13/03/09

Biante Touring Car Masters' rule freeze

The Biante Touring Car Masters has announced a rule freeze for the next two years.

After two seasons of developing and honing the series technical regulations, the Biante Touring Car Masters is satisfied that the ideal balance within the category has been struck with the current 2009 regulations.

This current freeze of the technical regulations will allow competitors to build cars without risk of any subtle changes to the specifications until the start of the 2011 season.

From a spectator perspective, one of the most notable and exciting rule changes for the Biante Touring Car Masters in 2009 is the introduction of reverse grid races which are set to further spice up the racing action.

The top eight drivers from race one will be reversed on the starting grid for race two, while the race-three starting positions will be decided based on the aggregate points scored in the first two races.

The Biante Touring Car Masters technical regulations will be reassessed at the end of the 2010 season.

DREW MARGET - BTCM Director of Technical Development:

"Since the inception of the Biante Touring Car Masters, we have been developing the technical regulations and making subtle changes to fine tune the series.

"We believe that the rules now reflect the vision held by all stakeholders.

"Biante and V8 Supercars wanted to retain the original sideways racing spectacle but see advances in reliability and closer competition.

"Competitors too wanted improved reliability but also easier servicing, and an increased level of safety that reflected the intensity of the competition in this category.

"We feel we've got the balance right between technical specifications and racing formats.

"Accordingly, we've decided to lock away the technical regulations and make no further changes to the series' rules for two years, when we will review them again at the end of the 2010 season.

"This offers stability for licence holders so they know that the rules aren't going to change for at least two years, which is a great assistance for competitors building their cars."

12/03/09

Aussie truck racing champ joins Biante Touring Car Masters

Four-time Australian Super Truck Racing Champion, Bob Middleton is set to join the 2009 Biante Touring Car Masters when the series kicks off on 19-22 March at the Clipsal 500 (SA).

The current Australian Super Truck Racing title holder is excited by his latest on-track challenge and is eager to get the season underway on the streets of his hometown.

An Adelaide resident, Middleton will put his local knowledge to work as he makes his Biante series debut in his 1969 Whiteline Racing Chevrolet Camaro.

A successful circuit and speedway racer over the last 30 years, Middleton is now ready to apply his vast experience to take on the Biante Touring Car Masters and is confident of strong results.

Packing a powerful punch, Middleton's 350 Chevrolet-powered Camaro SS is set to be a real contender for outright race victories throughout the season with an impressive 550hp and 280kph top speed.

A South Australian businessman and founder of Whiteline Transport, Middleton plans to compete in both the 2009 Biante Touring Car Masters and the 2009 Australian Super Truck series.

Middleton's first outing in the thick of the Biante Touring Car Masters' action is set for practice one of the opening round at 8.30am on Thursday 19 March, with his debut race in the Whiteline Racing Camaro scheduled later that same day at 4.45pm.

BOB MIDDLETON

"This year looks bigger and better than ever for myself and the Whiteline Racing Team.

"Entering the Biante Touring Car Masters is a brand new adventure for us, and the car has come together really nicely from a bare shell to the race car it is now.

"I think it's an exciting category with lots of guys having a serious go at it and, obviously, there are some really good drivers in the series.

"I'm probably looking forward to this more than any other form of racing I’ve ever done.

"It'll be good to get the season started at Clipsal; I've done some laps around Adelaide's streets before in my sports sedan, and I also competed in the Le Mans race in 2000, but it will be a bit different in a 1969 Camaro.

"It will take some time getting used to the new car and you'd expect it would be a while before we start winning some races, but the plan coming into the series is definitely to be up amongst the action at the front."

11/03/2009

Biante Touring Car Masters shapes up for tough battle at Clipsal

Defending Biante Touring Car Masters champion Gavin Bullas is expecting a tough battle to retain his title in the Rain City Racing Boss Mustang and has nominated Jim Richards in his Shannons Falcon Sprint as the man to beat in the opening round of the championship at the Clipsal 500 meeting on 19-22 March.

"Jim is always hard to beat and while he doesn't have the horsepower of the larger capacity cars, the Falcon is over 200 kilograms lighter than the Mustang and should be better under brakes on the Adelaide circuit," said Gavin Bullas.

Apart from giving the red Mustang a freshen up for the new season Bullas said: "We have tried to find a bit more horsepower and we also did some work on the suspension."

As for the main opposition in the seven-round championship, Bullas nominated John Bowe in the WesTrac CAT Chev Camaro and Brad Tilley in the Tilley's Automotive Falcon XY GT as well as Richards as the ones to beat.

In relation to the track, Bullas made the comment that he hoped the changes to the infamous turn eight had not taken away the challenge the corner had provided in the past.

"Going into the corner it was always a case of hold your breath and hope you come out the other side ok, especially in one of these cars. It was brilliant," said Bullas.

Winner of last year's final round at Oran Park, John Bowe goes into the season with a new black and yellow livery on the Camaro, while car owner Tony Hunter will debut a brand new HQ Monaro which had a brief shakedown at Winton recently.

The winner of the inaugural BTCM title in 2007, Steve Mason, who won last year's opening round in Adelaide, is hoping changes to the suspension set up will overcome a problem of getting the power down in the Hercules Engines Chev Camaro.

"We've made some changes, but I won't have time to test it before the meeting so the first practice session on the Thursday morning will tell if we have got it right," said Steve Mason.

Mason said he loved competing at the Adelaide circuit.

"It's a real challenge with the concrete walls lining the circuit and I'm expecting the racing to be extremely close over the four races," said Mason.

Last year's Group 2 winner, Greg East will move up to Group 1 and believes consistency will be the key to success.

"Our aim will be to finish every race and while I don't think we will be a front runner I'd like to think we can keep in touch and keep the points ticking over," said Greg East.

While East moves up to Group 1, the second Waddington Racing HQ Holden to be driven by Greg Waddington will be aiming to carry on where East left off and retain the Group 2 title.

The Dukes Bodyworks LJ Torana of Trevor Talbot finished third in Group 2 last year and has tipped the Waddington Holden HQ SS as one of the cars to beat as well as the South Australian 911 RS Porsches of Rory O’Neil and John Nelson.

Talbot will be forced to use last year's engine as the new engine is not going to be ready until the second round at Winton.

There are four Porsches entered for the opening round and O’Neil has decided to stay with the 2.8-litre engine that served him so well last year.

"The cars can now run a 3.2-litre engine but I have decided to wait and see how they perform before I make a decision for future rounds," said Adelaide businessman, Rory O'Neil.

There are 27 entries for the opening round, including three drivers who be making their debut in the BTCM series.

Graeme Cook in the Racemoves / Buik Motorworks Porsche 911 RS, Tony Karanfilovski in his TIFS-Fulfilment Specialists Alfa Romeo GTAM-105 and former truck racing stalwart Bob Middleton in his WesTrac Chev Camaro will be jumping in at the deep end to race on one of the most demanding circuits in the championship, the Adelaide street circuit.

The Biante Touring Car Masters will be the first to go onto the circuit with a 20-minute practice session at 8.30am on Thursday morning to be followed by a single qualifying session at 12.55pm and the first of four seven-lap races at 4.45pm.

The other three races will be held at 6.55pm on Friday, 10.50am on Saturday and 9.00am on Sunday.

Title sponsor Biante Model Cars has been joined by Shannons Insurance and Rare Spares for season 2009.