winning the Endurance Cup are highlights.

“I’m hopeful we can enjoy even more success, and getting a Bathurst win is at the top of our list.”

After scoring his maiden V8 win with Courtney on the Gold Coast, and filling in for him in the #22 HRT Commodore when Courtney was injured, Perkins is excited to be back with the team.

“It goes without saying that I am pumped to be back with the Holden Racing Team and back driving with James in the Enduro Cup,” said Perkins. “Hopefully I’ll actually get to do all the races with him this year.

“Last year, in the two races we did do together we finished fifth and first, so I’m look forward to building on those great results.”

Long-time loyal sponsors, HSV, SP Tools, Morris Finance, NGK, MTAA Super and John Hart all return, as does lubricants partner Mobil 1 which enters its 24th year with HRT.

Monster Energy Drinks’ famous green claws also adorn the HRT Commodores for a second straight year, with a Monster-themed HRT merchandise range having been designed to broaden the team’s audience even further.

Courtney will shake down a brand new HRT VF Commodore – chassis WR 022 –in Melbourne today, while the full team will take part in a full test at Winton Motor Raceway, near Benalla, next Monday

Mobil Formula S2 10W-40 Product Detail

Sun, 21 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

The Mobil Formula S2 10W-40 range of lubricants are enhanced premium semi-synthetic engine oils, designed to provide an excellent level of protection and performance. Mobil Formula S2 10W-40 is industry proven so you can trust you will get the performance you want from your vehicle.
Mobil Formula S2 10W-40 provides:
• Excellent wear protection
• Excellent engine cleanliness
• Excellent high temperature protection Mobil Formula S2
10W-40 products are formulated to give you confidence of protection beyond that of conventional oils.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
Meets API SN / SM/ SL / SJ, ACEA A3/B3
Has the following builder approvals:
MB-Approval 229.1 and VW 501 01/505 00
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

Mobil Formula X2 5W-40 Product Detail

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Formula X2 5W-40 is an ultra-premium synthetic engine oil, designed to provide outstanding levels of protection and performance.
Mobil Formula X2 5W-40 is formulated to give you confidence of protection beyond that of conventional or semi-synthetic oils. We particularly recommend Mobil Formula X2 5W-40 if you regularly experience demanding conditions where it can help combat the damage caused by frequent high engine stress:
• Nearly all engine technologies
• Gasoline and Diesel
• Passenger cars, SUV’s, light trucks and vans
• Highway cruising and stop and go city driving
• Normal to frequently severe operating conditions
• Turbocharged and Direct Injection engines
• High Performance Engines
Always consult your owner’s manual to check recommended viscosity grade and specifications for your particular vehicle.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API SN/SM/SL/SJ, and ACEA A3/B3 & A3/B4
Has the following builder approvals:
BMW Longlife-01, MB-Approval 229.3, Porsche A40, Renault RN0700 & RN0710 and VW 502 00/505 00
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF and Opel GM-LL-B-025

Mobil Super 2000 5W-30 Product Detail

Wed, 17 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

The Mobil Super 2000 range of lubricants are enhanced-premium semi- synthetic engine oils, designed to provide an excellent level of protection and performance.

Mobil Super 2000 products are industry proven so you can trust you will get the performance you want from your vehicle. Mobil Super 2000 5W-30 contains low friction semi-synthetic formulation which increases engine efficiency and offers greater fuel economy.

Mobil Super 2000 provides:

• Excellent wear protection

• Excellent engine cleanliness

• Excellent high temperature protection

• Excellent fuel economy (for SAE 5W-30)

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

API SN/SMSL/SJ, ILSAC GF-5

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

Mobil Super 2000 X2 10W-40 Product Detail

Sun, 14 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

The Mobil Super 2000 X2 10W-40 range of lubricants are enhanced-premium semi-synthetic engine oils, designed to provide an excellent level of protection and performance. Mobil Super 2000 X2 10W-40 is industry proven so you can trust you will get the performance you want from your vehicle.

Mobil Super 2000 X2 10W-40 provides:

• Excellent wear protection

• Excellent engine cleanliness

• Excellent high temperature protection

Mobil Super 2000 X2 10W-40 products are formulated to give you confidence of protection beyond that of conventional oils.

We particularly recommend it for the following vehicle types and conditions:

• Stop and Go City Driving

• Latest engine technologies

• Gasoline and Diesel

• Passenger cars, SUV’s, light trucks and vans

• Highway cruising

• Normal to occasionally severe operating conditions

• Turbocharged

• High Performance Engines

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

Meets API SN / SM/ SL / SJ, ACEA A3/B3

Has the following builder approvals:

MB-Approval 229.1 and VW 501 01/505 00

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

Mobil SHC Formula M 5W-30 Product Detail

Tue, 09 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil SHC Formula M 5W-30 is a high-performance engine oil primarily intended for use in Mercedes Benz (MB) vehicles where a product for extended (Long Life) service intervals is required.

Mobil SHC Formula M 5W-30 offers excellent performance at both very low and very high operating temperatures and long term engine protection from wear and sludge and deposit build up.

The product meets or exceeds the requirements of Mercedes Benz vehicles using extended service intervals where a product approved to their Long Life specifications MB 229.5 is required.

Features and Benefits:

• Permits extended operation at elevated temperatures without oxidative oil thickening and oil breakdown

• Provides excellent fluidity at low temperatures allowing easy winter starting and rapid oil circulation around the engine

• Suitable for use in both gasoline and diesel engine passenger car and light commercial vehicles

Has the following builder approvals:

MB-Approval 229.5/229.3

Mobil Super 3000 Formula G 5W-30 Product Detail

Mon, 08 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 3000 Formula G 5W-30 is a low ash high performance motor oil designed to help prolong the life and maintain the efficiency of the Exhaust Car Emission Reduction Systems in both diesel and gasoline powered vehicles.

dexos2™ is required for all 2010 new GM/Opel/Vauxhall/ Chevrolet Diesel and Gasoline models. GM/Opel have advised that dexos2™ specification is backward compatible to older GM/Opel specifications (GM-LL-A-025 and GM-B-LL-025). The majority of GM/Opel/Vauxhall/Chevrolet Diesel and Gasoline vehicles can use dexos2™ lubricants.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

ACEA C3

Has the following builder approvals:

General Motors Service Fill dexos2™ (license number GB2B0131015)

Mobil Super 3000 Formula D1 5W-30 Product Detail

Sun, 07 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 3000 Formula D1 5W-30 is a full synthetic high performance motor oil, which provides excellent high temperature protection even under severe operating conditions. It is primarily intended for use in GM vehicles where a dexos1™ approved product is required.

Mobil Super 3000 Formula D1 5W-30 is classified by The American Petroleum Institute (API) as “Resource Conserving” engine lubricants and meet or exceed ILSAC GF-5 and API service SN.

Those claims are backward compatible with earlier performance levels such as API SM, SL, and SJ and previous ILSAC categories. Mobil Super 3000 Formula D1 5W-30 offers excellent performances at both low and high operating temperatures and long term engine protection.

Features and Benefits:

• Helps maintain efficiency of gasoline catalytic convertors

• Protects engines from wear and deposit build-up

• Helps fuel economy through reduced friction

• Suitable for use in both gasoline passenger cars and light commercial vehicles dexos1™ is required for all 2010 new GM/Opel/Vauxhall/Chevrolet Gasoline models. GM/Opel has advised that dexos1™ specification is backward compatible to older GM/Opel specifications (GMLL- A-025 and GM-LL-B-025). The majority of GM/Opel/Vauxhall/ Chevrolet Gasoline vehicles can use dexos1TM lubricants.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

API SN/SM and ILSAC GF-5

Has the following builder approvals:

General Motors Service Fill dexos1™ (license number GB1D1010015)

Mobil Super 3000 Formula R 5W-30 Product Detail

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 3000 Formula R 5W-30 is high-performance very low ash engine oil designed to help prolong the life and maintain the efficiency of the Exhaust Car Emission Reduction Systems in both diesel and gasoline powered automobiles and light commercial vehicles.

Features and Benefits:

• Helps to maintain the efficiency of the Exhaust Emission

Reduction systems in both diesel and gasoline vehicles

• Permits extended operation at elevated temperatures without oxidative oil thickening and oil breakdown

• Provides excellent fluidity at low temperatures allowing easy winter starting and rapid oil circulation around the engine

• Suitable for use in both gasoline and diesel engine passenger car and light commercial vehicles

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

ACEA C4

Has the following builder approvals:

Renault RN0720

Mobil Super 3000 Formula V 5W-30 Product Detail

Wed, 03 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 3000 Formula V 5W-30 is a low ash high performance motor oil designed to meet the demanding requirements of extended service life whilst still contributing towards fuel economy and superior engine cleanliness.

Mobil Super 3000 Formula V 5W-30 has been designed to meet the needs of the latest engine requirements of the VW Audi group where extended drain is required in conjunction with electronic service indicators with VW extended drain service schedule.

Features and Benefits:

• Extended service interval as per VW requirements

• Helping achieve fuel economy (as per ACEA C3)

• Improved engine internal cleanliness to maintain engine efficiency over life of vehicle

• Fast circulation and protection

• Full compatibility with most Diesel Particulate Filters and Catalytic Convertors

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

ACEA C3

Has the following builder approvals:

Porsche C30 and VW 504 00/507 00

Mobil Super 3000 X1 Formula FE 5W-30 Product Detail

Tue, 02 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 3000 X1 Formula FE 5W-30 is a full synthetic motor oil that provides long engine life for many types & ages of vehicles with enhanced protection over a wide temperature range. It meets the requirements of Ford WSS-M2C913-D specification.

Mobil Super 3000 X1 Formula FE 5W-30 can be used in a variety of gasoline and diesel vehicles, light trucks and vans designed for use of a low viscosity (HTHS) motor oil.

Mobil Super 3000 X1 Formula FE 5W-30 is intended primarily to meet the requirements of Ford WSS-M2C913-D but is also suitable for use in other vehicles where the viscosity and quality claims are appropriate.

Mobil Super 3000 X1 Formula FE 5W-30 can be used in all engines requiring WSS-M2C913-D and can still be used wherever WSSM2C913- C is recommended.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

API SL, ACEA A5/B5 and Ford WSS-M2C913-D

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

Mobil Super 3000 X2 5W-40 Product Detail

Mon, 01 Feb 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 3000 X2 5W-40 is an ultra-premium synthetic engine oils, designed to provide outstanding levels of protection and performance.

Mobil Super 3000 X2 5W-40 is formulated to give you confidence of protection beyond that of conventional or semi-synthetic oils.

We particularly recommend Mobil Super 3000 X2 5W-40 if you regularly experience demanding conditions where it can help combat the damage caused by frequent high engine stress:

• Nearly all engine technologies

• Gasoline and Diesel

• Passenger cars, SUV’s, light trucks and vans

• Highway cruising and stop and go city driving

• Normal to frequently severe operating conditions

• Turbocharged and direct injection engines

• High performance engines

Always consult your owner’s manual to check recommended viscosity grade and specifications for your particular vehicle.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

API SN/SM/SL/SJ, and ACEA A3/B3 & A3/B4

Has the following builder approvals:

BMW Longlife-01, MB-Approval 229.3, Porsche A40, Renault

RN0700 & RN0710 and VW 502 00/505 00

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF and Opel GM-LL-B-025

Mobil Super 3000 XE 5W-30 Product Detail

Sun, 31 Jan 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 3000 XE 5W-30 is a synthetic high-performance low ash engine oil designed to help prolong the life and maintain the efficiency of car exhaust emission reduction systems in both diesel and gasoline powered vehicles.

• Mobil Super 3000 XE 5W-30 has been developed to meet the latest specifications for engine oils required by major car manufacturers and is compatible with most latest Diesel Particulate Filters and all gasoline catalytic converters

• Mobil Super 3000 XE 5W-30 offers excellent performance at both very low and very high operating temperatures and long term engine protection from wear and sludge and deposit build-up

• Permits extended operation at elevated temperatures without oxidative oil thickening and oil breakdown

• Provides excellent fluidity at low temperatures allowing easy winter starting and rapid oil circulation around the engine

• Suitable for use in both gasoline and diesel engine passenger car and light commercial vehicles

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

ACEA C3 and API SM/SL.

Has the following builder approvals:

General Motors Service Fill dexos 2TM (license number GB1A0914015), BMW Longlife-04, MB-Approval 229.52/229.51/ 229.31, and VW 502 00/505 00/505 01

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF and Ford WSS-M2C917-A

Mobil Super 3000 0W-20 Product Detail

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil Super 3000 0W-20

Mobil Super 3000 0W-20 is a synthetic motor oil, which provides excellent high temperature protection even under severe operating conditions. Mobil Super 3000 0W-20 is designed to help provide long engine life and outstanding protection in vehicles of all ages. Mobil Super 3000 0W-20 provides outstanding protection against sludge, engine rust and corrosion under severe and low temperature operating conditions and provides optimum viscosity and fluidity across a broad range of temperatures.

Mobil Super 3000 0W-20, is classified by The American Petroleum Institute (API) as a “Resource Conserving” engine lubricant and meets or exceeds ILSAC GF-5 and API service SN. Those claims are backward compatible with earlier performance levels such as API SM, SL, and SJ and previous ILSAC categories.

Mobil Super 3000 0W-20 is recommended for gasoline fuelled vehicles where a 0W-20 viscosity is required. Mobil Super 3000 0W-20 is suitable for use in Honda and Toyota vehicles where a 0W-20 viscosity is required.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

API SN/SM/SL/SJ, ILSAC GF-5 and Ford WSS-M2C947-A

Mobil 1 Racing 0W-50 Product Detail

Wed, 27 Jan 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 Racing 0W-50

Mobil 1 Racing 0W-50 was developed specifically for racing engines and is not recommended for street use. This high performance, fully synthetic formula are specially balanced for friction reduction and optimum horsepower with outstanding wear protection.

Mobil 1 Racing oils are proprietary formulations of low viscosity synthetic base oils fortified with a precisely balanced component blended additive system featuring high levels of anti-wear and friction reducing additives. This advanced protection is engineered to help deliver optimum horsepower with outstanding wear protection.

• Mobil 1 Racing 0W-50 is recommended for a wide range of race engine applications including highly loaded flat tappet designs such as NASCAR Cup engines. Note: Mobil 1 Racing 0W-50 is not recommended for street use

• Mobil 1 Racing 0W-50 is designed for use by professional, amateur and weekend racers

• Mobil 1 Racing oils are not recommended for 2-Cycle or aviation engines, unless specifically approved by the manufacturer

Mobil 1 15W-50 Product Detail

Tue, 26 Jan 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 15W-50

Mobil 1 15W-50 is an advanced full synthetic engine oil designed to help provide exceptional wear protection for a smooth driving experience. Mobil 1 15W-50 meets or exceeds the requirements of the industry and car manufacturers’ standards required for high performance turbocharged, supercharged gasoline and diesel multi-valve fuel injected engines. Mobil 1 15W-50 is a winning, race-proven technology. It is especially suited for a wide variety of motorsports applications, towing, and other severe service situations. Mobil 1 15W-50 helps to provide outstanding engine oil performance and protection for the winning edge. Mobil 1 is the official motor oil of NASCAR.

Mobil 1 15W-50 is suitable for use in high-performance turbocharged, supercharged gasoline and diesel multi-valve fuel injected engines found in passenger cars, light vans and trucks.

• Mobil 1 15W-50 is suitable for use under extreme engine stress conditions, where conventional oil often may not perform

• Mobil 1 15W-50 is not recommended for 2-Cycle or aviation engines, unless specifically approved by the manufacturer

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

API SN/SM/SL/SJ, and ACEA A3/B3

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 Product Detail

Sun, 24 Jan 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 is an advanced performance synthetic engine oil designed to help provide exceptional cleaning power, wear protection and overall performance. Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 has been expertly engineered to help prolong the life and maintain the efficiency of emission systems in both diesel and gasoline powered automobiles. Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 meets or exceeds the requirements of many leading industry and car manufacturers’ standards required for newer modern diesel and gasoline powered passenger car engines.

Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 is recommended for many types of modern automobile engines, especially the high-performance gasoline and diesel engines found in the latest passenger cars, SUVs and light vans.

• Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 is especially suitable for extreme conditions, where conventional oil often may not perform

• It is not recommended for 2-Cycle or aviation engines, unless specifically approved by the manufacturer

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

ACEA C2/C3; API SN Engine Test Requirement/API SM Engine Test Requirement; JASO DL-1; AAE (STO 003) Group B6

Has the following builder approvals:

Autovaz – LADA cars, BMW Longlife-04, Chrysler MS-11106, MB-Approval 229.31 & MB-Approval 229.51, Porsche C30, PSA (Peugeot/Citroën Automobiles) B712290 & B712297, and VW 504 00/507 00

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF and VW 502 00/503 00/503 01/505 00/505 01/506 00/506 01

Mobil 1 5W-50 Product Detail

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 5W-50 is an advanced full synthetic engine oil designed to help provide exceptional wear protection for a smooth driving experience every time. Mobil 1 5W-50 meets or exceeds the requirements of industry and car manufacturers’ standards for high-performance turbocharged, supercharged gasoline and diesel multi-valve fuel injected engines. Mobil 1 5W-50 is especially suited for high speed and severe services associated with stop and go driving. In both racing and normal driving applications Mobil 1 5W-50, Rally Formula, helps to provide heavy-duty engine performance and protection for an outstanding driving experience.

Mobil 1 5W-50 is suitable for use in high-performance turbocharged, supercharged gasoline and diesel multi-valve fuel injected engines found in passenger cars, light vans and trucks.

• Mobil 1 5W-50 is suitable for many types of severe driving applications, especially demanding conditions including high speed highway and stop and go city driving

• Mobil 1 5W-50 is not recommended for 2-Cycle or aviation engines, unless specifically approved by the manufacturer

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

API SN/SM/SL/SJ, ACEA A3/B3 & A3/B4

Has the following builder approvals:

BMW High Performance Diesel Oil, Lexus LFA Service Fill, Porsche A40, MB-Approval 229.1 & MB-Approval 229.3, and VW 501 01/505 00

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

Mobil 1 5W-30 Product Detail

Mon, 21 Dec 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 5W-30 is an advanced full synthetic engine oil designed to keep your engine running like new by providing exceptional wear protection, cleaning power and overall performance. Mobil 1 5W-30 meets or exceeds the requirements of the industry’s toughest standards and outperforms our conventional oils. Mobil 1 technology comes as standard equipment in many different vehicles, including select high-performance vehicles.
Mobil 1 5W-30 is recommended for modern vehicles, including high-performance turbocharged, supercharged gasoline and diesel multi-valve fuel injected engines found in passenger cars, SUVs, light vans and trucks.
• Mobil 1 5W-30 is a general purpose engine oil for many types of cars
• Mobil 1 5W-30 is not recommended for 2-Cycle or aviation engines, unless specifically approved by the manufacturer

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:
API SN/SM/SL/SJ, ACEA A1/B1, ILSAC GF-5, and Ford WSSM2C946- A & WSS-M2C929-A
Has the following builder approvals:
General Motors Service Fill dexos1™ (license number GB1A0915015), and Honda / Acura HTO-06
Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

Mobil 1™ 0W-40 Product Detail

Sun, 20 Dec 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 0W-40 is an advanced performance synthetic engine oil designed to help provide exceptional cleaning power, wear protection and overall performance. Mobil 1 0W-40 meets or exceeds the requirements of leading industry and car manufacturers’ standards required for newer modern gasoline and diesel powered vehicle engines. Mobil 1 Technology is race proven and the choice of NASCAR racing. Mobil 1 0W-40 is perfect for many types of vehicles and has the performance reserve to protect when conventional engine oils may not. Mobil 1 Technology comes as standard equipment in many different performance vehicles.

Mobil 1 0W-40 is recommended for many types of modern vehicles, especially high-performance turbocharged, supercharged gasoline and diesel multi-valve fuel injected engines found in passenger cars, SUVs, light vans and trucks.

• Mobil 1 0W-40 is especially suitable for extreme conditions, where conventional oil often may not perform

• Mobil 1 is not recommended for 2-Cycle or aviation engines, unless specifically approved by the manufacturer

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

API SN/SM/SL/SJ, ACEA A3/B3 & A3/B4, and Nissan GT-R

Has the following builder approvals:

BMW Longlife-01, MB-Approval 229.3 & MB-Approval 229.5,

Porsche A40 and VW 502 00/505 00

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring API CF

Mobil 1™ 0W-30 Advanced Fuel Economy Product Detail

Thu, 17 Dec 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 0W-30 is engineered with a proprietary blend of high performance synthetic basestocks fortified with a precisely balanced additive component system. The low viscosity, fully synthetic formulation helps to increase engine efficiency and offers outstanding fuel economy.

Mobil 1 0W-30 meets or exceeds the requirements of the latest industry standards and outperforms our conventional oils. Mobil 1 0W-30 is recommended by ExxonMobil for SAE 0W-30, 5W-30 and 10W-30 applications. The low viscosity, fully synthetic formula helps to increase engine efficiency and improve fuel economy up to 2%, based on a comparison versus those grades most commonly used. Actual savings are dependent upon vehicle/engine type, outside temperature, driving conditions, and your current engine oil viscosity.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

ACEA A1/B1, API SN, API SM, API SL, SJ, ILSAC GF-5, Ford WSSM2C946-A and Ford WSS-M2C929-A

Has the following builder approvals:

General Motors Service Fill dexos1™ (license number GB1C1 008015)

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring

General Motors GM 6094M and API CF

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Holden Racing Team

Thu, 17 Dec 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The 2015 V8 Supercars season has drawn to a close, and what a season it was!

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Holden Racing Team the year began in spectacular style, with the launch of the 2015 season livery at the Clipsal 500. The striking day-glo red paint continuing to take right of place on the HRT Commodores in what will be remembered as one of the most recognisable liveries in pit lane. Once the cars made it to the track, James Courtney asserted his dominance on the streets of Adelaide, taking back-to-back wins with Garth Tander sharing the podium in 3rd place.

For the Tasmanian and Perth rounds of the V8 Supercars calendar, we again paid our respects to those who fought under the ANZAC flag, showing our appreciation through an unwavering support of the Returned Services League. The team persisted to push hard, striving for continual improvement in what was ultimately a challenging middle section of the season.

In a tribute to the late great Peter Brock and a perpetuation of the 25th anniversary celebrations, we ran a homage to the 1997 Bathurst 1000 car at the Townsville event. It was here that James collected his second pole position of the season.

Arriving at Bathurst in October, Garth Tander and Warren Luff were sitting 4th in the PIRTEK Enduro Cup after a solid weekend at the Sandown 500. It was here that the HRT cars took on a new life showcasing a stand out Star Wars inspired livery exhibiting both the light and dark side of the popular franchise. On the Sunday the team rolled out in Storm Trooper influenced race suits and after, what is always a dramatic weekend of racing, Garth steered the #2 to the 3rd step on the podium.

Back to the season livery on the Gold Coast, the 11th event of the season and the final event of the endurance calendar, the HRT cars were on the improve and ready to race on a circuit that has returned success in the past. The event also signalled the return of James Courtney from injury and the first time we saw the combination of Courtney and Jack Perkins.

The team didn’t disappoint, with the #22 taking out Sunday’s race which also saw Perkins rise to the top spot on the podium for the first time in his V8 Supercar career. Tander and Luff ultimately finished 3rd and were rewarded for consistency over the endurance season, securing the PIRTEK Enduro Cup. Along the way Luff became the first driver to win the cup twice; demonstrating that consistency at this time of the season is something the whole team should be proud of.

With the last five races of the calendar in the space of 10 weeks, the season wrapped up quickly but not before one final livery to celebrate the 25th anniversary.

The year presented a mixture of celebration and challenge but ultimately the team is primed to come out swinging in 2016.

But before that, we are taking a well-earned break which means our office and workshop will be closed from Monday 21st December 2015 and will be reopening on Monday 11th January 2016.

From everyone at the Holden Racing Team, we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We look forward to seeing you at the track in 2016.

Mobil 1™ 0W-20 Advanced Fuel Economy Product details

Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Mobil 1 0W-20 is an advanced full synthetic engine oil designed to help deliver outstanding engine protection and enhanced fuel economy. Mobil 1 0W-20 meets or exceeds the requirements of the latest industry standards and outperforms conventional oils. Mobil 1 0W-20 is recommended for SAE 0W-20 and 5W-20 applications.

Mobil 1 0W-20 is engineered with a proprietary blend of high performance synthetic basestocks fortified with a precisely balanced component additive system. Mobil 1 0W-20 provides the high-temperature protection of higher viscosity oils while offering the best fuel economy in the Mobil 1 line.

Meets or exceeds the requirements of:

API SN,SM,SL,SJ, ILSAC GF-5, and Form WSS-M2C947-A

Has the following builder approvals:

General Motors Service Fill dexos1™ (license number GB1D0415015)

Recommended by ExxonMobil for use in applications requiring General Motors GM 6094M and API CF

The Chequered Flag Falls on the 2015 V8 Supercars Season

Sun, 06 Dec 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The streets of Sydney Olympic Park proved how cruel they can be with the Holden Racing Team missing out on the fairly-tale ending it was hoping for at the final event of the 2015 V8 Supercars season, the Coates Hire Sydney 500.

Today’s 20 minute qualifying session produced two different results for the HRT VF Commodores with Tander clocking the 15th fastest time. Courtney was positioned provisionally in 7th with the chance to better his place on the starting grid in the top ten shootout. The shootout was a nail biter and it was Courtney who proved his dominance on street circuits – he went on to take pole position with a time of 1.28.0667.

Enthusiasm in the team was high as the prospect of a winning, in what was a mixed season of fortunes, was realised. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be.

As the cars rumbled through the concrete jungle on the opening lap, Courtney led the way with Van Gisbergen hot on his tail and Tander had moved to 11th. Van Gisbergen was relentless in challenging for the lead and inevitably on the second lap pushed Courtney into the tyre wall at turn one. Car #22 only lost two places but had suffered damage and while Courtney tried to push on he was forced to make a stop.

With no mechanical damage, only bodywork, he was sent back out and rejoined the race in 22nd. Tander had trucked along since the green lights, kept out of trouble and had moved to 9th.

Just 11 laps into the race the safety car was called when stablemate Tim Slade discovered how brutal the circuit can be and proceeded into the wall. Tander took advantage of the safety car and made his first top for rear tyres and fuel – it was a long stop and he took on more fuel than any of his competitors in hope this would help him at a later stage of the 74 lap finale – he rejoined the race in 14th.

At the restart Courtney was position in 6th and soon moved up one place when he passed Bright. Garth had a big moment on lap 18, he was sandwiched between two cars and as they fired towards the chicane it was a game of chicken as to who would brake last without crashing. Tander won this battle and moved into 13th.

Needing to make a third stop to see him to the end of the race, Courtney visited pit lane for the final time on lap 54. There was a second safety car deployed with just 7 laps to go but this had no bearing on the position of the HRT commodores.

In the dying stages of the race two cars went into the wall which saw Courtney move up two spots, and on the final lap he nudged past Moffat to come home in 12th. Tander finished just outside the top 10 in 11th.

In the final standings of the Driver’s Championship Tander finished 6th and Courtney 10th while the Holden Racing Team finished 3rd in the Team’s Championship.

That now concludes the 2015 V8 Supercars Championship. The Holden Racing Team would like to say a special thank you to all our sponsors, members and fans for their ongoing support throughout the season.

ExxonMobil Lubricants help bring McLaren Honda gearboxes 'back from the dead'

Thu, 03 Dec 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Singapore Grand Prix in September proved to be a disappointing day for the McLaren-Honda formula one team. Despite improved performance in the race, both drivers – Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button – were forced to retire from top 10 positions, citing gearbox problems that ultimately caused the failure of both cars.

Following the race, McLaren-Honda’s racing director, Eric Boullier, commented that the race speed shown by the drivers was very encouraging, but admitted that the gearbox issues led to a disappointing day, further promising, “We’ll investigate the cause or causes of those issues, in an effort to make sure they never recur.”

Back at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, UK, subsequent analysis of the equipment and dataset revealed that the gearboxes had suffered from excessive overheating, far beyond the design limits of the equipment. The cause, revealed in an article with motorsports.com, was found to be tyre rubber debris and fallen leaves that had been picked up from the track, causing a blockage of the gearbox oil cooler, and a subsequent elevation in temperature.

Temperatures eventually surged to more than 45 percent higher than the equipment had been designed to sustain. This caused the malfunction of the electrical sensors, and meant that the engineers were racing ‘blind’, unable to monitor the temperature increase further. Consequently, the decision was taken to retire both cars on safety grounds, rather than suffer costly on-track failures.

Due to the high temperatures reached, the team was initially worried that the gearboxes would be so severely damaged that they would need to be retired, as McLaren-Honda’s acting CEO Jonathan Neale told Motorsport.com: “When the gearbox operates at those sorts of extreme temperatures, you start to see some pretty catastrophic degradation of the internal components: the steels start to soften, and the gearbox teeth start to break.”

However, much to the surprise of the McLaren engineers, the damage was much less severe than initially feared. In fact, no functionality issues were caused to the gearbox at all – an apparent miracle that McLaren have attributed to the performance of the ExxonMobil gearbox lubricant, Mobilube 1 SHC™ Racing Gear Oil.

“It’s an incredible testament to ExxonMobil and their gearbox oil that we were able to return to the factory, inspect the gearboxes, run them on the dyno, and discover that they’d suffered no functionality issues whatsoever,” said Jonathan Neale.

“When you take into account the loads inside an F1 gearbox and the fact that most of the time the oil is just a mist with the merest thin film on the shields, it’s a credit to Mobil’s technology.”

“The gearbox team looked over our historical data, and those casings endured the highest-ever survivable operating temperatures we’ve ever recorded, yet they were run on the dyno with functionality identical to a brand-new casing."

“We really brought these gearboxes back from the dead – and that’s unbelievable.”

The performance of the custom-made gearbox oil not only saved the gearboxes from failure to enable future use, saving money and improving the safety of performance, but also potentially helped avoid future costly penalties as Formula One rules dictate that every unscheduled gearbox change will require a driver to drop five places on the grid at that meeting.

Grand Prix racing cars are some of the most highly stressed pieces of machinery on the planet. Since 1995, the McLaren team have relied on the proven performance of ExxonMobil products in their quest for optimum efficiency.

Mobilube 1 SHC™ Racing Gear Oil is just one of the high-performance lubricants that McLaren-Honda utilise in the MP4-30 race car. In addition, the team uses:

Mobil SHC™ 500 series hydraulic oil - an essential component of the hydraulic system, controlling gear shift, clutch, steering and Drag Reduction System (DRS) systems and moreMobilith SHC™ 1500 and 220 greases - lubricate the four tripod joints on the driveshaft and the cars ceramic wheel bearings, withstanding extreme temperatures to help maximise speedMobil 1™ Engine Oil - an essential part of the V6 engine, developed to increase power and improve efficiency to maximise performance for McLaren-Honda

The same technology used to develop high performance lubricants for use in the extreme application of Grand Prix motor racing is also available to help maximise the performance of your industrial applications. From gearbox oils to hydraulics to greases, Mobil SHC™ lubricants offer optimum performance in extreme applications, helping to protect equipment and maximise productivity.

PREVIEW: Sydney 500

Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Snapshot

The end of the 2015 V8 Supercars is upon us with the finale, the Coates Hire Sydney 500, taking place this weekend at Sydney Olympic Park.

To celebrate the final event of the Holden Racing Team’s 25th anniversary year, the #2 and #22 Commodores will wear a special livery. This was unveiled to excited supporters at a special event on James’ home turf in the Western Suburbs of Sydney.

The V8 Supercars category first raced at the 3.42km street circuit around the Olympic Stadium in 2009 and it was designed to make a perfect lap near impossible. Its many bumps, camber changes and a mix of corner speeds proves a challenge for even the most skilled drivers.

All 13 races at Sydney Olympic Park have featured at least one safety car period - 27 per cent of racing laps at the circuit have been run under yellow flag safety car conditions. No race has seen all starting cars classified as finishers. In 2015 both Saturday and Sunday’s races were abandoned after extreme weather set-in and made racing dangerous.

Racing at this event has always been fierce and the winning margin at the track has always been very close. The ‘biggest’ winning margin was 3.9087s from James Courtney to Michael Caruso on Sunday in 2009.

Garth is currently 4th in the overall standings and he is determined to maintain this position. While James missed out on competing at Sandown and Bathurst due to injury, he still currently rounds out the top 10 in the Drivers’ Championship. The Holden Racing Team is currently 3rd overall in the Teams’ Championship.

Words of Wisdom:

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“I’m looking forward to the last race of the year, we are currently sitting 4th and I obviously want to maintain that. We are going to Sydney Olympic Park where our cars were strong last year especially on the Sunday. It’s the end of a very long year and everyone is tired but we would like to finish the year off successfully and carry that momentum into next year.”

“I think we will be relatively strong in Sydney as we have proved all year that our cars perform better at the street circuits. That’s not to say we are excepting to turn up there and the cars to just be fast, there is a lot of work to do.”

“We will continue to develop the cars, there is a lot of development going on with the cars with an eye very much on 2016. Making sure we have good performance in the last race of 2015 as well as developing the cars for 2016 is very important at this event.”

“This is a street circuit in its truest form and the next track that is most similar would be the Gold Coast in terms of the proximity of the walls and the curb profiles. It’s very bumpy, a lot of curbs are used here and it’s very hard on the brakes. It’s a very demanding circuit both physically and mechanically. Drivers make mistakes and the cars can break and that is what causes the incidents and safety cars.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“We’ve had many different liveries this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the team and I think it is great that we have another one to finish the year with. I think is looks similar to the Star Wars car I would have driven at Bathurst with the silver. It’s also good that they have slipped all the Holden dealer names on the car which is a nice touch.”

“It’s been a tough year with lots of ups and down, it’s been a season that has had everything but we’ve had great success on street circuits. We’ve had a couple of wins and pole positions but next year I need to make sure I don’t get hit by anything so I can compete for the full season.”

“We’ve always done quite well at Sydney and street circuits tend to suit our cars quite well. Out of the street events this year we’ve won two and got second in the other one, so it points to a possible good result this weekend.”

“The track is quite ‘old-school’ where it’s really bumpy and quite aggressive on the cars and drivers. It’s a tough race to finish the year but it sorts the men from the boys. I’d say the car set up will be similar to the other street circuits and I think again we will try a lot of different things in my car to get a better direction in terms of set up.”

Holden Racing Team to finish 25th anniversary season in style

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 14:00:00 GMT

V8 Supercars Champion James Courtney unveils tribute to team and Holden’s nationwide dealer network in Parramatta today

The Holden Racing Team’s 25th Anniversary will culminate with a special tribute livery at this weekend’s Coates Hire Sydney 500 at Sydney Olympic Park.
2010 V8 Supercars Champion, James Courtney took the covers of his striking matte silver, black and day-glo red Holden VF Commodore in Parramatta today.

The work of Holden designer Peter Hughes, the scheme features HRT’s 25th Anniversary logo on its doors and the names of each of Holden’s 230 dealers from its nationwide dealer network.

Hughes said he was looking forward to seeing his latest creation on track.

“The Sydney 500 car came about from design ideation back in April; I had a rough concept based around the colours and HRT’s 25th anniversary logo, I wanted to create something different that really celebrated the team’s rich history,” Hughes said.

“The suggestion for Holden’s dealer names to be subtly incorporated into the livery was actually a request from (Holden Sponsorship and Motorsport Manager) Simon McNamara, who wanted to say ‘thank you’ to our dealer network and give them due recognition for their commitment to Holden, and HRT over its 25 years.

“I think that’s a really nice touch, and adds a classy element to what is an aggressive livery – and it all adds up to a scheme we know HRT fans will love.”

Having missed out on driving the team’s popular Star Wars themed livery at Bathurst due to injury, Courtney welcomed the opportunity to unveil the final design of the yearlong celebration.

“This year has been all about celebrating 25 years of the Holden Racing Team and I’m proud to be carrying the names of all the Holden dealers on my car, it’s a great way for me to personally thank them for their continued support,” Courtney said.

“The colours are great, the car looks bold and aggressive, yet also classy, and I think having the dealers included complements the scheme perfectly.

“Being from the western suburbs of Sydney, I really enjoyed being able to take the covers off the car in front of my home crowd, and now I’m looking forward to getting out on the streets of Sydney Olympic Park with it this weekend and finishing the year off on a high.”

Courtney and teammate Garth Tander will debut their 25th Anniversary liveried Commodores when practice kicks off at Sydney Olympic Park at 10:25am (AEDT) Friday

Saturday Race Wrap: Phillip Island

Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Racing at the Phillip Island Super Sprint kicked off today and in stark contrast to yesterday the rain had cleared and the 4.445km track was dry.

The two qualifying sessions were short and sharp with just 10 minutes allocated for each. Garth Tander qualified 15th for both sprint races while James Courtney produced two top 10 starting position with 7th and 9th.

In Race 31 Tander again demonstrated why he is known as one of the best in the business jumping up five places on the opening lap of the 60km dash. Courtney lost one place off the start line but quickly made it back. Cars were in the dirt and skidding on the grass as the field jostled for positions but this didn’t bother the HRT duo.

Tander had his elbows out and was making up positions as he cruised past Waters. The HRT Commodores were helped along when Reynolds was spun by Van Gisbergen, in front. By lap 5 Courtney had moved into 6th andTander was just two places behind in 8th. They settled into these positions, found their rhythm and this is where they remained until the chequered flag.

Race 32 started out in very similar fashion to the previous one with Tander again jumping up to 11th on the opening lap and Courtney dropping one place. It was a Holden sandwich with the HRT boys surrounded by Van Gisbergen who was ahead and Coulthard who was closing in from behind.

Two passes were made on Tander during the race, the first by Coulthard on lap 5. The second came late in the race when Bright managed to overtake pushing Tander back to 13th. Courtney held off the challengers from behind and finished in 10th.

Tomorrow’s racing programme consists of one final practice session before qualifying and Race 33. The 200km finale will start at 2:10pm AEDT.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“The car is just not behaving at the moment, we thought we show some promise after Friday and even this morning, but the car is being very frustrating at the moment and we can’t get it right.”

“I qualified badly but went forward but the simple story is we need to improve the car in these high speed corners. You’re in the corners here for so long that any small issue with the car gets magnified massively. We’re struggling with that but we will try some things tonight and go from there.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“We are still nowhere near where we need to be. We have a decent programme we are working through to try and evaluate the car and work out what we can improve for next year, so that is what we are focussed on.”

“We still don’t have enough car balance or speed so we keep working on everything for the remainder of the weekend and see how we go.”

Sunday Race Wrap: Phillip Island

Sun, 22 Nov 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Conditions were cool, dry and overcast as the Holden Racing Team hit the picturesque Phillip Island circuit for the final day of racing at the WD-40 Super Sprint.

With Tander starting 15th and Courtney 17th for Race 33 is was going to be a tough 45-lap slog for the HRT boys to find their way to the front of the pack. Tander did his best to make headway off the line and made up two places, while Courtney was tagged as Wood turned into the middle of the pack on the opening lap.

Suspecting damage to the right rear of his Holden Commodore, his engineer Alistair McVean called him in for his first stop. He wasn’t the only car to pit with a third of the field opting to make a lap-1 stop.

No mechanical damage was found on car #22 and with fresh fuel and tyres Courtney was sent back out on track. Tander meanwhile pitted just three laps later also for fuel and tyres. Once the field had completed their first roundof pit stops Tander was up to 9th and Courtney was sitting 13th.

The second series of stops for the Holden Racing Team took place on laps 21 and 22 with Courtney the first in for fuel and tyres. There were plans to make adjustments to the ride height of his #22 car, however they were abandoned as the bonnet was too dented for the crew to make this change.

Tander and Courtney held their positions through the second stop and re-joined the race in 9th and 13th respectively. This is where they remained until the chequered flag.

It was almost an incident free trek to the finish but with just four laps remaining car #2 had an engine misfire. Luckily this didn’t end Tander’s race and he was able to press on to the finish.

The final event of the 2015 V8 Supercars season will take place in just two weeks’ time, 4-6 December, at Sydney Olympic Park.

Adrian Burgess, Managing Director:
“It was another tough weekend for the team, we were trying a lot of new parts on the car this in preparation for 2016. Unfortunately this year hasn’t gone the way we wanted so we have to have one eye on next year.”

“Although the results don’t show it, there are a few positives and we did learn a fair bit this weekend, but equally we aren’t happy about where we finished.”

“The structure of our team for next year is now identified and set so we can focus on getting the group together for next season and roll out with a car that is better than the one we currently have.”

“We are still going to Homebush to fight for the podiums and fight for the wins but we need to go home, do some work and make sure we have a better 2016 then we have this year.”

PREVIEW: Phillip Island Super Sprint

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 14:00:00 GMT

With just two events left in the 2015 V8 Supercars season, the Holden Racing Team will now head to Phillip Island, home of the famous penguin parade, this weekend.

The original Phillip Island Circuit was built in 1928 and was located two kilometres from where the current circuit is situated. Re-designed in 1956 and now positioned on the stunning coast line, Phillip Island Circuit not only provides spectacular views but thrilling racing for spectators.

The track hosts the V8 Supercars along with a full program of four-wheeled events, and it is home to two international motorcycle events - Moto GP and World Superbikes. Resurfaced in 2012, the 4.445km track is known for its high speed and fast long-loaded corners. Tyre degradation is always high which means only the hard tyre compound will be allocated for use this weekend.

The Holden Racing Team holds the record for most championship race wins at Phillip Island – a whopping 15. Between 2008 and 2011 the circuit hosted the pre-Bathurst 500km endurance race, HRT won two of these bringing the total number of wins at the track to 17. Garth has won on five different occasions while James scored a pole position in 2014.

Words of Wisdom:

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“The track is fast, flowing, high speed and has a little bit of rise and fall. It’s a really enjoyable circuit, it’s very similar to Bathurst, and it’s very smooth as it has just been resurfaced a couple of years ago.”

“Our cars don’t have a lot of aero grip so this is what will make the track difficult because of its high speed. There are a couple of slow corners so balancing the high speed grip and low speed grip is probably one of the tricky things we work on along with high speed stability.”

“Phillip Island is probably one of the highest wearing tracks on our tyres, there is very high degradation. We are in the corners for such a long time, they are very long lateral and loaded corners – this is what wears the tyres out. We don’t run the soft tyre here for that very reason, they just wouldn’t last so it’s an all hard tyre weekend.”

“On paper this track is not really suited to our cars, our cars as we all know are very suited to street circuits with a short corner. Having said that, traditionally I have actually gone quite well there, we were quite strong there last year and very close to getting the race win.”

“There is nothing to dislike about Phillip Island, other than the weather can be a bit fickle, but I really enjoy the commitment that is required there. You really have to tighten the seat belts up and hold your breath for a quick lap.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“Phillip Island has very different characteristics to the last few tracks we’ve been to. It’s been a while since we have been to a fast and flowing circuit. Corners on and off the main straight are very high speed as is the Hay Shed out the back, so it requires quite a bit of aero balance. It’s normally pretty hard on the tyres because of the long loaded corners.”

“There is quite a bit of passing down into MG and also into Honda, so a lot of passing opportunity. This set up of the car here is a little bit tricky because you need a really good stable platform because the track is so high speed but then also there are two slow hairpins where you need good rotation and good drive. So you can’t only run the car stiff for the high speed, you need to get that mechanical balance for the two slower corners.”

“You also need a good engine package because there is a lot of throttle, we have good strong engines so I think we should be good there. We had some good results last year so hopefully we have a good base package to start with.”

“My championship this year is done unfortunately, so now we will focus on development in my side of the garage. We’ll take a few more risks with car set-up and strategy, while we’ll run Garth’s car as more of a base package.”

Competitive edge to outride the competition

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 14:00:00 GMT

I greatly appreciate the support of Mobil1 and East Coast Lubes in providing their top quality oil and I will continue to proudly display your great decal designs on both of my competition karts.

Your support of the very best oil ensures me a mechanically safe ride with the competitive edge to outride the competition. I am excited for another exciting year of racing as well as again proving Mobil1 superiority through our annual endurance race.

Thank you again. I look forward to updating you with the progress of our 2016 racing season.

Kind Regards,

Norm.

Sprint Race Format Returns at ITM 500 Auckland

Sun, 08 Nov 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Kia Ora from across the ditch. The Holden Racing Team have enjoyed a solid day of racing at the ITM 500 Auckland, at Pukekohe Park Raceway. With the endurance season now finished racing returned to the sprint format with two qualifying sessions and two 60km races, on alternate hard and soft tyre compounds.

Race 28 saw James Courtney qualify in 9th and Garth Tander in 17th for the 21 lap sprint on hard tyres. Tander benefitted from a qualifying session penalty handed out to Waters and ultimately started 16th. At the green light Tander was quick off the line, as always, and jumped three places while Courtney held strong in his starting position.

Courtney was desperate to get past McLaughlin who was in front and by the end of lap 1 had made his move and was into 8th. Meanwhile Tander was lucky to dodge, by only the slimmest of margins, a crash that unfolded in front of him at turn 6 during the opening stages of the race.

His quick reaction and innate skill saw him avoid the incident, veer wide and jump to 10th. A safety car was called on lap 5 for debris on the track but the restart did little to shake up the order of the field and the HRT boys remained unchanged in their positions until the chequered flag.

In Race 29 the Holden Racing Team’s Commodores were positioned higher on the grid with Courtney starting in 5th and Tander 11th. 2015 is the first year soft tyres have been allocated at the Pukekohe track and they proved to be better suited to the HRT cars then the hard tyres.

On the opening lap Courtney lost one position and dropped to 6th, Tander got a quick start but on this rare occasion did not make any passes off the line. The field had settled into a rhythm by lap 3 and Tander was battling hard to get past Coulthard, but was unable to overtake.

There was 10 laps to go in the short sprint when the race leader, Lowndes, blew a rear tyre down the main straight. This sent debris flying and his car into a wall. The safety car was called, Courtney was now in 5th and Tander 10th.

There was 6 laps to go at the restart and Van Gisbergen was quick to make his move on Courtney forcing him back to 6th. Tander was again battling with Coulthard, eager to get past, but he had to be content with where he was in 10th place.

Tomorrow’s on track action will consist of a practice session followed by qualifying and a 200km race, to close out the international event.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“We are struggling with car balance and getting the car to accept the bumps here. Then the trade-off is the grip that you need as well. So finding the balance between bump control and grip has been the challenge so far. “

“That played out in qualifying being 17th and 11th, it makes life difficult. We went forward in both the races but we certainly need to improve the car overnight.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“It’s good to be back in the car by myself. It was really good to do a race with Jack but it’s always good to have it all to yourself. I didn’t get enough out of the car today and we didn’t really nail the setup. We got a couple of ok qualifying positions but it definitely wasn’t where we need to be.”

“Then in the race we didn’t get the most out of the car again, so it will be a bit of a head scratching session tonight. We know where we are struggling, we just have to make sure we work as a team, sort it out and get it better for tomorrow.”

Tough Day Out at Pukekohe

Sun, 08 Nov 2015 14:00:00 GMT

It was a picturesque day at the ITM 500 in Auckland as the V8 Supercars roared into action with a practice session, followed by a 20 minute qualifying and then the 200km finale.

It was a tight qualifying with only eight tenths of a second separating the entire field, that’s just a touch over 37 metres between positions 1 and 25. The Holden Racing Team VF Commodores were almost inseparable with Tander taking 14th position on the grid and Courtney just one place behind in 15th.

It was a chaotic opening to Race 30 for the final 69 lap showdown at Pukekohe Park Raceway. In the opening few corners Tander and Courtney had both jumped up a number of places each, but for Tander his charge through the field was short lived when Winterbottom spun in front of him.

While he was lucky to not sustain any significant damage he did lose track position and dropped to 21st. Courtney narrowly avoided the incident and was sitting comfortably in 11th.

It was only lap 7 when the first and single safety car of the race was called. Percat had spun and was stopped in the middle of the track. All 24 cars still racing opted to make their first stop and pit lane was hectic as each boom had cars double stacked. Both HRT cars swapped from their soft starting tyres to hard tyres and took on fuel.

On lap 35 Tander was called in for his second stop and his team bolted on new tyres and topped up the fuel. Just two laps later Courtney followed suit. Back out on track and the two HRT cars were positioned together and were locked in a fierce battle with Waters who was sandwiched between the two.

It was musical track positions as Van Gisbergen joined the group and overtook Tander. Waters was aggressively trying to pass Courtney when he pushed him from behind, the result was a detour for them both across the grass. They were lucky not to lose track position and Courtney was briefly able to pull away.

Waters was relentless and with just 12 laps to go was again hassling Courtney, this time turning him around and causing him to drop back to 16th. Tander meanwhile made the most of the situation and moved into 10th. While it was little constellation to Courtney, Waters did receive a pit lane penalty.

Tander crossed the finish line in 10th and Courtney in 15th. Tander’s position in the Championship remains unchanged in 6th while Courtney is 9th. The Holden Racing Team are still in 2nd place in the Team’s Championship. Next the V8 Supercars head to Phillip Island 20-22 November.

Adrian Burgess, Managing Director:
“Today’s race and qualifying showed the problem we’ve had all weekend, we just struggled with the first corner and the first complex, and the last corner. Everything we tried didn’t seem to make much in-roads into it. As you saw qualifying wasn’t great and the race was difficult.”

“We were driving around with the others towards the back of the field and getting involved in other people’s incidents, but at the end of the day we didn’t have a car quick enough to do anything more with it. So we have to go away and do some homework because what we had this weekend wasn’t good enough.”

“At the Gold Coast we were competitive and this weekend we haven’t been. The characteristics of the circuit haven’t suited the car and to be honest we haven’t done a good enough job to get on top of it.”

PREVIEW: ITM 500 Auckland

Tue, 03 Nov 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Snapshot
With the endurance season run and won for another year, the Holden Racing team is now focussed on the final three events on the V8 Supercars calendar and the next stop is New Zealand for the ITM 500 Auckland.

The team bids farewell to our co-drivers, Warren Luff and Jack Perkins and thanks them for their hard work and outstanding results over the last three events. In particular congratulations to Warren Luff on being the only driver to have won the PIRTEK Enduro Cup twice and to Jack Perkins on his first ever V8 Supercars win!

HRT now heads to its first and only international event for 2015 and will race at the famous Pukekohe Park Raceway, located 40 kilometres south of Auckland City. The Raceway was opened in 1963 as a permanent track, replacing
Ardmore (an aerodrome) as the host circuit of the New Zealand Grand Prix. Although the track is better known internationally as a motor racing circuit, it is primarily a horse racing circuit.

In 2013 V8 Supercars returned to Pukekohe after a $6.6 million upgrade which included new chicane on the back straight, more pedestrian bridges and a makeover of the circuit's appearance. This will be the 10th time the V8 Supercars championship has competed at this location.

With no pre-marked tyres allowed, strategy around tyre usage will be key, as the team will have only the green race tyre allocation to work with over the weekend. The circuit is also renowned for its bumpiness, fast flowing corners and high average speed meaning car set up will be critical for fast lap times.

Pukekohe Park Raceway has been good to the Holden Racing Team with James Courtney scoring a pole position and podium place last year. Garth Tander has also achieved three race wins and a pole position at the circuit in the past.

Words of Wisdom:

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“It’s a very different type of weekend coming up given there are no co-drivers, we are back to 60 minute practice sessions on Friday and the sprint race format. It’s a more traditional race weekend and it’s a very different type of circuit.”

“Pukekohe is very fast, there are a lot of bumps and the car needs everything. There is a fast first sector, heavy braking in the second sector, then a fast third sector. It’s a really enjoyable track, it really is, and you need to now go back into that sprint format mind set.”

“Qualifying in New Zealand is going to be important. At Sandown we were reasonably solid, but at Bathurst we definitely got it wrong, but we understand what we got wrong, then at the Gold Coast we were pretty solid again. We need to continue that momentum now. We will be qualifying on the hard tyre which is the same tyre we’ve been qualifying on for the last couple of events where we have had that improvement, and we hope to continue that.”

“The lack of pre-marked tyres for this event, being a flyaway, will affect us because there is quite a bit of track time for practice. There are two 60 minute sessions on Friday then another practice Saturday and Sunday, so by the time you get to Sunday morning you almost don’t need that practice session. It’s not that we don’t want track time but we don’t have tyres to utilise that time on Sunday morning, so we will have to be a bit smart about how we use our tyres for practice. This will be a challenge but it’s a challenge for everyone and we are all in the same boat.”

“We’ve taken a lot of positives out of the Gold Coast event for sure, but we now go into a new event which has a very different type of track. Of course we would like to continue the momentum and in the last three events we have gone from 9th in the Championship to 4th, and won the Enduro Cup. For me, my goal between now and the end of the year is to be inside the top three in the driver’s championship and that is what we want to achieve.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“I had quite an unusual endurance season so to come back to the normal sprint races is not going to be as big a change for me as it is for the other guys. New Zealand was pretty good to us last year, we had pole position and a podium. As a team we did really well with Sladey qualifying second, so the car speed was pretty good.”

“Pukekohe is quite ‘street circuit like’ in that it is really, really bumpy and the first and last sectors are really quite quick so you have to make sure you are on top of things with the dampening. You need to make sure the car is really quite stable through those sectors if you want to get a good lap time out of it.”

“Strategy is also pretty interesting at this event and I think last year a lot of guys pitted on the first lap then made good in-roads, so we’ll see what happens this year. I’m really looking forward to getting over there, it’s our only international event this year.”

“Going into New Zealand there won’t be that question of whether or not I will make it because I just got through one of the hardest races of the year while carrying the injuries, but it’s all good. I felt pretty sore the next day, but there is no question over the fitness side of things now.”

“As a team I think the Gold Coast was quite an encouraging event and getting a first, a third and taking out the Endruo Cup was a really strong showing for the team and hopefully we can carry that momentum into the rest of the season.”

“We are currently second in the teams’ championship which is great for us and with me not having to worry about the driver championship now I can afford to put a little more heat on the other blokes. I am also conscious of where Garth is in the championship and I will concentrate on helping to get him as high as we can.”

McLaren brings gearboxes "back from the dead"

Tue, 27 Oct 2015 14:00:00 GMT

McLaren has managed to bring the two gearboxes that overheated dramatically at the Singapore Grand Prix "back from the dead", despite fears they had suffered catastrophic damage.

Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso were forced to retire from the Marina Bay race last month after their gearboxes suffered excessive overheating far beyond their design limits.

In fact, in McLaren's history, no gearbox has ever experienced such high temperatures and survived.

Debris cause

Motorsport.com has learned that the overheating was caused by tyre rubber debris and fallen leaves blocking the gearbox oil cooler, meaning that temperatures began to climb.

As the gearbox oil heated up, the heat became so high that it reflowed the solder and aluminium components inside the electrical sensors, meaning that the engineers were racing ‘blind’ without data to monitor the escalating temperatures.

Consequently, the decision was taken to retire both cars on safety grounds, rather than suffer costly on-track failures.

Factory miracle

Although it was feared that the damage had been so considerable that the gearboxes would have to be scrapped, McLaren has discovered that there were minimal consequences

McLaren’s acting CEO Jonathan Neale told Motorsport.com: “When the gearbox operates at those sorts of extreme temperatures, you start to see some pretty catastrophic degradation of the internal components: the steels start to soften, and the gearbox teeth start to break.

“At those temperatures, you also start to see the internal bulkhead glue joints begin to fail, and the carbon starts to degrade and lose its structural properties.

“But we have discovered that the gearbox casings had survived intact, despite experiencing temperature surges more than 45 percent higher than they’d been designed to sustain.”

Highest ever survivable temperatures

Neale reckons that the fact the gearboxes survived was testament to the work of fuel and lubricants supplier ExxonMobil in delivering oil that minimised damage.

“We really brought these gearboxes back from the dead – and that’s unbelievable.”

Holden Racing Team WIN Race 27 and PIRTEK Enduro Cup

Sun, 25 Oct 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Holden Racing Team WIN Race 27 and PIRTEK Enduro Cup

It was a thrilling finish to the V8 Supercars endurance season on the Gold Coast with Garth Tander and Warren Luff not only winning the PIRTEK Enduro Cup but also claiming 3rd in the final race. James Courtney made a stunning comeback to racing after injury taking the top step on the podium with Jack Perkins in Race 27.

As if that wasn’t enough, Warren Luff today became the only driver to win the PIRTEK Enduro Cup twice and the Holden Racing Team has moved into 2nd place in the Team Championship.

Qualifying was the first session of the day with Car #2 placing 7th and Car #22 11th for the 300 km endurance finale. It was a race that again saw few safety cars, the first was called when two cars went into the wall on just lap 8.

The second safety car, which was called on lap 54, was a pivotal point in the race. Both HRT cars pitted which meant Courtney was forced to double stack behind team mate Tander. The two cars would again need to pit before the end of the race for fuel.

Alistair McVean, Head Engineer for Car #22 made a call that, if successful, would ultimately see Courtney and Perkins win the race. He opted to pit for a second time while still under the safety car for a quick top of fuel. If Courtney could conserve fuel and no other safety cars were called, they would be in a position to win the race as other cars ahead would have to stop. The strategy couldn’t have been better scripted with Car #2 taking chequered flag honours.

Blake Smith, Head Engineer for Car #2 chose a different option and waited as long as possible before stopping for fuel. Tander stayed out, kept his head down and used the clear air to pull a gap that would ultimately see him emerge from his final stop in front of his main rivals. It too paid off and Car #2 crossed the finish line in 3rd, and in doing so also secured the PIRTEK Enduro Cup.

The next V8 Supercars event is at Pukekohe Raceway, Auckland, New Zealand in just two weeks’ time.

PREVIEW: Gold Coast 600

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Snapshot
The final event of the PIRTEK Endurance Cup is about to hit the streets of the Gold Coast and the Holden Racing Team’s pairing of Garth Tander and Warren Luff currently sit 2nd with a chance of taking out the title.

In other big news, HRT has announced that James Courtney will be back in the driver’s seat, teaming up with Jack Perkins in the #22 Commodore. This is his first event since suffering major injuries caused by flying debris whipped up by a helicopter demonstration at Sydney Motorsport Park in August.

The Gold Coast track is a 2.96km street circuit where one tiny mistake can mean a costly date with the concrete wall. Garth Tander has proven his ability here clocking up the most number of race wins by any driver with seven in total.

Prior to 2002 V8 Supercar races at the Gold Coast were non-championship rounds and the category was a support event to the Indy Car Championship series. The high speed circuit that was shortened by 1.5kms in 2010 and has since been a standalone event for the V8 Supercars Championship.

Words of Wisdom

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“Obviously I’m happy to be sitting 2nd in the Enduro Cup. It shows our consistency from Sandown with a 4th then Bathurst with a 3rd. The Gold Coast still has the potential to mix it up, so we are looking to try and have a strong weekend, win a couple of surf boards and take out the Enduro Cup as well.”

“The Gold Coast circuit is very different of any of the circuits we have been to this year, and you really do have to attack this track. You need a car where you can jump over the kerbs through the first chicane and the back beach chicane. You need a car that changes direction very well and you need a car that you are confident on the brakes with so you can carry plenty of speed into those chicane.”

“I enjoy the commitment required to go fast at the Gold Coast, particularly the commitment you need through the first chicane because the wall is very close to the exit and if you get it wrong there are big consequences. On the flip side, what I dislike about this track is it very easy to make a mistake and a very small mistake can be costly.”

“I think I have done well here in the past because that attacking style you need is very similar to my driving style and our cars have traditionally been very good here. We have had a lot of success and I enjoy the event. Also it’s the start of summer so effectively and you are driving with a smile on your face.”

Warren Luff, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“Garth and I are currently sitting 2nd in the Enduro Cup which is a really exciting thing. Heading into the Gold Coast event there are still a lot of points up for grabs and Garth and I would love nothing more than to bring the Enduro Cup back to the Holden Racing Team. I’ve won it before a couple of years ago and it was a great honour and a great privilege.”

“Last year we had a really fast car and luck didn’t go our way on Saturday or Sunday, but I think we are definitely in with a chance this year and I think qualifying will be the key. The nature of the Gold Coast track is its very tight, it’s very hard to pass on and it’s also a very unforgiving circuit. Like in many of the long races, staying out of trouble will be a big factor. We’ve seen it so many times on the Gold Coast people getting involved in other people’s accidents.”

“It’s certainly going to be a challenging weekend but one that Garth and I are up for. In terms of the circuit I really enjoy it, I really enjoy all of the street circuits we get to race on here in Australia, but I think the Gold Coast is one of my favourites because it is such a challenging circuit.”

“The event is great, the atmosphere and the way the whole town gets behind it. For me it’s a home event, it’s a lot of fun and it’s nice at night to go home and sleep in your own bed which is a massive bonus.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“The Gold Coast is definitely one our marquee events and the elusive first place surf board is something that I haven’t got yet which has been annoying for me. I’ve been in the lead of the race numerous times but I haven’t been able to achieve my ultimate goal of winning there. Being my local race it’s an important race for me.”

“I love street circuits and I love all those types of races. We had a great start to the year at Clipsal on the streets of Adelaide. I think we are in really good shape with the car speed we have shown of late and I think the longer the race goes the more speed we tend to find.”

“It will be great to get back in the car and to finally do a race meeting with Jack. We set out at the start of the year with big plans to take down this Enduro Cup but unfortunately through no fault of our own we haven’t been able to race together. So I am really looking forward to partnering up with Jack, being back with all the boys and getting a good result at the Gold Coast.”

Jack Perkins, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“It's great to finally be paired with JC. That's who I signed up to drive with in the first place so it will be great to have him back in the car and I'll be able to settle into the co-driver role.”

“Our preparation as drivers is very similar, but the engineers will need to give us a car that can handle bumps and kerbs pf the street circuit. This year the races at the Gold Coast will be different because traditionally the championship has had soft tyres at this event and this year it’s predominately hards.”

“The track is a concrete lined street circuit that takes big commitment to be fast but margin for error is zero. The attrition rate during the races is high, as the tyre bundles and kerbs are very hard on suspension components.”

“The race itself is great. The atmosphere is fantastic and the weather is always superb. It's a cool event to be a part of it. The hardest thing is always the rules associated with kerb hopping. Hopefully this year there's a balance between kerb sensors and tyre bundles.”

“We won’t really be doing anything different in terms of car set up now that is it myself and James driving, and not Russell. Al, the engineer on 22 is still the same. The drivers give him feedback and he tunes the car accordingly. The benefit is that he and JC have worked together all year, whereas Al and I have only done 3 races now. So his relationship with JC means we will be able to get more out of the car and I'll get more out of having JC there.”

Courtney cleared to return for Holden Racing Team

Mon, 19 Oct 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Courtney cleared to return for Holden Racing Team,
Tander & Luff chase Pirtek Endurance Cup win

V8 Supercars Champion James Courtney will make his return to driving with the Holden Racing Team at this weekend’s Castrol Gold Coast 600.

Courtney has received medical clearance to resume racing after missing the past three V8 events due to serious injuries received in a freak pit lane incident at Sydney Motorsport Park in August.

He will re-join enduro co-driver Jack Perkins in the #22 HRT Commodore for the final event of the three-event Pirtek Endurance Cup after retired veteran Russell Ingall stood in for Courtney at Sandown and Bathurst – Ingall and Perkins finishing ninth at Sandown and 11th at Bathurst to sit tenth in enduro points.

“It’s a relief to finally receive medical clearance and be back for my hometown race on the Gold Coast – I’m raring to go,” Courtney said.

“Missing three events, especially Bathurst, was tough, but my doctors tell me I’m ok now and ready to race.

“The Gold Coast event is one of the season’s toughest races on one of the most challenging and unforgiving circuits we visit, but after nine weeks out of the car I’m up for it.”

HRT team-mate Garth Tander and his enduro co-driver, Warren Luff, sit second in the enduro cup standings following a fourth at Sandown last month and a fighting podium for third in Australia’s great race at Mount Panorama two weeks ago.

A seven-time race winner on the Gold Coast, Tander believes it is possible to snatch the Pirtek Endurance Cup.

“The goal is to always have a strong enduro campaign and to date Warren and I have had just that,” Tander said.

“We’ve always had a speedy car on the Gold Coast and I’ve been lucky enough to have won there a few times in the past.

“Street circuits are never easy. They’re tough and anything can happen, especially on the Gold Coast, but a win in the Pirtek Endurance Cup is possible.”

Currently sixth in series points, Tander is also just 200 points out of second place in the race for the title with four events remaining.

“Aside from [leader] Winterbottom, the points are close so a good result this weekend will go a long way towards securing a top three position in the championship come Homebush.”

The Gold Coast 600 kicks off with practice on Friday, with qualifying, a Top 10 Shootout and the weekend’s first of two 300km races Saturday. The event concludes with qualifying and Race 2 Sunday.

Tander and Luff Podium at Bathurst 1000

Sun, 11 Oct 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander and Warren Luff have finished 3rd in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 after a thrilling final 20 laps. Teammates Jack Perkins and Russell Ingall finished just outside the top ten in 11th.

Friday’s qualifying session was postponed after a huge crash involving Mostert on the first timed lap in the session. Rain then affected Saturday’s rescheduled session which left both HRT cars starting towards the back of the grid in 17th (car #22) and 22nd (car #2).

Today’s 161-lap main event got underway in an orderly fashion, drivers conscious it was a long day ahead to the finish line. Ingall was in for the first stint in car #22 while Tander was on driving duty in car #2.

The first safety car was deployed on lap 16 after Gracie skidded into the wall and while she was able to limp her badly damaged car back to pit lane David Wall had an engine failure and was stopped on the track.

It was only 20 laps later that Heimgartner was tagged and spun into the wall at turn one. The third safety car came on lap 80 when Blanchard found the wall at the grate.

Rain had threatened all day and storms were predicted for the afternoon, on lap 90 the dark clouds rolled in and it began to rain at the top of Mt Panorama – a wet track was declared. Ingall was quick on the radio: “It’s raining now, it’s raining now” was the call. “Just get it back to the pits” replied Alistair his engineer.

Luff was not so sure about immediately moving to wet tyres so his engineer left the decision up to him to pit or stay out. Luff eventually decided to stop, which was the right call. The rain passed quickly and by lap 104 both
HRT cars were back on slicks.

Perkins had a nervous moment over skyline on lap 133. He was out of shape and brushed a wall but he had luck on his side and there was no damage to his Holden Commodore, so he pushed on.

The final safety car was called on lap 133 after Pye came together with the concrete at Sulman Park. While Perkins was quick to pit, Tander was forced to circulate for one more lap. At the restart Perkins was sitting in 7th position and Tander just one place behind in 8th.

In typical ‘Tander style’ he was going to race the wheels off his machine to chase down a podium position and he did not disappoint. In just two laps he had jumped from 8th to 3rd, overtaking multiple cars in one turn at the cutting. While he was determined to hunt down Lowndes and Winterbottom he was unable to catch them in the final 20 laps. Having not started the race in 2014, Tander and Luff were content with the third step of the podium.

The final event of the PIRTEK Enduro Cup will take place on the streets of Surfers Paradise at the Gold Coast 23-25 October.

Car #2 – Garth Tander/Warren Luff
Qualifying Result: 22nd
Race 25 Result: 3rd

Car #22 – Jack Perkins/Russell Ingall
Qualifying Result: 17th
Race 25 Result: 11th

PREVIEW: Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000

Wed, 07 Oct 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Snapshot

The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 is the biggest event on the V8 Supercars calendar and the Holden Racing Team have plenty to report in the lead up to the ‘Great Race’.

The biggest and most disappointing news from the team is that James Courtney has withdrawn from the event after doctors advised he would risk further damage to his injuries which were sustained at Sydney Motorsport Park.

On a positive note Russell Ingall will again step in as co-driver with Jack Perkins. This weekend marks the 20 year anniversary of the Russell Ingall/Larry Perkins Bathurst win of 1990. Perhaps history can be repeated with the family names again coming together as a team this year.

The Holden Racing Team is also rocking two very cool Star Wars liveries on the #2 and #22 Commodores to celebrate the release of the new movie, The Force Awakens, in December. Garth Tander and Warren Luff will represent the ‘dark side’ while Jack and Russell will represent the resistance.

With six different drivers taking pole position in the last six years, the mountain is anyone’s. The prize is the much desired Peter Brock Trophy – and HRT are one of only three teams that have won it since its inception in 2006.

Constructed in 1938 as scenic tourist drive, the Bathurst circuit is now famous in motorsport and has even hosted the Australian grand prix.

Words of Wisdom

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“I’m looking forward to Bathurst particularly after coming 4th at Sandown with a car that was probably as fast as anyone in the last third of the race. Bathurst is a long race and as we saw last year anything can happen. Car #2 wasn’t a player at all on Sunday so we are looking forward to getting back there and getting amongst it.”

“Bathurst is an interesting race because there is a lot of talk in the week leading up to it, there’s a lot of trash talk, a lot of media, a lot of people stating expectations but in reality that is all nothing until the last hour of the race.”

“So if we can have a fast car and a comfortable car, the right strategy and good track position that’s what it takes to win at Bathurst. You are playing high speed chess in the first 800kms of the race but when you get to the end that’s where it really counts.”

“The track is unique because it is up and down the side of a mountain and there are a lot of blind corners. There are also a lot of sections where you have to string sectors together so the run across the top from Reid Park to Skyline, then from Skyline down to Forrest elbow are two very different types of flow and two very different types of car behaviour."

“Bathurst is unique because of its off-camber nature and the nature of the car moving around so much across the top of the mountain with the rise and fall. Then you have the traditional two heavy corners at the bottom. You need a car that can deal with all those situations."

“You never have a perfect car for Bathurst, you either set it up for a comfortable fast run across the top and deal with what you have down the bottom, or you set the car up with good drive traction onto Conrod and up mountain straight so that you can’t be passed in either of those two sections, then hold on for the ride across the top.”

Warren Luff, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“Every year I get incredible excited to go to Bathurst, it’s that time of year that is the AFL and NRL grand final are played, and this year being the 25 years of the Holden Racing Team combined with Star Wars on the car there is so much going into this race. For Garth and I there was obviously that disappointment of last year where I had that big crash in Saturday morning practice so we were both gutted not only for the team but for all the fans of the team."

"We’ll be going back this even more hungry and determined than ever, and to deliver a HRT win come Sunday afternoon it would be a massive afternoon and a fantastic thing to be a part of. To win at Bathurst it’s a day long marathon, there is so much that goes into it. For all the teams it’s the biggest race of the year in terms of personnel. The fans absolutely love the race."

"It’s a real team effort and I think what make Bathurst so unique is that it’s not a circuit and I think what makes it so special is that we can’t go and drive on any day, you can only race there a couple of time a year. I feel very lucky to be taking a place on the grid."

Jack Perkins, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“We are all shattered for James, obviously he is the main driver in #22 and we were all gunning for him to be back in the car but unfortunately that’s not the case. Russell very much proved he was up to speed at Sandown, we finished inside the top 10 and we were a top 10 car all weekend.”

“Our expectations, our goals and our ambitions haven’t changed for the weekend. Everyone in the team is still committed to trying to win the race and Russell is pretty fired up to do that too. I qualified in the top 10 shootout last year and that is our first goal, then we work towards the race on Sunday.”

“I remember my first Bathurst quite clearly, which was back in 2006, and to think I’m going there for my tenth one is unbelievable, and to be going there with HRT in their 25th year is pretty cool. It’s just going to be an awesome experience and we’ve just launched our Start Wars liveries which adds a bit more excitement to the whole thing.”

“This is the second year of a brand new track surface here at Bathurst so that means a lot of the data from over the years is irrelevant and we also have a new drop gear so there are some unknowns there. Principally we want a car that’s nice to drive on Sunday. This might sound a bit silly but you don’t want to be wrestling the car for 161-laps because that means the margin for error is too small.”

“If we can get a car that’s comfortable over the top of the mountain through the high speed stuff and good balance at low speed then it will give Russell and I good confidence to truck along nicely on Sunday. The best strategy is always to have a fast car and the rest will take care of itself. The first focus is qualifying and you want to get yourself a nice starting position and then once that’s done we can really focus on the race.

Russell Ingall, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“It’s good to have James here at the track this weekend, I think it would be harder for him to watch the race at home like he did for Sandown. I think it is the best of a bad situation that he can still be involved. I know I will be leaning on him a bit this weekend as far as driving goes and to get that final bit of speed out of the car.”

“It’s always good to do Bathurst and it’s a bit unfortunate on how the drive came about I’ve known James for a lot of years and I think if we came out with a bit of a decent result that would put a smile on his face. I think he could do with that at the moment.”

“Any time you get a chance to drive at Bathurst, especially with a class team like the Holden Racing Team, you look forward to it. When you come here with a genuine opportunity of getting a result it’s exciting. As we saw last year anything can happen.”

“I think we surprised a lot of people at Sandown and probably a few people question marked whether I should be in the car or was the right choice, but in the end I think we proved a lot of critics wrong. I know Jack really well, I trust Jack and at Sandown we just got on with it.”

“Then low and behold we weren’t outside the top 10 all weekend really if it wasn’t for the unfortunate qualifying result. It was a top 5 car. I think we’ve learnt a lot since then and I think the car will be more competitive here.”

James Courtney ruled out of Bathurst 1000

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Russell Ingall to co-drive #22 HRT Commodore with Jack Perkins

V8 Supercars Champion James Courtney has been ruled out of this year’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, beginning at Mt Panorama tomorrow.

Courtney was seriously injured in a freak incident at Sydney Motorsport Park in August when he was hit by advertising walls sent flying by the downdraft of a helicopter. The Navy Seahawk helicopter had been hovering above pit lane performing a demonstration.

The medical team overseeing the 2010 V8 Supercar Champion’s recovery made the final decision on his fate late last night.

“James suffered serious injuries in August’s incident, with the architecture concerning his rib and lung area severely damaged. While there has been significant betterment in the healing, and his pain has been abated and controlled, James has not been cleared to race this weekend. We have made this decision in the interests of James’ health and recovery,” a medical spokesperson said.

As at Sandown, two-time Bathurst winner turned FOX SPORTS motorsport expert, Russell Ingall will again fill in for Courtney, sharing the #22 Holden Racing Team Star Wars: The Force Awakens light side Commodore. The pair finished ninth in last month’s Sandown 500.

- ENDS -

Holden Racing Team calls on the Force for Courtney and Perkins

Tue, 29 Sep 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Having already shown its dark side, the Holden Racing Team today revealed in Melbourne its light side by taking the covers off its second stunning Star Wars: The Force Awakens Bathurst livery.

On the 25th anniversary of its first Bathurst victory, HRT unveiled the #22 Commodore James Courtney and Jack Perkins will drive in next week’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

The Holden features a salient silver, black and red design promoting the next instalment of the legendary Star Wars franchise, with the popular Chewbacca replacing the iconic Holden Racing Team lion and driver on the left hand side, and a Rebel X-wing taking its place on the right.

Courtney, who remained on the Gold Coast in his recovery to be fit for Bathurst, said the Star Wars: The Force Awakens design is the best Bathurst livery in HRT’s history.

“The Star Wars designs look great, but mine’s definitely better than Garth’s [Tander] – I’m glad to be the good guy and have Garth as the baddie,” Courtney said.

“The team has done a sensational job, this is the most out-there livery HRT has ever had.”

Co-driver Perkins agreed with his teammate, and said he’s excited to have the Force with him.

“We can’t go wrong with the Force on our side. To take the covers off such a unique livery on the anniversary of the team’s first Bathurst win is special,” Perkins said.

“I never imagined I’d be racing for Holden’s factory team at Mt Panorama with Chewbacca and an X-wing on my car.

“It’s the coming together of three childhood icons for me and a definite career highlight.”

Holden Sponsorship and Motorsport Manager Simon McNamara said he believes the light side Commodore will receive the same outstanding response as the dark side’s, which was the highest trending topic on Facebook in Australia the day of its release.

“The reaction of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens dark side Commodore exceeded our highest expectations, and there has been great anticipation for this second design,” McNamara said.

“The collaboration between Holden and The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand is off to a fantastic start, and we look forward to building on that with the execution of this activation.”

Set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the highly anticipated next chapter in the popular movie franchise, releasing in cinemas Thursday, 17 December, 2015.

Courtney is in a race against time to be fit for the Great Race following a freak incident at Sydney Motorsport Park last month, the 2010 V8 Supercars Champion last Friday undergoing another procedure to aid his recovery.

“It’s been a painful experience but my recovery is going well. It’s been five weeks since the incident and I’ve had a lot of specialists overseeing me and give me the best chance of coming back for Bathurst,” Courtney said.

“Your body takes on so many forces across the top of the mountain, and if the ribs aren’t healing properly, one could break again and cause a hemothorax, which is a lot more serious than my initial injury.

“We’re pressing on as hard as we can. I’ve got a final scan this week to see how the bones are healing. After that we make an informed decision about Bathurst.”

Former champion Russell Ingall is again primed to fill in as he did at Sandown recently should Courtney not be fit in time.

A unique range of HRT | Star Wars: The Force Awakens merchandise is available at www.shop.hrt.com.au, or trackside at Holden Heaven.

Along with a range of apparel and accessories - the hotly anticipated 1:18 scale replica Star Wars | HRT Bathurst die-cast is already tipped to be the key item here and overseas.

The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 kicks off at Mt Panorama with practice next Thursday, 8 October.

James Courtney Recovery Update

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 14:00:00 GMT

V8 Supercars Champion, James Courtney will today undergo a second procedure in his efforts to be ready for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in two week’s time.

The Holden Racing Team driver was injured in a freak accident when he was hit by the team’s advertising walls in pit lane at Sydney Motorsport Park last month, the walls having been displaced and sent flying by the downdraft of a Navy Seahawk helicopter.

Initially Courtney was diagnosed to have received two broken ribs and a punctured lung, but further examinations revealed Courtney had in fact suffered five broken ribs, and cartilage damage.

Today’s procedure will see pulsed radio frequencies (electrical pulses) put into Courtney’s ribs and the nerve endings ‘numbed’ to provide pain relief and assist recovery.

Courtney said he was optimistic about the process and remained focussed on making his comeback for HRT at Mount Panorama.

“I went into hospital last week and had a procedure to see if this would work and it was quite successful, so I’m confident today’s operation will get the pain under control and I can come off a lot of the medication I have been prescribed,” Courtney said.

“Hopefully, I walk away pain free from it which will allow me to really focus on getting back behind the wheel of my HRT Commodore at Bathurst.”

Holden Racing Team unveils its Dark Side for Bathurst

Sun, 20 Sep 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Three-time Bathurst 1000 champion, Garth Tander has revealed he has crossed to the dark side ahead of this year’s Great Race, unveiling a menacing Star Wars: The Force Awakens livery for his Holden Racing Team Commodore V8 Supercar.

Holden’s factory racing team, HRT will hit Mount Panorama next month with two unique Star Wars: The Force Awakens designs, the first activation of a recently announced collaboration between Holden and The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand.

Set 30 years after the events of Return of the Jedi - Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the highly anticipated next chapter in the popular movie franchise releasing in cinemas Thursday, 17 December 2015. Its first two trailers received 58 and 88 million views online respectively within the first 24 hours of release.

The #2 HRT VF Commodore race car Tander will share with co-driver Warren Luff will feature Kylo Ren and his lightsaber on one side of its striking black and red livery, and a First Order Stormtrooper on the other – Kylo Ren and the Stormtrooper replacing the iconic HRT driver and lion on the other.

“Star Wars is the greatest movie franchise in history, so I know there will be a lot of interest around our livery from not only our loyal Holden V8 fans, but Star Wars fans globally,” Tander said.

“HRT is the most successful team ever at Mt Panorama and to carry the iconic film franchise on the car is extra incentive to add another Bathurst win to my tally. This is one battle I want the dark side to win.”

Holden’s Sponsorship and Motorsport Manager, Simon McNamara said today’s unveiling was the first of two exciting announcements in the lead up to next month’s Bathurst 1000.

“Today’s unveiling is just the first in a number of innovative activations we have planned in our recently announced association with The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand to promote the Star Wars franchise,” McNamara said.

“We are excited as this is the first global activation for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Not only are we continuing to engage with our traditional and loyal fan base, but we are also opening up Holden and Supercars to all new audiences.”

To celebrate this iconic collaboration fans will get to choose their side through unique Holden | Star Wars collectible merchandise, available on-track and for pre-sale at shop.hrt.com.au from today, Monday, 21 September 2015.

Along with a range of apparel and accessories - the hotly anticipated 1:18 scale replica Star Wars | HRT Bathurst die-cast is already tipped to be the key item here and overseas.

The 2015 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 will be held at the famous Mt Panorama circuit from 8 – 11 October.

About “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
Lucasfilm and visionary director J.J. Abrams join forces to take you back again to a galaxy far, far away as “Star Wars” returns to the big screen with “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

The film stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Max Von Sydow. Kathleen Kennedy, J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk are producing with Tommy Harper and Jason McGatlin serving as executive producers. The screenplay is by J.J. Abrams & Lawrence Kasdan. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” releases in Australian cinemas on December 17, 2015.

Wilson Security Sandown 500: Sunday Wrap

Sun, 13 Sep 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team stormed home for two top nine finishes at the Wilson Security Sandown 500. The #2 Commodore driven by Garth Tander and Warren Luff narrowly missing the podium finishing in 4th position while the #22 team of Jack Perkins and Russell Ingall finished 9th.

It was a hot day in Melbourne with temperatures hovering around 25 degrees and with no threat of rain the 161-lap Sandown 500 kicked off the endurance season. Starting in the finishing positions of yesterday’s qualifying races, the #2 commodore lined up in 12th on the starting grid and the #22 commodore in 24th.

The two Holden Racing Teams opted for two different strategies to avoid possible double stacking in pit lane early on in the race. With co-drivers in the cockpit first Luff and Ingall were set for the 500km marathon.

Race 24, the first of the PIRTEK Endurance Cup races, got off to a clean start and Ingall was quick to gain valuable track position moving up to 18th, Luff held position in 12th.

The first of the four compulsory pits stops came early for Ingall pitting on lap 7 for two rear tyres and fuel before settling in for a long stint. Luff made his first stop on lap 23 but after re-joining the race he found himself in a fiacre battle with Reindler which almost sent him flying into the dirt.

Once all first stops had been completed by the field, Ingall sat comfortably in 6th and Luff in 16th. On lap 44 Ingall was in for a second stop but remained in the driver’s seat with Perkins eagerly watching on from the garage. Tander had his first taste of the race when car #2 pitted on lap 55 for the only driver change of the race.

At roughly the mid-way point the yellow flag was waved for the first time in the race and the safety car was called when a car ended up in the gravel and had to be retrieved. Pit lane came alight with activity as most of the field charged in for another compulsory stop. Tander joined them while Ingall continued to circulate for one more lap.

When the #22 car pitted, Ingall’s mammoth stint was complete and while the team took care of fuel and tyres Perkins jumped in and buckled up. The restart came on lap 79 with Tander in 9th and Perkins just three places behind in 12th. After a long safety car period the call come from engineer Blake Smith that Tander should be able to go flat out without having to conserve fuel. On lap 86 a similar call came through car #22’s radio which said they too were good on fuel and Perkins was urged to go faster if he could.

On lap 119 Perkins pitted for his final stop and just one lap later Tander followed. With just over 40 laps to the finish both cars had enough fuel to comfortably get them to the end, the question was which cars ahead would have too.

A second safety car was called on lap 132 for debris on the track. At the restart Tander was hot on the tail of Reynolds and was itching to get past to give him and Luff a chance at the podium. He did and next on his hit list was Van Gisbergen but with limited laps remaining had to settle for 4th position. The #22 car passed the chequered flag in 9th, a huge effort having started in 24th.

The next stop on the 2015 V8 Supercars Championship calendar is the biggest event of the season, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, 8-11 October.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“It was good to be battling for a podium today. We had really good car speed at the end and really good fuel economy through the middle part of the race that got us a lot of track position.”

“We could basically go a lap longer before that last stop which bought us a lot of track position and then I was able to pass Reynolds and motor up to the back of Shane. I didn’t quite have enough to get him and I think the safety car probably helped them and hurt us. We would have made it to the end on fuel and they probably would have struggled.”

“After the weekend we’d had, if you said we were going to finish fourth in the 500 I would have been pretty surprised. The guys did a really good and just kept working at it. The fuel economy was really good, pit stops were good, strategy was good and the guys did a good job all round. So roll on Bathurst.”

Warren Luff, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“It was a great result overall and for Walkinshaw Racing to have all four cars in the top nine was great. The day didn’t start off fantastic, the initial balance of the car early in the race wasn’t overly good and we were stuck in a lot of traffic.”

“We went onto our second set of tyres and the balance of the car really improved. We had some really good car speed, caught a lot of people and picked up a few spots. The car felt like it was getting better as the track was rubbering in. I let Blake and Garth know a few things about the car and what we needed to improve. The crew did a stellar job on pit stops and strategy. Garth did what he does best and drove the absolute wheels off the thing.”

“I feel a little bit robbed to miss out on the podium at the end but considering where we started and what the balance of the car was early on in the weekend, I think it’s a great result for the team. I think going forward to Bathurst we go with renewed enthusiasm and have hopefully learnt a lot here that we can apply there.”

Jack Perkins, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“We can’t be disappointed with that, we knew we had a car that was capable of 6th to 10th at the start of the day. To start in 24th we knew it was going to be hard to get there strategy wise. Russell did a great job and really set up the race for us, I can’t thank him enough for that.”

“Al and all the boys did a fantastic job with strategy and pit stops to get us into a better position. I only passed a hand full of people on the track and the rest we passed in the pits.”

“To have all four Walkinshaw cars in the top nine and to have Garth and Luffly nearly get on the podium is really good for the team and gives us good momentum into Bathurst.”

Russell Ingall, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“Al and the guys all did a great job today, it was really ‘play it by ear’ and do everything on the fly depending on how good a start I got. If I got a good start they would leave me out longer and if I didn’t we were going to pit on lap one. If that had have been the case it would have limited our options. It was good that I did get a good start and get in a reasonable position, then paced on from there.”

“I don’t think we could have done anything different or better and it’s a big effort for a team to have four cars in the top nine. There are not too many teams who could have done that. It would have been nice to be on the podium but at the end of the day there was only really one other Holden that could get on the podium.”

“As a team I think we have come away with a fair bit as far as car speed and can feel a bit more confident going into the big one.”

Wilson Security Sandown 500: Saturday Wrap

Sun, 13 Sep 2015 14:00:00 GMT

It was a devastating finish for the Holden Racing team and for Jack Perkins and Russell Ingall in the final qualifying race of the Wilson Security Sandown 500, today, as they were involved in two incidents, both the result of mistakes from other drivers.

Qualifying Race 1, contested by co-drivers only, commenced in the usual bump, barge and jostle for positions. Russell Ingall benefited from the turn one concertina of cars ahead and jumped six places to 6th while Warren Luff was not so lucky off the start and dropped back two places to 14th.

Luff struggled with a brake problem for most of the race and on lap 8 found himself in the gravel at turn 9 and lost further positions. While other cars continued to find their way off and on the track, Luff was determined to move up the field and had managed to work his way back to 16th by the chequered flag. Ingall was unchallenged for the remainder of the race and finished 6th.

With the main driver’s back in the cars they started Qualifying Race 2 where their co-drivers had finished. The 20-lap sprint looked promising for the #22 Commodore as Jack Perkins had a good start off the line and solidified his 6th position. There were some nervous moments through the opening corners but Garth Tander weaved his magic and moved up two places from his starting position into 14th.

The race was only five laps in when Perkins was pushed from behind by Lowndes and ended up taking a tour through the gravel. While Lowndes copped a pit lane penalty for the incident, it was little constellation for Perkins who re-joined the race in last place.

Perkins worked hard to make up positions but on lap 18 he was collected by an out of control Heimgartner and suffered heavy damage to the front of his car. While the safety car was called, Perkins’ was forced to limp back to the garage as he was losing water pressure from his engine.

Perkins and Ingall will start from 24th for tomorrow’s 500km race. Meantime Tander, who was still suffering from braking problems in the #2 commodore, soldered on to finish in 12th.

The first race of the PIRTEK Endurance Cup kicks off tomorrow at 1:25pm local time.

Adrian Burgess, Managing Director:
"Clearly a day to forget. Qualifying - although we're not happy if we're not on pole both cars did a decent job. But there's more on the table and we have to find it.”

“Jack was involved in two incidents that had nothing to do with him. To be starting last with a bent car is something we're not happy about. And GT - we have to do a better job. The car isn't in the window and we need find the potential from the car. As a team we need to sort ourselves out and get on with the job."

Warren Luff, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“It was a bit of a disappointing race for us and it was chaotic in the first few corners, but we seemed to have a reoccurring brake issue which kept sticking its nose in the way during that race. I had an off down at turn 9 because the peddle was starting to go pretty long. So the boys are going through the data at the moment and doing some preliminary changes to the front callipers to get the car ready for Garth."

"The balance off the car was quite good and I think if they can sort the brake issue out I think the car should have good race speed for the next race and I think Garth should be able to charge on and get us into a better spot for Sunday.”

Qualifying Result: 10th
Qualifying Race 1 Result: 16th
Qualifying Race 2 Result: 12th

Russell Ingall, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“I had a game plan to get the start right today and that was only my second start this year as I only practice once at the test day. The guys gave me a really good run down on how to approach the start so I was well prepared. It’s actually hard here as the traction is terrible off the line because of the bitumen and I was really conscious about not spinning the wheels.”

“I got good start and got in between Luffy and Premat. I wanted to get past them and I did so happy days, but more importantly I wanted get to the inside because whenever there is a shunt it always goes outwards. So I got to the inside and that’s when mayhem happened, then I picked off another two, then another one and I thought this is alright."

“I think experience helped then because I’ve done it myself where you try to be a hero and go around the outside and come unstuck because there has been a crash and I’ve come unstuck. The car was a little nervous and I pushed hard a couple of times and speared off. That’s why I dropped off Canto. But on the upside it seems to get better as the race goes on and our times towards the end were pretty competitive.”

Qualifying Result: 12th
Qualifying Race 1 Result: 6th
Qualifying Race 2 Result: DNF

PREVIEW: Wilson Security Sandown 500

Tue, 08 Sep 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The start of the PIRTEK Endurance Cup is finally here with the Wilson Security Sandown 500 kicking off the first of the three big races.

The Holden Racing Team driver line-up has a slightly different look with Jack Perkins stepping up to main driver of car #22 after James Courtney was injured at Sydney Motorsport Park when he was hit by flying debris from a helicopter.
Racing veteran and past Walkinshaw Racing team member Russell Ingall will step in as co-driver, once again uniting the famous Perkins/Ingall names. Warren Luff again joins Garth Tander in car #2.

Racing in a Holden Racing Team Commodore for the first time, Russell Ingall’s rise from retirement extends his record for most round starts in ATCC/V8SC history to 248. In 2014 the Team had an impressive start to the enduro season finishing on the podium in second and third positions at Sandown.

Sandown Raceway is a unique location as the circuit is situated around the outside of a horse racing track. Opening in 1962, it hosted the Australian Grand Prix times. The track is known for its two very long straights and the fast 'esses' section at the end of the back straight leading into Dandenong Road Corner is often flagged as being one of the best sequences of corners in the championship.

Words of Wisdom

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“Obviously for the next three events the dynamic changes quite a bit because you are adding another driver into the car and into the team environment. So it is important to make sure Warren is comfortable in the car and as far as feedback goes, Warren obviously contributes quite a bit in terms of set up.”

“Having worked with Warren last year he fits in really well. I think a lot of talk goes into different driving styles of drivers and that one particular co-driver suits a particular driver. But with car of the future the driving styles are so common now that to get the most out of the car you need to drive the car the same way.”

“So as far as driving styles go we haven’t spent a lot of time comparing one to the other, we both want pretty much the same thing from the car. All Warren’s feedback over the last 18 months has been very similar to mine and we like the same things in the car.”

“The track is effectively two big drag strips with a couple of squiggles at each end and the surface there is quite unique as there are quite a lot of different types of surfaces. So the grip levels vary corner to corner and you need a car that rides the bumps well and the kerbs well.”

“You use the kerbs here quite a bit. You need plenty of braking stability because there are two big stops at the end of each straight and plenty of drive traction because of the slow corners that lead onto those long straights.”

Warren Luff, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“I am very excited about Sandown, Garth and I finished on the podium there last year so we’ve got some history there and I would love to be able to go back and repeat it. Sandown is the traditional lead-up to Bathurst and it’s got some fantastic history about the event. As a team it’s an event that we have always done very well at and obviously we would like to go back and do that again.”

“I’ve always really enjoyed Sandown and it’s an event I have always done quite well at in the past. I‘ve had four podiums and I won it in 2012, so I love it. It’s a great way to start off the enduro season and as a track it always throws up some interesting results.”

“Usually weather plays a key point at some stage over the weekend and even sometimes it plays a part in the race. There is so much that can happen there and strategy is key. It’s a relatively short lap, it’s easy to go down a lap in terms of coming in for your pit stops so strategy is really important.”

“The co-driver qualifying race on Saturday is an important race for all the co-drivers, you obviously want to do well for the team and it counts towards your starting position for Sunday. But clearly you don’t want to make any mistakes.”

“The opening lap is going to be very important – get a good start and stay out of trouble. The first lap there is usually pretty chaotic into turn one, then at the chicane and down the back straight there is usually a lot of bumping. Qualifying and starts are really going to be key to staying out of trouble on Saturday and to set yourself up for a good start on Sunday.”

Jack Perkins, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“A couple of weeks ago I was preparing to drive with James and we all know the unfortunate set of circumstances that means James is out for Sandown. I’m very delighted to have Russell driving with me and our focus as a team hasn’t really changed much. We are still very focussed on getting the best results we can. Everyone is there to win and we are no different.”

“Russell has a tremendous amount of experience and I’ve got a bit of experience now having been in it for a number of years. The Sandown event has typically been the warm-up to Bathurst and it is a good opportunity to put some runs on the board.”

“Like most tracks, it’s a place that you really need to have a fast car and you need good engine power for the two long straights which the Holden Racing Team commodores have. Then you also need a car that looks after its rear tyres because the drive onto those two straights is very important. If you’ve got good power and good drive you will have good speed over a long run.”

“It’s very important to stay on the lead lap at Sandown. If there is a long green run, which we’ve seen over the years, the leader can quite often lap half the field. I think my first Sandown saw an 80 lap green run so is super important.”

“The weather is also a variable it is often cold and it rains. A Lot of the track is made up of the original surface from the late 80s and it’s quite abrasive on the tyres. In the wet it means it’s quite treacherous and you have to drive to the conditions.”

Russell Ingall, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“It was obviously very short notice for me to get the call up and get everything in place. I think even though it’s going to be a little bit of a challenge I only stepped out of full time driving in December so I haven’t forgotten how to steer a car. That was obviously a consideration for the team when they decided to give me the seat. I feel very comfortable with it.”

“Sandown has been a happy hunting ground for me too, I’ve had a lot of wins there over the years and funnily enough with Jack's dad Larry. It’s great to be with the Holden Racing Team, I’ve been here in the past with the Walkinshaw Racing team and it’s nice to be coming back here with the Holden factory team.”

“I’m really looking forward to Sandown, it’s a track I know really well so that won’t be a challenge. The challenge will be getting use to the car itself because even though under the skin these cars are the same they do have different handling characteristics.”

“Track-wise it hasn’t changed, it’s the same old Sandown. The bumps are in the same place and the corners are in the same place. So in a couple of laps I should be back on the pace. It is great to be driving with Jack and have the Ingall and Perkins names back on the same car.”

V8 Champion Russell Ingall to sub for injured mate James Courtney

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 14:00:00 GMT

V8 Supercars Champion turned FOX SPORTS motorsport expert, Russell Ingall will replace injured Holden Racing Team star James Courtney at the Wilson Security Sandown 500, to be held on 11-13 September.

Ingall will partner Jack Perkins in the #22 HRT Commodore for the traditional warm-up to Bathurst.

Courtney has been ruled out of the race due to injuries sustained when struck by flying debris from the downdraft of a helicopter at Sydney Motorsport Park last Friday.

Ingall retired from full-time driving at the end of last season, joining FOX SPORTS’ unrivalled V8 Supercars coverage after a distinguished racing career spanning almost two decades.

Ingall said the call to fill in for Courtney was unexpected, but he was honoured to help out his long-time friend, and had the best wishes of FOX SPORTS management.

“I’ve been very happy and comfortable working with FOX SPORTS on its V8 coverage, but when the call came to help out a mate I didn’t hesitate,” Ingall said.

“Jack’s also a mate and while he’s disappointed not to be driving with James as planned, we’ve driven together in the past and he understands the need for an experienced replacement.

“I know the guys on the team, they know me well, so at least there’s some hope of getting a result.”

Ingall said driving for the famous Holden Racing Team would also be a special moment in his career.

“Racing a red Commodore for Holden’s factory team is at the top of every driver’s wish list, including mine, and I thought my chance had passed,” he said.

“To add my name to the list of the sport’s greats who have driven for HRT will be very special.”

With Ingall joining V8’s most successful team, FOX SPORTS will take viewers closer to the action than ever before when it embeds a crew in the team garage for the event.

As Team Insider, Ingall will deliver fans unprecedented access to HRT’s inner sanctum and provide insights across the weekend.

“As HRT does battle on the track, viewers will see firsthand the operations of its pit crew in action, which will make for incredible viewing,” Ingall said.

Courtney admitted it will be difficult watching from the sidelines, but knows his HRT Commodore is in good hands.

“It’s a tough situation – I’m not happy about missing the race, but if I have to then we need someone familiar with HRT and our cars, and Russell fits the bill,” Courtney said.

“He’s the logical choice because he’s a mate fresh from fulltime driving. The team know him well and he and Jack have a lot of history together.”

After pursuing an open wheel career in Europe, Ingall first rose to prominence at home in Australia when he partnered Holden legend Larry Perkins in their famous “last to first” Bathurst win in 1995.

The victory earned Ingall a fulltime V8 drive with Perkins’ team the following year, with the pair taking another victory at Mt Panorama in 1997.

After four series runner-ups, Ingall crowned his career by winning the 2005 V8 Supercars Championship.

Ingall teamed with Jack Perkins for the 2011 enduro season, finishing eighth at Bathurst.

Ingall also holds the record for the most event starts in V8 Supercars history at 247

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James Courtney Injured in Incident at Sydney Motorsport Park

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Royal Australian Navy and V8 Supercars are investigating an incident in which James Courtney was injured at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Courtney was struck by a piece of flying debris dislodged by a military helicopter during a display at the track.
He was treated by medical staff at the scene and taken to the onsite medical centre for examination and was later transported to hospital for further assessment.

Courtney missed the final practice session as a result of the incident, with co-driver Jack Perkins steering the #22 Holden Racing Team Commodore during the session.

Update on James Courtney’s condition:

James Courtney has two fractured ribs and a pneumothorax which is small pocket of air between the ribs and lungs. It creates pressure on the lungs and make breathing difficult. Courtney will remain in hospital for a couple of days to receive treatment.

Co – driver Jack Perkins will replace for Courtney this weekend, making his racing debut for the Holden Racing Team.

The team and supporters wish James a speedy recovery!

Wet Finish to Sydney Motorsport Park Super Sprint

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 14:00:00 GMT

It was a wet finish to the Sydney Motorsport Park Super Sprint at Eastern Creek today. The Holden Racing team woke up to a rain drenched circuit this morning, but the weather cleared early for a dry qualifying session.

Today’s racing format comprised of a qualifying session, where Tander placed 22nd and Perkins 25th, followed by a 52-lap race around the 3.93km circuit. The two HRT teams opted for different tyre strategies with car #2 choosing soft-hard-soft and car #22 hard-soft-hard.

While the grey clouds lingered and rain threaten all day, Race 23 got underway in dry conditions. The start of the 200km race saw the usually push and barge for positions and on the opening lap a car ended up in the gravel trap.

The safety car was called just as most of the field were passing the start finish line for the first time, but Perkin’s had already been called in for his first stop to swap to soft tyres. The rest of the field, including Tander, had to circulate one more lap before being able to take advantage of the safety car and pit. The strategy was timed perfectly and worked in Perkin’s favour - he jumped most of the field to find himself in 4th place.

On lap 30 Tander was called in for his second stop to change tyres and re-fuel, but just two laps later the heavens opened which forced teams to abandon tyre strategies and everyone stopped for wets.

While this was unfolding, a car found its way into the gravel trap and a second safety car was called so it could be retrieved. It was then a wet and wild 25 lap ride to the chequered flag. Due to extended safety car periods the race became time-certain and was reduced by two laps to 50.

Perkins finished just outside the top 10 in 11th and Tander was just one place behind in 12th. Garth remains 7th in the championship. With Courtney unable to compete this weekend he has slipped back to 8th in the standings.

The Holden Racing Team now look forward to the start of the Endurance season commencing at Sandown 11 – 13 September.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF

“It was a tough race today, I made up a load of spots again off the line and during the first lap. Then the safety car came out and we got boxed in a bit there. Our car speed on the hard tyre wasn’t what it needed to be so we struggled quite a bit.”

“Then we came in and put softs on and did two laps and it rained, so we had to come in and put wets on. Everything that could go wrong today did. Now I’m just looking forward to the enduros, we have a test day before then so hopefully we can sort a few things out there. Hopefully we can come out firing at Sandown.”

Qualifying for Race 23 Result: 22nd
Race 23 Result: 12th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:31.9585

Jack Perkins, #22 Holden Commodore VF

“We were looking to build on yesterday and we knew there was definitely room for improvement today. Qualifying was pretty ordinary for the team. I will put my hand up as a driver and say I didn’t do a good enough job, but with GT and Sladey both in the 20s as well we have a little bit of work to do as a team.”

“We spoke about the rain coming in at the start of the race and it was definitely coming. It was worth planning for and Al and I had done that. The safety car went our way at the start of the race and we got track position early. We did a long stint there on the soft tyre then came out in a good position on the wets when it started raining.”

“It looks like our tyre pressures on the wets were a little bit low to start with and we lost a bit of track time early, but once the tyre temperature came up we were able to press on and we got a couple of places back.

“We finished just outside the top 10 in 11th. We were both looking for better results for HRT but any time you start in the 20s and finish nearly in the 10s it’s not a bad effort. Onwards and upwards now.”

“At the forefront of my mind is JC, hopefully he is good for the next one and I am really pumped up for the enduros with this team.”

Qualifying for Race 23 Result: 25th
Race 23 Result: 11th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:32.1612

Perkins Makes HRT Racing Debut at Sydney Motorsport Park

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 14:00:00 GMT

In an unexpected turn of events Jack Perkins made his racing debut for the Holden Racing Team at the Sydney Motorsport Park Super Sprint today.

Perkins took over driving duties of the #22 Holden Commodore VF this weekend after James Courtney was hospitalised when he was hit by flying debris in a freak accident at the track yesterday.

Today’s race format consisted of a qualifying session and a 16-lap race on hard tyre compounds and the same on soft tyre compounds. While the team is still struggling with single lap speed compared to the rest of the field, Perkins’ qualifying times were comparable to his stablemates - he started both races in 20th.

Garth suffered an electrical issue with his engine in the first qualifying session which saw him finish 25th, but the team resolved it and had him back out for the next session where he qualified 16th.

Tander, as always, was quick off the start line in Race 21 and had jumped two places by turn one. By the end of lap one he had comfortably settled into position 18. With just three laps to go in the brief 60km race Tander was hot on the tail of Todd Kelly, and while he fought hard to try and pass he had to be content to finish where he was in 18th.

Perkins too made a solid start and moved to 19th on the opening lap. With little passing opportunity in the hard tyre sprint, this is where he stayed for the remainder of the race.

Race 22 provided a little more action in the opening laps with a number of cars finding their way into the dirt. Tander and Perkins both narrowly avoided an out of control Bright who skidded next to them towards the end of lap one. Tander swiftly made his way to 11th position and Perkins moved up two places to 18th. By the end of the race Moffat had snuck past Perkins placing him 19th and Tander remained in 11th.

The V8 Supercars kick off tomorrow with a 20 minute qualifying session at 11:45am followed by a 200km race at 2:00pm (AEST).

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF

“It was a tough day and obviously qualifying this morning put us behind the eight ball. Completely missing the first qualifying really put us behind for the second qualifying session, so both grid spots were poor.”

“Then in the races it’s hard to do anything here, you get all the cars off the line and do the first lap. Then that’s it, you just settle into a train and follow each other around. There’s not much you can do here passing wise. That was the day.”

“Tomorrow is another opportunity so we have a lot of work to do overnight to try and improve the qualifying car. On the soft tyre in that second race it looked like we had pretty good tyre life compared with the rest of the field. So we will do that work overnight, then wake up in the morning and see what weather we’ve got – the forecast is pretty average.”

Qualifying for Race 21 Result: 25th
Race 21 Result: 18th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:33.0340

Qualifying for Race 22 Result: 16th
Race 22 Result: 11th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:31.7290

Jack Perkins, #22 Holden Commodore VF

“We were a bit behind the eight ball at the start of the weekend because obviously it’s not my car and my championship. But I think all things considered we didn’t do too bad a job in qualifying even though the positions didn’t reflect it.”

“By comparison to my teammates I think we were reasonably competitive, but it’s all just a learning curve this weekend. It’s my first time with a new tyre in car #22 and in the races I just wanted to stay out of trouble. We had pretty good speed in both races, in the first one I just sat behind GT and we ended up similar pace and it was pretty hard to pass.”

“In the second race we were caught up in some traffic and we were a mile quicker than where we were running and I think we probably deserved a top 15 based on our speed. But that is motor racing and the car came back reasonably straight.”

“Thanks to everyone at HRT for the day, nothing went mechanically wrong and I am really looking forward to tomorrow’s race.”

Qualifying for Race 21 Result: 20th
Race 21 Result: 19th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:33.1710

Qualifying for Race 22 Result: 20th
Race 22 Result: 19th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:31.7700

Holden Racing Team Bounce Back for Strong Finish at QR

Sun, 02 Aug 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team duo of Garth Tander and James Courtney have bounced back from a tough qualifying session to finish 5th and 6th respectively in the final race at the Ipswich Super Sprint at Queensland Raceway today.

Despite being only being five tenths of a second behind the pole sitter, the HRT qualifying times were only enough for mid-pack starting positions; 14th and 15th. However like previous race events the Commodore VFs had good race pace for the longer 65 lap run around the “paperclip” track, and the team were able to produce some solid results.

Race 20 kicked off in true V8 Supercars style and there was push and shove from the get go. Tander was quick to bolt from the starting grid and gain positions, and by lap two had settled nicely in to 9th. Courtney too muscled his way through to the pack up to 12th during the opening laps.

On lap 13 Courtney was the first of the HRT cars to pit for hard tyres and fuel, Tander was in for his stop just one lap later. After all the field had completed their first stop Tander and Courtney were both positioned well inside the top 10 in 5th and 8th respectively. In the second stint Tander was hunting down Reynolds but despite his pace we was unable to get past.

Courtney was again first to come in for his second stop to swap back to soft tyres and fill with fuel, Tander followed suit. Courtney was able to jump two places during his stop. It was then a long 36 lap stint to the chequered flag, and it was down to managing the soft tyre until the end.

The V8 Supercars Championship next heads to Sydney Motorsport Park, 21-23 August. Courtney and Tander’s positions in the V8 Supercar Championship Series remain unchanged in 5th and 7th.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF

“Tough weekend, we really struggled to get a balance on the car and even this morning we really didn’t have the qualifying pace we needed which has been a bit of a common trend unfortunately during the last couple of events.”

“Again race pace was reasonably strong and made up a few places off the start. The guys did a great job with our strategy and our pit stops and we went from 14th to 5th.”

“So again another top five but we’ll be going away and concentrating on our qualifying speed and making sure we are starting a little bit closer to the front.”

Qualifying for Race 20: 15th
Race 20 Result: 5th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:11.0491

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF

“It’s a little bit frustrating because we need to get out qualifying sorted, there is no point having good race pace if we are starting that far back all the time.”

“In the race the cars was good and the strategy was good as well. During the first pit stop I didn’t quite launch well enough and at the end of the race I got a cramp in my calf and went off. The car speed was good in the race and we were able to manage it well.”

Qualifying for Race 20: 15th
Race 20 Result: 6th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:11.0209

PREVIEW: Coates Hire Ipswich Super Sprint

Wed, 29 Jul 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team heads back to Queensland again this week for the Ipswich Super Sprint at Queensland Raceway. It’s a track which has proved kind to Garth Tander and James Courtney in the past with both drivers having recorded multiple wins.

The 3.21km track is affectionately known as the paperclip due to its six turn design and lack of elevation. Between 1999 and 2002, the Ipswich event was an endurance event and was the 500km precursor to the Bathurst 1000.

While it is one of the smaller events on the V8 Supercars calendar it does provide spectacular viewing with spectators able to see the whole track from their vantage point.

Words of Wisdom:

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:

“To look at the circuit on paper it’s not the most exciting layout, but what the circuit does do is create exciting racing; and the quality of racing is very high. One of the great things about the circuit is the fans can see the whole track from their vantage point, so it provides great entertainment and a great spectacle which is really important.”

“For us, its six corners but six very different corners, so you need a high level of braking stability because there are three really big stops. You also need a car with good drive traction because you are leaving from three really slow corners.”

“Turn one and two are quite fast, they are fourth gear corners so that’s quite high tyre degradation there. But then turn three, four and six are all slow second gear corners that require good drive traction.”

“So you need a car that is good in the first sector which is high speed and fast flowing but then you need a car that has good driver traction as well. Usually when you are setting the car up those two things don’t go together so you need to compromise.”

“It’s easy to overtake at Queensland Raceway but on the flip side it’s easy to re-pass. So you can dive up the inside of someone at turn six but if you are a little bit wide when you are passing them they can come straight back up the inside of you on the exit of turn six and they can have the inside run for turn one at the next corner. That’s where the racing aspect comes into it, it’s a great track for wheel to wheel combat and that’s what provides the good racing.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:

“The track probably doesn’t look that exciting on paper, it looks just like paperclip. But it’s a unique place to drive, there are a lot of bumps and you have to position the car well to get around the bumps. So on paper, it look really boring but it’s pretty technical to get around.”

“I enjoy the technical side of the track, it constantly evolves and changes a lot throughout the weekend and throughout the race. I’ve had good success there, I enjoy it and I’ve spent a lot of time testing there in the past. It’s a track that I am really quite familiar with so I think that has a lot to do with past success.”

“It’s not really a tough track on tyres, I think a lot of it is strategy especially during the Sunday race, working out how to best manage the soft and hard tyre on that day. The biggest thing we have to work on to put us back in the championship hunt is qualifying.”

“Those 60/60 race are going to be super important too, so we will have to work on really getting a good
qualifying car so we can maximise that race on Saturday. We typically have been quite good in the long races so Sunday should be ok, it’s just more so managing the 60/60 on Saturday.”

“At the moment we seem to have either a good qualifying car or a good race car. Clipsal is the only place we have managed to nail both and we got a pole and a win. So between the races we have really been focusing on that.”

“We’ve been struggling to get a lot of feeling from the tyre on that one lap. I require a lot of feeling through the steering wheel when I’m pushing for a good qualifying lap and I need as much information coming back through the wheel as I can. We’ve been struggling with getting the amount of information for me to get the performance I want.”

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Wed, 22 Jul 2015 14:00:00 GMT

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Townsville 400: Race 16 Wrap-Up

Sun, 12 Jul 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team has bagged valuable Championship points with both cars finishing inside the top seven in Race 16, the first of two 200km races at the Townsville 400. It was a picturesque day for racing in tropical north Queensland today with the sun shining and the temperature hovering around 26 degrees.

As always there was no room for error in qualifying with just five tenths of a second separating the top 15 cars. James qualified 7th and Garth 15th, however Garth benefited after van Gisbergen was excluded from qualifying for a tyre infringement and started 14th.

The start of the 70-lap race around Reid Park kicked off in a relatively orderly fashion with no major incidents unfolding off the grid. Garth got off to a flying start and succeeded in moving up four places to 10th while James held off challenges for his 7th position. Both HRT cars chose a soft-hard-soft tyre strategy, a popular decision and one that the majority of teams in pit lane opted for.

The first pit stops by the HRT crew were textbook with both VF Commodores re-joining the race further up the field then when they had entered pit lane. Once all cars in the race had completed their first stop James was up to 5th and Garth just three places behind in 8th.

After the second round of pit stops Garth was still holding strong in 8th and James had only dropped back one place to 6th. With no safety cars called for the entirety of the race it came down to which driver could take care of his tyres the best and hold on to the chequered flag.

In the concluding laps James wasn’t able to hold off the advances of Scott Pye and lost one place. Chaz Mostert’s tyres went off which opened the door for the HRT drivers to move up the field. James finished 6th and Garth, who had a clear three second gap either side to his rivals, was just one place behind 7th.

Holden Racing Team Narrowly Miss Double Podium

Sun, 12 Jul 2015 14:00:00 GMT

It was a nail biting finish to today’s final race at the Townsville 400 with James Courtney blazing home to finish in 2nd and Garth Tander just narrowly missing the podium in 4th.

Today’s racing schedule consisted of Qualifying, a Top Ten Shootout and the showcase 200km race around scenic Reid Park. Like yesterday, qualifying was tight with Garth missing the shootout by just one position, clocking the 11th fastest time. While James’ lap time was only seven hundredth of a second behind his teammate, he qualified back in 16th position on the grid.

Notorious for impressive starts, Garth did what he does best and jumped three places off the start and by the end of the first lap had gained another and settled in 7th position. James was determined to move up the field too and gained two places at the start, positioning himself in 14th.

The battle was on in the early stages of the 70-lap race as Garth battled Coulthard for position and tried desperately to nudge past. Courtney was the first of the HRT cars to stop for hard tyres and fuel, and a fast pit stop by the crew meant he was able to jump up one a position in pit lane. Once all cars in the race had completed their first stop Garth was sitting comfortably in 4th and James in 7th.

A safety car on lap 21 for debris saw a number of different strategies come into play which mixed up the field. Car #22 opted to stop for fuel but kept the hard tyres, already on the car, in play. Meanwhile Garth stayed out on track, sticking with his two stop strategy.

With 25 laps remaining Garth and James were sitting in 4th and 5th respectively, hunting down the front runners. As the laps counted down Garth made a move on Mostert and was in podium contention for the finish. James followed suit overtaking Mostert on the same lap and moved into 4th.

It was teammate against teammate has the HRT boys battled for 3rd and with a faster car James was able to sneak past Garth. It was eyes forward and with a four second gap to Reynolds James was determined to get to the second step of the podium. With just three laps remaining James was not only hot on Reynold’s tail but passed and raced ahead to the chequered flag.

James now sits 6th on the V8 Supercars Championship ladder and Garth is placed in 7th. The next stop on the racing calendar is Ipswich in three weeks.

PREVIEW: Townsville 400

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Since returning home from Darwin, the Holden Racing Team has had just over two weeks to prepare the #2 and #22 Commodore VFs for the next event on the V8 Supercars calendar, the Townsville 400. The team will again head north from Melbourne to warmer weather, to tropical north Queensland and to a circuit that has proven very successful for the team in the past.

To continue the 25th anniversary year celebrations both HRT cars will be sporting a special heritage livery for the event – the 1997 VS Commodore driven by Peter Brock and Greg Murphy. Further paying homage to the classic #05 Tander will see a change to his car number running #02 for the weekend.
While classed as a street circuit, the 2.86km Townsville track is located at Reid Park and is part street, part race track. This gives it some interesting characteristics with long loaded corners and aggressive curbs. The challenge for teams comes in setting up the car so that it has good drive but also preserves the rear tyres in the second part of the lap.

Both Tander and Courtney have enjoyed much success in Townsville with the pair clinching multiple podiums, and a one-two finish in races at both the 2013 and 2014 events.

Holden Racing Team Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Retro Livery

Sun, 05 Jul 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team will step up its 25th anniversary celebrations with a cool retro livery at the Townsville 400, inspired by the 1997 HRT VS Commodore.

V8 champions Garth Tander and James Courtney will pay tribute to Holden legend Peter Brock in the same colours that he claimed his last ever V8 pole, race and round wins.

Tander said he has fond memories of watching his hero Brock in his final season firsthand, and is honoured to have the same livery on his #02 HRT VF Commodore.

“1997 was a big year for the Holden Racing Team with Brock’s last full time year in V8 Supercars, so it’s really special to carry those colours on my HRT Commodore. The guys have done an incredible job replicating the livery,” Tander said.

“I was racing Formula Ford at the time and remember seeing huge crowds surrounding Brock and the HRT garage.

“It was really memorable to watch him in his final year, take the round in Perth and win a race at Oran Park, so to now carry the same livery is exciting.”

The stunning white, blue and Holden red scheme has been re-created by its original designer, Peter Hughes.

“HRT’s 1997 livery is one of my all time favourites. It was the first HRT Commodore I designed and is sentimental to me being Brock’s final year,” Hughes said.

“I’m always excited to see a HRT liveries come to realisation, and I’m proud to bring back this design.”

Brock and then rookie teammate Greg Murphy celebrated 1-2 finishes at Oran Park and at Symmons Plains, while Tander and Courtney look to record a HRT 1-2 at Townsville for the third consecutive year.

“We’ve had a lot of success at Townsville and I’m hoping we can replicate it, with me first and James second. It would be fitting to do it in the 1997 retro livery,” Tander said.

The Townsville 400 is the sixth round of the 2015 V8 Supercars Championship, and takes place 10-12 July.

SKYCITY Triple Crown Darwin: Saturday Race Wrap

Sun, 21 Jun 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Today’s two 60km sprint races at Hidden Valley saw some of the best racing action of the V8 Supercars season so far. The schedule consisted of a practice, two qualifying sessions and two races. New tyre rules meant the first qualifying and race could only be contested on hard tyre compounds and the second qualifying and race on only soft tyres.

The opening lap of Race 13 set the mood for the day. Aggressive battles for track position and lack of grip off the racing line saw most of the field end up in the dirt at some stage of the race. Two safety cars were also called in the short 21-lap race due to grass fires.

James Courtney started on pole position but dropped to 2nd place as he headed into the first corner. Meanwhile Garth Tander gained six places on the opening lap, then gained another two and settled into 7th.

The first of the safety cars came on lap 3 with Tander picking up another spot at the restart which moved him into 6th. Courtney was holding off unrelenting challenges from Winterbottom to hold 2nd place. On lap 13 Courtney locked his rear brakes and fell back to 4th, but had the chance to regain some track position after the second safety car was called.

There was just two laps remaining in the 60km race at the restart and Courtney and Tander charged. As they came into turn 1 Courtney and Van Gisbergen bumped sending car #22 into his teammate.

It was a disappointing finish for the team with Tander crossing the finish line in 20th and Courtney three places behind in 23rd.

Race 14 didn’t disappoint the fans either with a similar amount of carnage unfolding as the previous race. While Courtney and Tander didn’t have the best starting positions they were both able to move up a number of places after a big incident on the opening lap.

This caused a safety car as the debris and damaged cars were removed from the circuit. After the restart, Courtney and Van Gisbergen again found themselves battling for position but this time managed to keep the encounter on the track. Both HRT drivers were able to avoid incident as they race to the chequered flag. Courtney finishing 6th and Tander just two places behind in 8th position.

SKYCITY Triple Crown Darwin: Sunday Race Wrap

Sun, 21 Jun 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team has made a solid recovery after yesterday’s disappointing race results, with both cars finishing in the top twelve in this today’s showcase 70-lap race at the Hidden Valley circuit in Darwin.

The final of day of racing consisted of one practice session before qualifying and the 200km finale. James Courtney qualified inside the top ten in 7th, however teammate Tander struggled to find the optimum set up and (despite being just four tenths behind James in this session) his car qualified 23rd.

The start of Race 15 lacked the push and shove of yesterday’s racing with a clean start and no major incidents unfolding. Tander had an impressive opening lap jumping up three places, then continued to work his way up to 16th over the first few laps. Meanwhile Courtney was ferociously protecting his position and held strong in 7th.

Both HRT cars opted for the same tyre compound strategies adopting a soft-hard-soft plan. Tander was the first of the team’s cars to pit on lap 11 and just seven laps later, Courtney was in for fresh rubber and fuel too. There was a flurry of activity in pit lane with most other cars coming on the same lap and as a result Courtney lost track position to Percat. After all cars had made their first round of stops Courtney was sitting in 8th and Tander just outside the top ten in 12th.

The second round of stops for the HRT team came consecutively on laps 34 and 35 and from there it was a race to the chequered flag. Tander’s drive was impressive- up eleven places to finish in 12th. Courtney finished where he started in 7th.

The team will now head back to base in Melbourne to prepare for the next event – the Townsville 400 – in just three weeks’ time.

PREVIEW: SkyCity Triple Crown Darwin

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Snapshot

The Holden Racing Team make its way to the top-end this weekend for the SkyCity Triple Crown Darwin and this event comes with tyre and track changes which are set to spice up the racing.

Resurfacing of the 2.87km circuit has been completed and as a result lap times are expected to drop dramatically. While tyre degradation has been a talking point of past events, the new surface is expected to be kinder on tyres and provide more grip.

For the first time this year, an additional set of soft compound tyres has been added to Saturday’s allocation with the rules stating qualifying two and race two can only be contested on these tyres. They also cannot be saved for Sunday’s qualifying session and race. Teams will again receive an extra set of hard tyres, like they did in Winton, for Friday’s practice which must be surrendered at the end of the day.

Hidden Valley has one of the longest straights of all the tracks the V8 Supercars championship visits and has previously seen top speeds of over 270km per hour. It is also one of the warmest locations the series travels to and during the races cabin temperatures can reach around 65 degrees. Drivers will easily exhaust their 3L water reservoir and still lose 2-3kg of body fluid.

Words of Wisdom:

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“There is addition to the tyre rule in Darwin which means, like Winton, we will receive a hard set of tyres for practice. Then we will also get a set of soft tyres for the Saturday afternoon race, so qualifying two will be on softs and race two will be on softs. I think having a hard tyre qualifying and race, and a soft qualifying and race is not a bad thing.”

“It will mix up the field and we have seen this year that some cars are better on hards and some are better on softs. So instead of having both Saturday races the same this will mix it up and make it interesting. We also have more tyres for practice which means we will be on track more on Friday, which is better for the fans.”

“It’s hot in Darwin, it’s very, very hot in comparison to Melbourne where it is 10 degrees at the moment. There is also very high UV in Darwin and that is the thing that will hurt the tyres the most. The heat is an issue, but the UV is the thing that hurts the tyre.”

“On top of all that we have a new surface this year. The track has been fully resurfaced which means much more grip, and the tyre degradation numbers we have historically won’t be relevant because of it.”

“Darwin had about three different surfaces around the track so at least now it is all consistent. The setup was always compromised for all the different types of corners they had. Turn one is very heavy braking but turn four is a very slow hairpin and you need plenty of front grip. But the surface also influenced that as well, whereas now with the grip being consistent we should be able to refine the setup and have it more to my liking throughout the entire lap.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“This year the track is going to be completely different to what we have previously known in terms of car characteristics and tyre longevity because of the resurfacing that has been done. In practice we are going to have to run through quite a few things especially in terms of spring balance. I think the setup is going to be very different to what we have used there previously.”

“When we get up to Hidden Valley we will have to see how they have changed the kerbs and what bumps we can and can’t see, then we’ll make our plan from there.”

“I think it is great we have another set of tyres for Saturday’s race and I think it will spice up that second race. Also being able qualify on the softs will make that more enjoyable and interesting too.”

“Darwin is always one of the warmest places we race, but by this point of the season we normally have pretty good race based fitness after doing the first half of the year. So even though the conditions are very hot it shouldn’t be too much of a shock unless there are extreme temperatures, which we are not expecting.”

Mobil 1 The Grid

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Television's most comprehensive motorsports series, Mobil 1 The Grid, is racing into its seventh season with expanded digital content designed to capture even more motorsports action.

The show's digital platforms will bring fans closer to the track than ever through:

Mobil 1 The Grid exclusive correspondents who will contribute articles to Grid1.TVThe launch of the new Mobil 1 The Grid YouTube channel andThe introduction of Mobil 1 The Grid on Instagram.

Affiliating Mobil 1 with the world of motorsports through Mobil 1 The Grid presents an opportunity to directly engage with consumers through compelling motorsports content. The show also demonstrates ExxonMobil's commitment to key partners, including McLaren Honda and Stewart Haas Racing, by providing added media value.

"Through Mobil 1 The Grid we're able to leverage the passion and interest of consumers and fans alike across a wide range of digital platforms," said Rebecca Pearson global brand manager, passenger vehicle lubricants. "Mobil 1 The Grid is just one way our team not only showcases the Mobil 1 brand's involvement in motorsports but also provides fans with an in-depth, behind-the-wheel look at racing action from around the globe."

Featuring articles from four of the biggest names in motorsports journalism – Jennie Gow, Lee Spencer, Craig Scarborough and John Hindhaugh – the Grid1.TV blog will provide in-depth coverage around NASCAR, Formula 1, WEC, TUSCC and everything in between. The new YouTube channel will showcase driver and team profiles, behind-the-scenes stories and features on the technology that helps race teams compete. Follow @Grid1TV on Twitter to make sure you don't miss a beat!

This year, Mobil 1 The Grid has earned a regular Saturday morning spot on CBS Sports Network. All local airtimes and dates for Mobil 1 The Grid episodes around the world, as well as exclusive news, features and videos, can be found online at Grid1.TV.

Don't forget, you can follow Mobil 1 The Grid and all motorsports action on our new Mobil 1 twitter handle @Mobil1.

Impressive Recovery by the Holden Racing Team

Sun, 17 May 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team have bounced back from yesterday’s disastrous race at the Winton SuperSprint with an impressive drive by Garth Tander to finish 5th and James Courtney to finish in a respectable 7th position.

This morning’s 20 minute qualifying session once again proved difficult and both HRT drivers positioning themselves towards the back of the grid for Race 12. With James starting the 200km race in 16th and team mate Garth one place behind in 17th, they had a challenging task ahead.

Both the #2 and #22 teams opted for a soft-hard-soft tyre strategy, two of only four cars on the grid choosing to start on the soft rubber. Garth and James both got a good start, negotiated their way through turn one cleanly, and quickly moved up a number of places on the opening lap.

Tander continued to charge through the field early on in the 200km race, rounding up slower cars ahead on hard tyres. James, not letting his team mate get too far away, followed suit.

After the first round of stops were complete Garth was travelling in a comfortable 4th place and James in 9th. The safety car was called on lap 33 after Mostert ran off the track, Garth and James both pitted and swapped back to soft tyres. The 67-lap race was restarted with 31 laps remaining.

Battling with cars challenging him from behind for position and a failed cool-suit, Garth passed the chequered flag in 5th. James made a late assault on slower cars in the dying laps and charged home in 7th – a good recovery for the team to finish a tough weekend.

James is now 4th and Garth 6th in the Championship standings. The next stop in the V8 Supercars series is the SkyCity Triple Crown Darwin 19-21 June.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF
Qualifying for Race 12: 17th
Race 12 Result: 5th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:24.5804

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF
Qualifying for Race 12: 16th
Race 12 Result: 7th
Fastest Lap Time: 1:25.1201

PREVIEW: Winton SuperSprint

Tue, 12 May 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Winton Raceway is the next stop on the V8 Supercars calendar and the Holden Racing Team heads there this weekend for what will be their 300th ATCC/V8 Supercars round start – an important milestone in the team’s 25th anniversary year.

The biggest news in the lead up to this event is teams will be allocated one extra set of hard tyres which can only be used in Friday practice, at the end of the day they will be surrendered back to Dunlop. This will assist the team in making base line comparisons and to reconfirm set up work done during the practice sessions.

A notoriously twisting and winding circuit, Winton is the slowest track the V8s race at and provides very little opportunity for passing.

Garth Tander, along with three other drivers, stands to break the Winton race wins record which currently sits at five.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“Winton has a very slow average speed and reasonable grip level but quite bumpy. It’s not what you call a fast track. There are many slow corners so a lot of rear grip for drive traction off the slow corners.”

“Good rear grip is important for leaving the corner, but in slow corners you also need a lot of front grip mid-corner to get the car to turn. So you can set the car up for rear grip and drive traction but that comes at a compromise and you don’t have as much steer.”

“It’s difficult to overtake at Winton. There are really only two legitimate passing opportunities and even they are a bit sketchy as far as risk.”

“They are high risk passing opportunities. At turn one there is a passing opportunity, on the brakes at turn one, but that really relies on the car in front having poor drive traction out of the slow corner.”

“Then there is also an opportunity into turn seven, into the first of the really tight hairpins, but that is really high risk as the car you are passing is often unsighted and can’t see you coming. You often see cars coming together there as a result of failed passing opportunities.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“Winton is one of the remaining old school circuits, it’s got quite a bit of heritage and it’s been around for long time. It’s a good rural race; a lot of the racing we do now is street circuits and in towns, this is very much outside town and it’s good for the fans out there as they really enjoy it.”

“I don’t mind the track, it’s a good little circuit and could probably do with being resurfaced but in terms of layout it’s quite a fun little track to drive”.

“The most difficult part of the track is after the sweeper. You go through turn five then there is a change of direction through six and then trying to stop the car for the hairpin turn at seven is a tricky little sector.”

“To get the car to change direction a couple of times, then to settle it coming off the curb, then to stop and get rotated for the hairpin, is hard.”

“The new set of tyres this weekend for practice will give us a much better idea of where we are at running into qualifying. It will also give everyone a chance to run a qualifying simulation to see how their cars are performing and make some changes going into qualifying.”

“This year it’s been a bit hectic and I wouldn't think anyone has had a good idea where they are going into qualifying sessions.”

Safety Car Puts Rest to HRT's Run to Finish

Sun, 03 May 2015 14:00:00 GMT

On a day that was decided by fuel and tire strategies both HRT VF Commodore’s withstood challenging days, with James Courtney #22 recording a 5th place finish and Garth Tander #2 a 6th.

Midday qualifying produced mixed results for the team, with Tander putting in a flyer (57.3238) to earn 3rd place on the grid. Courtney pushed hard for a 57.6456 which, in a crowded qualifier, resulted in 11th place start for the afternoon’s 200km race.

Starting from a less than perfect spot on the grid, Courtney was immediately in the middle of a fight for position. Unable to set into any sort of rhythm Car #22 spent much of the first spell jostling mid-bunch. Running a hard-hard-soft strategy, Courtney delivered great pace in his final stint climbing from 14th to finish 5th.

Tander was expecting a big result after building momentum throughout the weekend, and showed great consistency early on hard tires, leading the eventual 1-2 of Davidson and Lowndes. An ill-timed safety car however ruined a solid strategy which eventuated in Car #2 being put on hards too early. This ultimately resulted in a tough run to the finish.

As the team heads back east, Courtney leaves Perth having consolidated his 2nd position in the championship with Tander now sitting in 6th. The team now prepares for the Winton SuperSprint in two weeks.

Over the last 125 Years (Vol 2)

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Over the last 125 years ExxonMobil has evolved from a regional marketer of kerosene in the U.S. to the largest publicly traded petroleum and petrochemical enterprise in the world.

Today we operate in most of the world's countries and are best known by our familiar brand names: Exxon, Esso and Mobil. We make the products that drive modern transportation, power cities, lubricate industry and provide petrochemical building blocks that lead to thousands of consumer goods.

1882

Standard Oil lubricates Thomas Edison's first central generating system. Also in this year, Standard Oil Trust forms to include the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (Jersey Standard) and the Standard Oil Company of New York (Socony).

1885

The Standard Oil Trust moves its headquarters to 26 Broadway, New York City. The nine-story office building becomes a landmark.

The same year, Vacuum develops Gargoyle Arctic engine oils for newly designed generators and motors that operate at speeds of up to 1,000 rpm.

1903

The Wright brothers, Wilbur and Orvillle, use both Jersey Standard fuel and Mobiloil (Vacuum) lubricants for their historic first flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

1906

Socony gains a strong foothold in the vast market for kerosene in China by developing small lamps that burned kerosene efficiently. The lamps become known as Mei-Foo, from the Chinese symbols for Socony, meaning “beautiful confidence. ”

1911

Following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, Standard Oil breaks up into 34 unrelated companies, including Jersey Standard, Socony and Vacuum Oil.

The year also marks the first time Jersey Standard's sales of kerosene are surpassed by gasoline, a product that in the early days had often been discarded as a nuisance.

Perth SuperSprint Preview

Tue, 28 Apr 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team heads west, across the Nullarbor, to Perth this week for the third event of the V8 Supercars Championship.

Barbagallo Raceway, or Wanneroo Raceway as it was known prior to 1992, is famous for its abrasive surface and high tyre degradation. While the circuit was resurfaced 11 years ago the surrounding sand which blows onto the track has caused it to age in a very different way to other tracks the V8 Supercars race on.

The biggest talking point in the lead up to this year’s race however, is the introduction of the British Beru f1 tyre pressure sensors which will be used for the first time in this category, this weekend. V8 Supercars primary rationale is safety, expecting the new mechanism to detect deflating tyres before an incident is triggered.

Teams will now be provided with live tyre pressure telemetry to the car dashboard and back to the pits during on-track sessions, which will greatly assist teams in managing the minimum 17psi tyre pressure requirement.

Garth Tander is a born and bred Perth boy and has had two pole positions and three race wins at the circuit, while James Courtney is yet to qualify on pole or finish on the podium

Over the last 125 Years (Vol 1)

Sun, 12 Apr 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Over the last 125 years ExxonMobil has evolved from a regional marketer of kerosene in the U.S. to the largest publicly traded petroleum and petrochemical enterprise in the world.

1859

Colonel Edwin Drake and Uncle Billy Smith drill the first successful oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania. The colonel's discovery triggers an oil boom that parallels the gold rush of a decade earlier.

1870

Rockefeller and his associates form the Standard Oil Company (Ohio), with combined facilities constituting the largest refining capacity of any single firm in the world. The name Standard is chosen to signify high, uniform quality.

1879

Standard Oil Co. purchases a three-quarters interest in Vacuum Oil Company for $200,000. As a lubricants pioneer, Vacuum Oil introduces a number of popular products, including the revolutionary Gargoyle 600-W Steam Cylinder Oil.

Two More Top Ten Results in Tasmania

Sun, 29 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Garth Tander and James Courtney have again finished in the top 10 in today’s Race 6 at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania.

The 84 lap race was all about tyre strategy with teams only given one set of soft compound tyres to use during the 200km race. It was Tander who was HRT's stand out performer qualifying 8th, then making up six places to finish 4th. Courtney also had a solid performance qualifying 12th and finishing 10th.

James now sits 2nd on the Championship table with Garth just two places behind in 4th. The next V8 Supercars event is 1-3 May at Barbagello Raceway in Perth.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF
Qualifying for Race 6: 8th
Race 6 Result: 4th
Fastest Lap Time: 52.1373

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF
Qualifying for Race 6: 12th
Race 6 Result: 10th
Fastest Lap Time: 52.2426

Double Podium for Holden Racing Team

Sun, 29 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

James Courtney has lead the Holden Racing team to a double podium today at the Tyrepower Tasmania Super Sprint at Symmons Plains. Garth Tander didn’t disappoint either, placing inside the top 8 in both 60km races.

Today’s schedule consisted of two 10 minute qualifying sessions followed by two 25 laps races. This is how the stats looked:

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF
Qualifying for Race 4: 9th
Race 4 Result: 8th
Fastest Lap Time: 52.6597

Qualifying for Race 5: 6th
Race 5 Result: 5th
Fastest Lap Time: 52.7276

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF
Qualifying for Race 4: 3rd
Race 4 Result: 3rd
Fastest Lap Time: 52.5066

Qualifying for Race 5: 3rd
Race 5 Result: 3rd
Fastest Lap Time: 52.5109

Holden Racing Team 2015 Celebrates 25 years

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Click on the link below and enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djC-5QhcIn0

Holden Racing Team Preview: Tyrepower Tasmania Super Sprint

Wed, 25 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team heads to Symmons Plains Raceway, Tasmania, this weekend for the second championship event on the V8 Supercars calendar.

Garth Tander places well on the stats board and is equal second with Craig Lowndes and Peter Brock on seven for the greatest number of race wins. James is yet to win a race at the Symmons Plains circuit but placed on the podium in two races in 2014.

The shortest on the calendar, Symmons Plains Raceway certainly isn’t the most complex circuit but it can be tricky to set up the car.

This year’s Saturday sprint races are the shortest races V8 Supercars have seen here since 1999, each race just 25 laps in length.

21 of the last 26 race winners have started in either pole position or on the outside of the front row.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“As we head to Symmons Plains we now focus on heavy braking and power-down. Obviously the first circuit, Clipsal, was very bumpy and all about curbs whereas Symmons Plains is now all about brakes."

“It’s an interesting format this weekend. The two 60km races on Saturday is what we’ve been use to but the 200km race on Sunday - with the one set of soft tyres, which we don’t qualify on, we can only use them for the first time in the races - will be interesting.”

“Strategy will be a bit different, the soft tyre is probably the preferred tyre at Symmons Plains but trying to make that one set of tyres live for as long as possible is going to be tough. We’ll see quite a bit of difference with the strategies that will play out over the course of the 200kms. So what is usually an interesting weekend will now be even more interesting given that we’ve got that wild card set of soft tyres.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing how we go, we’ve had pretty good success in the past and I'm certainly looking to add to the winner’s tally over the course of the weekend and bolster our top 3 championship position.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“The track doesn’t look that exciting when you look at it on paper, it looks like two drag strips with a hairpin at one end and a fast flowing corner at the other. It’s really pretty technical, into turn 1 and 2 that little complex is really quite tricky and it’s hard to get the car to settle nicely through that section.”

“It’s difficult to control the front inside wheel from locking through the first part of turn 1 and then as you change direction and go through 2 and turn to the left it wants lock a left front wheel after wanting to lock the front right.”

“We use a lot of curb there on the exit and then you need to try and get the rear of the car to settle so you have good drive-off as that is key to getting a good time around there. Then braking is really important because it’s a really heavy brake down into the hairpin, and it’s the slowest corner of any circuit in the championship.”

“It’s a fun event, I got a couple of podiums there last year and I’m looking forward to getting there after the great start to the season we’ve had.”

Holden and the Holden Racing Team pay tribute to the ANZAC spirit

Sun, 22 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Holden will commemorate next month’s centenary of the Gallipoli landings with its factory Holden Racing Team paying its annual tribute to the ANZAC spirit with a one-off livery in Tasmania next weekend.

V8 Supercars Champions, Garth Tander and James Courtney’s HRT Commodores will carry the commemorative ANZAC design at the Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint, at Symmons Plains Raceway, on 27-29 March.

Now in its third year, HRT’s tribute is approved and supported by the Returned & Services League, with the initiative raising awareness and funds for the RSL’s annual ANZAC Appeal.

The 2015 version sees Holden’s famous HRT lion and driver logo again replaced by the RSL’s ANZAC Appeal Rising Sun logo, with a silhouette of ANZAC diggers from the original Gallipoli landing featuring on each side of the car and bonnet.

The ANZAC Appeal logo also features on the boot lid, with “ANZAC Centenary, April 25, 2015” featuring above the front windscreen and on the rear wing.

GM Holden Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager Simon McNamara said Holden was proud to donate its space on the HRT Commodores to acknowledge those who have served our country.

“The Holden Racing Team’s annual ANZAC tribute has become a very special part of Holden’s motorsport activities and in this, the 100th year since the Gallipoli landings, it makes us even more proud,” McNamara said.

“As a company, Holden is privileged to be able to continue supporting the ANZAC tradition, honouring those that have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, while also helping raise awareness to the valuable work of the RSL.”

The RSL’s Victorian Branch Appeals Manager, Peter Smith OAM, said the organisation was delighted with Holden and HRT’s ongoing commitment to remembering the service and sacrifice of the Australian Defence Force.

“The ANZAC appeal logo on the car is great, and the silhouette of the solders is just so powerful. The cars look fantastic and it’s a testament to Holden’s support. It makes us very proud,” Mr Smith said.

“We’re raising money for veterans welfare – old veterans, young veterans, and their families when they most need help. This support and helping get our message out to Australians is very important to us.

Tander said he is passionate about ANZAC Day and the RSL’s appeal because of family ties.

“ANZAC Day is a very special day in my family because grandfather served overseas in the Army, so when you say ‘ANZAC’, the first thing I think about is respect,” Tander said.

“The ANZAC spirit epitomises what Australia is all about; going out of your way for a mate, doing the hard work, and doing it properly, and working together – and now as a parent I’m making sure my kids hear the full ANZAC story and what it means.

“To me, it’s special to be able to carry the ANZAC Rising Sun, and even more so this year with the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.”

Courtney agreed, saying the ANZAC tribute is a memorable part of HRT’s year.

“The ANZACs fought for our freedom and made Australia what it is today, and their spirit and courage in battle is something we can never thank them enough for,” Courtney said.

“To have the original ANZACs shadowed across my car is a strong image that really brings home the impact of what diggers went through, and it’s great of Holden to give up its space for the appeal.

“It’s a special time of year and something I really look forward to representing with pride.”

The Holden Racing Team encourages everyone to support the ANZAC Appeal by purchasing an ANZAC Appeal badge and wearing it with pride, or by donating online at www.anzacappeal.com.au.

Twelve Hours, Two Decades - ExxonMobil Celebrates 20 Years as Title Sponsor of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

Thu, 19 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The partnership between ExxonMobil and the Twelve Hours of Sebring is one of the longest-running title sponsorships in the motorsports industry

ExxonMobil is celebrating 20 years as the title sponsor of the Mobil 1™ Twelve Hours of Sebring, the oldest sports car endurance race in America. With a relationship that began in 1995, the two-decade partnership is one of the longest running sponsorships in the motorsports industry.

“Having such an iconic brand in motorsports connected to the Twelve Hours of Sebring for two decades has been a supreme honor”

Throughout the two organizations’ association, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring has witnessed some of its most memorable and iconic racing moments in its 63-year history, including:

Many of the race’s most iconic drivers, both past and present, have relied on Mobil 1 motor oil to ensure that their car performs at its best during the 12-hour race. The allegiance to Mobil 1 by both Sebring and race participants is a testament to the performance of the world’s leading synthetic motor oil brand.

“Having such an iconic brand in motorsports connected to the Twelve Hours of Sebring for two decades has been a supreme honor,” said Sebring President and General Manager Tres Stephenson.

The close relationship between Mobil 1 and motorsports provides a unique platform to test new lubricant technology, as well as prove the performance and endurance of the world’s leading synthetic motor oil.

“ExxonMobil uses motorsports as a real world laboratory to develop and demonstrate our lubricant technology,” said Artis Brown, global motorsports manager at ExxonMobil. “Whether it’s 12 hours of high-performance racing in sunny Florida, or 12 minutes of driving to work in subzero Minnesota winter temperatures, Mobil 1’s ‘normal’ is excellent protection and performance to keep engines running at their best – even in some of the most demanding driving conditions in the world.”

The ability of Mobil 1 to meet the evolving needs of automobiles and their engines is exhibited through their longstanding relationship with two of the world’s most successful race teams competing annually at the Twelve Hours of Sebring – Corvette Racing and Porsche Motorsports.

Porsche Motorsports has experienced its share of achievement at Sebring during their 19-year partnership with Mobil 1. With one overall Sebring victory, 12 ALMS manufacturer and 14 driver championships since 1999, Porsche has established an unrivaled standard of racing excellence.

"A critical fundamental in engine performance is lubrication," said Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board - Research and Development, Porsche AG. "Teaming with the Mobil 1 technology experts has helped Porsche achieve its outstanding racing performance and meet the expectations consumers hold for our brand.”

Mobil 1 synthetic motor oil is the factory fill for 22 Porsche models, and is the endorsed service fill for all Porsche engines.

Building on a long history of success with Mobil 1, Corvette Racing notched a 2014 second-place finish in the GT Le Mans class of the inaugural IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. The team also won back-to-back ALMS GT team championships in 2012 and 2013, eight consecutive ALMS GT1 titles from 2001 to 2008, and seven class victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans since 2001.

"As America's premier production sports car racing team, Corvette Racing is thrilled with the partnership with Mobil 1,” said Mark Kent, Director, Chevrolet Racing. “Mobil 1 technology advisors continue to help ensure that Corvette Racing’s engines are operating at peak performance, helping us win races year after year.”

Mobil 1 is currently recognized as the “Official Lubricant of Corvette Racing,” and serves as the factory fill for the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray – Z51 Performance Package.

The 63rd annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring will take place on Saturday, March 21, 2015, and will be broadcast on the FOX Sports network.

About Mobil 1 in Motorsports

The Mobil brand’s history in motorsports officially began in 1979 with a sponsorship of Williams Formula One Racing Team. From that time, the presence of Mobil 1™ technology on race tracks and circuits has grown by global proportions. Today, Mobil 1™ synthetic motor oil is relied on for its ability to deliver exceptional engine performance and protection even under some of the most extreme conditions by team owners and many of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers.

Along with its status as the title sponsor of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Mobil 1 also serves as the Official Lubricant Technology Partner and Official Motor Oil of NASCAR and enjoys a long association with many of world's most popular and successful race teams, including: Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, McLaren Honda Formula One team, Corvette Racing’s Tudor United Sportscar Championship team, Tony Stewart Racing’s USAC and World of Outlaws team and the Falken Tire racing drift team. Mobil 1 also serves as the title sponsor of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and the Official Technology Partner of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.

About Mobil 1

The world's leading synthetic motor oil brand, Mobil 1™ features anti-wear technology that provides performance beyond our conventional motor oils. This technology allows Mobil 1 to meet or exceed the toughest standards of car builders and to provide exceptional protection against engine wear, under normal or even some of the most extreme conditions. Mobil 1 flows quickly in extreme temperatures to protect critical engine parts and is designed to maximize engine performance and help extend engine life.

Top 10 Finish for Holden Racing Team

Sun, 15 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team’s Garth Tander and James Courtney have both finished strongly again, well inside the top 10 for today’s Race 3 at the Australian Grand Prix.

The finishing positions of yesterday’s second race was where the factory Holden drivers lined up on the grid for today’s proceedings, which consisted of another 12 lap sprint race.

With a lack of new tyres available most teams opted to run pre-marked tyres causing the race to be somewhat uneventful after the first 3 laps. After a relatively boisterous start there were no major incidents and no safety car called, and Courtney finished where he started in 4th.

Tander made the team’s biggest impact gaining two places in an impressive start from his initial rolling start position – he finished 7th.

Racing Kicks off at Australian Grand Prix

Sun, 15 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team took to the track today at the F1 Australian Grand Prix (AGP) for the first two races of the weekend around the picturesque Albert Park circuit.

Both HRT drivers had a strong qualifying session yesterday which set the grid for today’s first race. James Courtney qualified 3rd and Garth Tander 12th.
A rolling start, unique to the V8 Supercars format at the AGP, got Race 1 underway with Courtney holding 3rd position into turn 1 and Tander jumping one place to 11th.

A crash on the opening lap between turns 5 and 6 involved three different teams and saw the safety car deployed after a damaged car was stranded on the track. At the restart Tander moved up another place, despite a problem with the throttle, into 10th.

From there the two HRT Holden Commodores cruised to the finish line with Courtney 3rd and Tander 10th.

Finishing positions of Race 1 determined the starting positions for Race 2. While the V8 Supercars were set to complete 12 laps, the time-certain race was cut to just 9 laps after the safety car was called when
Wood ended up in the wall at turn 7.

During the opening lap van Gisbergen bumped Courtney on the exit of turn 1 causing Courtney to drop back to 4th where he remained until the chequered flag.

Tander again managed to better his starting position by one place to 9th on the first lap. He challenged Coulthard for position 8 in the dying stages of the race, but Coulthard ran wide and re-joined the pack still ahead of Tander.

Racing Concludes at AGP

Sun, 15 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing team has completed its assault at the Australian Grand Prix with both the #2 and #22 Holden VF Commodores finishing the final 12 lap sprint race inside the top 6.

The accumulation of points from the weekend’s first three races determined the starting positions with James Courtney 4th and Garth Tander 8th.

There was a spectacular crash at the back of the field during the rolling start and another incident on the exit of turn one, which saw a total of five cars eliminated from the race with damage. The Holden Racing team were safe from the carnage and Tander got a good start promptly gaining one place and moving into 6th.

Courtney played musical race positions with Whincup who passed him at the start of the race. Courtney fought his way back in front through the opening turns, however V8 Supercars officials believed he had passed under safety car conditions and ordered Courtney to give up his 4th place to Whincup.

At the restart the two were at it again and Courtney was pushed wide by Whincup through turn 3, but he managed to get past. Courtney then battled with van Gisbergen for 3rd place in the remaining laps but was unable to pass and remained in 4th position until the end of the race.

As with the previous races this weekend, Race 4 was cut short to 11 laps after time restrictions were enforced.

The Holden Racing Team now heads to Symmonds Plains in two weeks for the second championship event of the 2015 V8 Supercars series.

Holden Racing Team Heads to Albert Park

Tue, 10 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The Holden Racing Team (HRT) heads to the fast flowing and exciting Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix (AGP) circuit this weekend at Albert Park in Melbourne, for the second event of the V8 Supercars season.

Although no championship points will be awarded at the AGP both Garth Tander and James Courtney are focussed on continuing their winning form from Clipsal, after taking home three podium trophies and one pole position trophy between them.

HRT is still the most successful V8 Supercar team in history at Albert Park having won 19 races, and it’s Tander who has been the most successful driver for the team.

Tander currently sits second to Russell Ingall for the greatest number of race wins – seven - and he has previously started from pole position twice. Courtney is no stranger to winning at the circuit either having won a race in 2010.

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:

“I’m looking forward to the grand prix weekend, it’s always exciting for a couple of reasons. It’s the first round for F1 and everyone is excited about that, and for us coming off the back of a strong Clipsal weekend it’s a good opportunity to continue to work and develop the cars.”

“Track running is at such a premium this year and even though we will be giving 100% during the course of the weekend, being a non-championship event we will be doing a bit of development work as well.”

“The track evolves quite a bit over the course of weekend because with the F1 cars running and the track rubbers up, so it changes quite a bit from Thursday through to Sunday. Staying on top of these changes is quite important.”

“AGP is like any event and you need to qualify well. We do rolling starts which adds a different element to the weekend and qualifying well is even more critical when it comes to a rolling start.”

“We need to improve our qualifying performance with my car, which is one area we need to improve the most.”

“Obviously all the stats are nice, but that’s not the motivation for the weekend. We want to have a really solid weekend and if we can get on the podium that would be fantastic.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:

“I think we have a good chance of winning this weekend as the car is performing really, really well at the moment. Having said that AGP is a very different style of circuit and I think we are chasing this style of circuit a little bit with our car.”

“It’s a very different circuit compared to Adelaide as it’s a fast circuit with a lot of high speed corners. It’s also quite heavy on the brakes so the brake package gets a really big workout. With the fast flowing sections it will be interesting to see how the new aero package handles it.”

“With the adjustments we have made over the Christmas period and new componentry on the car I am really looking forward to driving on a really fast and flowing grand prix circuit.”

“Grand prix has been a tough event for me in the past and we have tested a lot of componentry over this event, it would be great for me to win again and get some good results.”

“I go into every race to win it whether it is for Championship points or not. It’s the same for me a win is a win. Points are a bonus – so I feel the same amount of pressure to win at this event.”

“I always like coming to this event as it’s well run and there is always a great crowd that turns out. I’m definitely looking to get some better results this year.”

When is the Holden Racing Team on track? (Times are AEDT)
Thursday 12th March:
1:15pm Practice Part 1
3:10pm Practice Part 2
5:15pm Qualifying

Friday 13th March:
2:20pm Race 1
6:20pm Race 2

Saturday 14th March:
3:25pm Race 3

Sunday 15th March:
12:10pm Race 4

Autism Qld fundraising

Sun, 08 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

ECL attended the Explore Aust Expo (4WD, Camping, boating and fishing show) at Manly boat harbour in Brisbane on 6-8 March 2015.

We were very happy to be supporting Autism QLD by selling Mobil branded T Shirts and Caps for $5.00 each. Thank you to everyone who supported Autism Qld on the day. We raised over $1000 which is all en route to them via the banking system.

If you would like to purchase a Mobil T Shirt or Cap contact orders@elcubes.com.au . We will honour the commitment to Autism Qld and pass on the money to them.

A seriously good cause.

Check out the serious sales people.

Mobil 1 Beware Counterfeit Oils

Thu, 05 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

East Coast Lubes, as the only authorised direct importer of Mobil oil in Qld and NT, is aware that the market is now seeing copy or counterfeit Mobil Lubricants being sold online.

Recently there have been a number of cases were machinery has been adversely affected by these copy oils. The copies look similar to the original packaged product but may be in unusual pack sizes.

DON’T RISK DAMAGE TO YOU CAR, MOTORCYCLE or COMMERCIAL VEHICLE.

A recently tested counterfeit oil was found to contain significant amounts of Canola oil causing immediate long term equipment damage.

Damage caused by non-approved, non-specified lubricants is not covered by your OEM warranty.

IP (Intellectual Property) crime is committed when someone who has is not authorised to use a particular brand, logo, design, music or creative work, for example, does so illegally.

This is also known as counterfeiting. Every item that carries a brand is likely to experience counterfeiting at some time.

IP regulations keep standards high for consumers and ensures public health and safety, and protects innovations so the rightful owner can earn income from their creation.

Counterfeit goods are manufactured with no regard for public safety and may contain sub-standard formulas and or components, and not be produced to manufacturer's specifications. This could cause equipment failure, accidents, explosions, fires and other damage.

Counterfeit goods are produced cheaply, and therefore costs less and often come in packaging that doesn't look quite right.

Counterfeit goods are most likely to be sold through unconventional outlets such as markets, online and directly through individuals who are not usually associated with retail sales.

To report IP crime call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or your local state or territory police.

If you have discovered a fake product, support legitimate industry by contacting the Authorised Mobil oil distributor in Qld, East Coast Lubes on 1800 069 019.

Source: Australian Federal Police (http://www.afp.gov.au/en/policing/ip-crime/faq.aspx)

Holden Racing Team Win Clipsal 500

Sun, 01 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

It was a dream ending for the Holden Racing Team on the final day of competition at the Clipsal 500 with James Courtney winning today’s 250km race and Garth Tander joining him on the podium in 3rd.

Both the #2 and #22 Holden Commodores qualified for the Top Ten Shootout and it was Courtney who was victorious in claiming his first pole position of the year, his second pole position at this event.

Tander set the 9th fastest time in the shootout but was later advanced two places on the grid to 7th after a timing error was discovered.

Green lights for Race 3 and Courtney was quick off the mark holding his position while Tander jumped two places to 5th. The two Holden Racing Team drivers were on different race strategies to each other, and to the rest of the field, which made it difficult to predict where the positions would fall in the later part of the race. After their third and final pit stops Courtney and Tander were effectively in positions 1 and 2, with just three cars in front still to stop.

Van Gisbergen wanted in on the action after his final stop and with the advantage of four new tyres he was on the hunt for the HRT team mates. He managed to pass Tander and with Courtney now firmly in his sights, began his assault for the win. Tander stayed in touch with the race leaders and held 3rd place until the finish line.

For 20 longs laps van Gisbergen was relentless in trying to overtake Courtney. Lap 60 was intense as the two came together pushing Courtney wide. But the 2010 Championship winner would not back down and regained the lead which is where he stayed until he past chequered flag.

James Courtney now stands at the top of the leader board in the V8 Supercars Championship and Garth Tander is currently 3rd.

Adrian Burgess, Managing Director:
“The weekend has been fantastic. You make all these plans before the start of the year and you all go to the track thinking you’re going to be on the pace and going to win it. But to get both cars on the podium today and for James to win the race is tremendous.”

“It’s a great reward for all the guys who have been working hard for the last 14 months, but its early days yet. The drivers did a great top in qualifying, James did a fantastic lap in the shootout and they both had an incredible drive under pressure.”

Courtney Secures Holden Racing Team's First Podium of the Year

Sun, 01 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Holden Racing Team driver James Courtney has scored the first podium for the official factory team finishing 2nd in Race 2 at the Clipsal 500, with team mate Garth Tander storming home in 4th.

Today’s racing schedule consisted of a practice session and two 125km races around the street circuit of Adelaide. Friday’s qualifying sessions set up the starting grid for today’s races with Courtney starting 5th and 3rd and Tander 15th and 11th.

The start of Race 1 was delayed after car #33 caught on fire and hit the wall during the formation lap. When the race eventually got underway Courtney held his position over the opening laps while Tander moved up two places to 13th.

A problem undoing the wheel nut during the pit stop caused car #22 to lose valuable time and drop a number of places, allowing his team mate to move ahead in the standings.

In the closing laps the yellow flags were out and the safety car called after Davison stopped on the track. The race was restarted with just one lap remaining and Tander was the first HRT car past the chequered flag in 7th, Courtney was three places behind in 10th.

It was the final race of the day where all the action took place, with the HRT drivers managing to avoid the carnage that unfolded around them. After overtaking Lowndes and Whincup on lap 26, Courtney was not troubled as he cruised home in 2nd place.

With temperatures at the track hovering near 40 degrees, Tander kept his cool in the extreme heat and stormed his way from 11th to 4th, finishing just shy of a podium position.

Holden Racing Team Ready for Clipsal 500

Wed, 25 Feb 2015 14:00:00 GMT

The anticipation is building and it’s just one more day until the first event of the 2015 V8 Supercars series, the Clipsal 500, gets under way on the streets of Adelaide.

Managing Director, Adrian Burgess, says the Holden Racing team is ready to head out on track for its 25th year of racing.

“It’s a big year as it the 25th anniversary for HRT, it’s an important year, it’s a privilege to be part of this great team and hopefully we can get the results that everyone expects.

“Everyone has had nice, well-earned break after the onslaught of the 2014 season. The test in Sydney a few weeks ago went really well and the cars performed there as we had hoped.

“We unveiled the 2015 livery yesterday so the cars not only look great but they, and the team, are ready to go racing,” said Burgess.

When is the Holden Racing Team on track? (Times are ACDT)

Friday 27th February:
9:05am Practice Part 1
10:50am Practice Part 2
12:55pm Practice Part 3
3:35pm Qualifying Race 1
4:00pm Qualifying Race 2

Saturday 28th February:
10:10am Practice Part 4
1:45pm Race 1
4:25pm Race 2

Sunday 1st March:
10:55am Qualifying Race 3
12:10pm Top Ten Shootout
3:25pm Race 3

Holden Racing Team Launches Regular Season Livery on 25th Birthday

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 14:00:00 GMT

Celebrations for the Holden Racing Team’s 25th anniversary are off to a roaring start, with the iconic team launching its regular season livery on its birthday at Holden’s retail facility at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

The new-look HRT Commodore, unveiled today by the team’s champion drivers Garth Tander and James Courtney, features an aggressive-looking black and dayglo red livery incorporating sponsors Holden, SP Tools, Mobil, HSV, and Monster Energy.

The team, which won Adelaide’s Clipsal 500 event last year with Courtney taking victory, made its race debut 25 years ago to the day – at the opening round of the Australian Touring Car Championship, the event held at the now-defunct Amaroo Park Raceway in Sydney.

On Sunday 25 February 1990, then-team manager and driver Win Percy drove the Holden Racing Team’s lone entry at the event, the #16 HRT VL Commodore SS Group A SV, and finished 14th.

Since then, HRT has become one of Australia’s greatest sporting success stories with a record-200-plus race wins, including seven at the Bathurst 1000, and six championships – including a record-five straight from 1998 to 2002.

HRT also remains the only team to have won championship races in Australia, New Zealand, China, the UAE, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

GM Holden Motorsport and Sponsorship Manager, Simon McNamara said HRT’s achievements across two and a half decades are a huge source of pride for Holden – with the relationship not only the longest in Australian motorsport, but also its most successful.

“The Holden Racing Team is an Aussie icon, and its history of sustained success is something that we can all be proud of – especially today, given it’s the team’s 25th birthday,” McNamara said.

“2015 is going to be a great year for HRT, as we celebrate its silver anniversary – and may the success on-track continue all the way through to the final round in Sydney, and beyond.”

GM Holden Design Manager, Peter Hughes said the team’s regular season livery took its inspiration not only from the menacing black HRT Commodore that ran at the V8 SuperTest earlier this month, but also past masters.

“I think the new look is aggressive, and unmistakably HRT,” Hughes said.

“The red and black look with traditional white bonnet is a respectful nod to the original VE Commodore from 2007. The livery we ran at the V8 SuperTest was really a prelude to what we’ve revealed today, with far more black.”

The enduring partnership between Holden and its official factory racing team is complemented by major commitments from SP Tools; Mobil, who head into their 22nd year with HRT, and HSV, which has been on-board from the outset.

Additional long-term partnerships include NGK, entering its 21st year with HRT; John Hart, a partner for 15 years; MTAA Super, celebrating its eighth season with the team; and PPG Industries, which has been with HRT from day one (initially as Dulux).

New partners Monster Energy and Dell join them, while Morris Finance has an upgraded presence with the team.

As part of the milestone festivities, the HRT Commodore will feature a number of special one-off liveries throughout the season, including the traditional ANZAC livery that this year commemorates the 100th anniversary of Gallipoli.

The celebrations have also extended to the official team wear and merchandise – which has been transformed by TPF Sports, the global firm recently appointed as the Master Licensor for the Holden Family of Brands.

Holden Racing Team Managing Director, Adrian Burgess said the best possible way for the team to celebrate its 25th anniversary was by fighting at the front of the ultra-competitive V8 Supercars grid.

“V8 Supercars truly is the world’s most competitive touring car series, and over the past 25 years HRT has established itself as one of the sport’s leading lights,” Burgess said.

“The team has worked tirelessly over the off-season to ensure we start this very special season on the front foot, and we look forward to seeing Garth and James fighting tooth and nail for race wins – and celebrating in style.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by HRT’s drivers, Tander and Courtney.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be part of the Holden Racing Team on this occasion – and I feel proud as a driver,” Tander said.

“The #2 HRT Commodore was strong at the end of last year, so with the amount of work we’ve done throughout the off-season we should be in a good position to fight at the front from the outset.”

“I love the new-look, our HRT Commodore just looks so tough and menacing – which is as it should be,” Courtney said.

“We’re planning to start this season in style, with plenty to celebrate off-track, so I’m ready to get behind the wheel and give it my best.”

The HRT Commodores will be on track from Friday 27th February, with practice set to start at 9.05am ACDT.

Beware Counterfeit Oil

Sun, 22 Feb 2015 14:00:00 GMT

East Coast Lubes, as the only authorised direct importer of Mobil oil in Qld and NT, is aware that the market is now seeing copy or counterfeit Mobil Lubricants being sold online.

Recently there have been a number of cases were machinery has been adversely affected by these copy oils. The copies look similar to the original packaged product but may be in unusual pack sizes.

DON’T RISK DAMAGE TO YOU CAR, MOTORCYCLE or COMMERCIAL VEHICLE.