And who said rally drivers were nuts?

Two summers ago, DJ Kennington won a NASCAR Canadian Tire Series race at Barrie Speedway using a bungee cord for a throttle return. At the time, I thought I'd seen it all... until this. The action 'begins' at about 1:20 in.

NASCAR suspends testing for all of 2009 to cut costs

NASCAR Suspends 2009 Testing For Its Three National And Two Regional Racing Series; Move Will Provide Significant Cost Savings For Teams

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 14, 2008) – In an effort to help teams manage costs, NASCAR is suspending testing for its three national and two regional racing series for the 2009 season.
Testing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the NASCAR Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, as well as the NASCAR Camping World East and West Regional Touring Series at tracks hosting any of those events are included in the 2009 policy.

NASCAR reached this decision following several months of discussion with the teams regarding testing, coupled with the current economic conditions. The suspension of testing should save the industry millions of dollars.

"This is a significant move during an unusual time for all of us," said NASCAR President Mike Helton in making the announcement. “NASCAR has routinely adjusted its test policy over the years to reflect current conditions. This is another example of that.”

From Kerry Tharp, NASCAR Public Relations

This might explain Bernie putting the boots to the Montreal race...

... he might need the money.

SPEEDTV is reporting:
"British newspapers including the Evening Standard and the Daily Mail claim the F1 chief executive (Bernie Ecclestone) could be facing a multi-billion dollar divorce, after his wife Slavica Ecclestone moved into a flat overlooking the Thames owned by their daughter, Petra."

Full story at the link above.

The Canadian Motorsports Expo... now powered by Inside Track

Last night, we went live with the new Canadian Motorsports Expo website.

We (Inside Track) are excited to announce that we're working with show founder Glenn Butt to grow the CME into something that truly benefits racing and racers in southern Ontario.

In two short years, Glenn has done an amazing job of designing something that we all need... a real racing show. And we're proud to join him, going forward, to help the CME to reach its maximum potential. Inside Track is contributing or resources toward building awareness, excitement, participation and traffic, for 2009 and beyond.

This year's CME takes place January 16-18, 2009 at the newly refurbished International Centre, on Airport Road (Mississauga).

Visit the website to download a $2 OFF discount. It also includes an Exhibitor Information page, where you can see details about how you can get involved. Anyone interested in booth space can drop us a line by clicking here.

Be sure to bookmark the page as we'll be rolling out some pretty exciting news as details are firmed up.

Fred Smith 2009 Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee

Sachem Photo by Bill Mehlenbacher (www.nxphoto.com)

At the recent awards presentation for the Can/Am Stock Super Stock Series in Cayuga, the announcement was made by Wally Clark that Canadian Drag Racers and Car Builder Fred Smith would be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame

John Waldie, Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame, Fred Smith 2009 Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee, Wally Clark Canadian Drag Racer, Tim Miller Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee Committee.

Fred will be inducted into the Canadian Motorsports Hall of Fame in February 2009.

Ontario Sportsman Series 2009 Registration Meetings

From Dave Alexander, Operations Directory, National Stock Car Association

Saturday November 29th, 2008    11:00 a.m.
Kenyon Racing - Kemptville, Ontario - (613) 258-5345

Sunday November 30th, 2008    11:00 a.m.
McColl Racing - London, Ontario - (519) 652-3311 185-D Exeter Road, London ON, N6L 1A4  (1-800-423-3407)

These meetings will cover any rule changes for 2009, including the new GM crate motor program with specifics on where to purchase this motor. Driver numbers will be held until these dates.

www.ontariosportsmanseries.com

DEI and Ganassi to merge NASCAR operations

I'm guess that Teresa Earnhardt wishes she could jump in the Way Back Machine and do whatever it takes to get Dale Jr. to stay. Things just haven't been the same since 'the franchise' walked out the door and across the street to Hendrick Motorsports.

DEI and Ganassi - two outfits hurting for sponsorships in these challenging economic times - are merging. The full story is here.

Spencer Lewis' Rookie Power Rankings... honourable mentions

Spencer Lewis has posted his 'Honourable Mentions' Power Rankings list of Ontario Short Track Rookie Racers on the Inside Track Pit Board Forum here.

To participate, you must register using your full first and last name as your username. The complete list of the Top 10 (overall) appears in the current issue of Inside Track Motorsport News, on newsstands and in the mail now (to subscribers). All are welcome. Thanks Spencer!

Race Demon Carburetors with Replaceable Venturii

Race Demon “RS” (Removable Sleeve) carburetors provide all of the advanced features found in other Race Demons, plus the unique advantage of replaceable venturi sleeves for the ultimate in carburetor tuning. In conjunction with boosters, air bleeds and throttle plates, it is now possible to quickly change carburetor size to meet varying track conditions, and the size of the carburetor can even be changed to match a different engine combination without buying a new carburetor. Available in a full CFM range from 390 to 1050, with models specifically designed for General Competition, Drag Racing, Oval Track and other specialty applications, including several for alcohol.

www.barrygrant.com

Bike star Rossi back in F1 Ferrari

From motogp.com

MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi will be back behind the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 car before the end of the month, taking part in a private test at Mugello as reward for his title victory.

Italian news agency ANSA reports that the Fiat Yamaha rider will be using the F2008 car, as driven by Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen in races this year.

The test will take place next Thursday and Friday (Nov. 20-21), less than a week before Rossi returns to the more familiar world of two wheels for the MotoGP Official Test in Jerez.

Rossi´s previous outings in the cockpit have included two appearances at Ferrari´s Fiorano test track, one at the Mugello circuit where he has dominated in MotoGP, and an Official Formula 1 test appearance at Valencia.

The latter, held in February of 2006, saw the MotoGP star lapping at little over half-a-second slower than times recorded by the then-active Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. He had driven faster than some of the series' regulars on the opening day.

While previous tests were carried out as an informal trial of sorts, to assess Rossi's aptitude for car racing with a possible view to a switch in disciplines, this latest run is strictly for fun. The Italian will also be indulging another of his interests, rally driving, when he participates in this weekend's Monza Rally and the British round of the WRC series next month.

Team Lowe's Racing - Jimmie Johnson - Homestead Miami Speedway Preview

From Kristine Curley
Team 48 Homestead-Miami Speedway Preview
Jimmie Johnson heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend with a 141-point lead over second-place Carl Edwards in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

In order to clinch his third back-to-back Sprint Cup Series championship, a feat accomplished in NASCAR’s 60-year history only by Cale Yarborough, Johnson must finish no worse that 36th in Sunday’s season-finale. If Team Lowe’s Racing earns the title, crew chief Chad Knaus will be the first crew chief to take the honors three years straight.

Homestead is one of only six tracks on which Johnson hasn’t won a race. In seven starts at the 1.5-mile venue, Johnson has collected two top-five and five top-10 finishes.

JOHNSON QUOTES:

GOING INTO MIAMI-HOMESTEAD, READY TO TIE HISTORY WITH THREE CONSECUTIVE WINS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?  “I’m excited. The No. 99 (Edwards) put up a great fight in Phoenix and has shown true championship character throughout the whole year. Those guys really make us work hard for it and I know as long as something doesn’t go crazy for us down in Homestead, we’re going to be able to join Cale and I can’t wait to start celebrating.

"I just can't believe it. When I started way back when, I didn't think all of this would come together and that I would have a chance to drive at Hendrick Motorsports with a sponsor like Lowe's. It is pretty cool.”

YOU HAVE TO FINISH 36TH or better this weekend to clinch the championship. as a racer it's hard to go into defense, but are you in a position where you can still go out there and try to race for the victory? “I really think where we are in points is going to allow me to go to Homestead and take a little pressure off my brain this week. We can just go down and relax and get in the car and set it up, just do what we know how to do. We’ll shoot for the pole on Friday with no pressure.  And same thing in race practice; just get the car driving good and comfortable and make sure it has speed in it.

“I'm really excited about Homestead, and there's no need to do anything stupid.  But at the same time, how cool would it be to win out?  I still think we can do that.  I'd love to do that. And that's what our goals are.  If we get in the race and I've got to drive at 110 percent to go for the win, there's no need to.  But if we can go out there and win the race like we did (in Phoenix), let's do it.”

RACE NOTES

Homestead-Miami Speedway

*       Johnson has made seven starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway in his Sprint Cup Series career.
*       The 1.5-mile oval is one of only six tracks on which the Series competes that Johnson hasn’t won. He has collected two top-five and five top-10 finishes.

*       The back-to-back champion has completed 92.4% (1731 of 1874) of competition laps during those races and has led 37.

*       He has an average start and finish of 20.4 and 13.4.

Chassis

*       Johnson will pilot chassis No. 504 in Sunday’s race. He has collected three wins in that chassis this season and last drove it to a 15th-place finish at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 2.

*       Johnson’s backup chassis, No. 502, was last driven to a third-place finish at Pocono Raceway in Aug.

CAREER NOTES

Career Wins

*       Johnson has 40 wins in his Sprint Cup Series career, his most recent coming at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 9.

*       The El Cajon, Calif.-native is 15th on NASCAR’s all-time wins list.
*       He also has the third-highest win total among active drivers, behind Jeff Gordon (81) and Bill Elliott (44).
*       Johnson has won at least three Cup races a season since he posted his first victory in 2002. He is the only driver in the modern era to win at least three races in each of his first seven full-time seasons.

*       Johnson has won Sprint Cup Series races at all but six (Bristol, Michigan, Infineon, Chicago, Watkins Glen, Homestead) of the 22 tracks on which the series competes.

*       Johnson’s 10 wins in 2007 was the highest number recorded in a single season since Jeff Gordon posted 13 victories in 1998.

*       The four-consecutive wins scored by the No. 48 team in the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ties a modern-era NASCAR record.

 Career Poles

*       Johnson has collected 19 poles in his Sprint Cup career.
*       The championship driver has earned at least one pole a year since his first full-time season in 2002.
*       He has a career-high six poles this season.
*       Johnson’s most recent pole position was in the Nov.  9 event at Phoenix International Raceway. 

 Career Starts

*       Johnson has finished in the top five in the Sprint Cup Series point standings each year since his first full season in 2002.

*       This is Johnson’s fifth consecutive year in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
*       In 254 Sprint Cup Series starts, Johnson has posted 101 top five and 156 top-10 finishes.
*       He has a top-five finish at every track on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit.
*       Johnson has led a total of 7,437 laps (of 73,245) in his Sprint Cup career, covering over 97,971 miles.
*       He has finished on the lead lap 195 times.

IndyRacing League release regarding participation in future Surfers Paradise events

INDYCAR SERIES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED 2009 SCHEDULE

INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008 – The IndyCar Series has confirmed that it will move forward with its previously announced 2009 schedule after it was unable to come to agreement on a long-term scheduling solution with representatives of the annual Gold Coast Indy event in Surfers Paradise, Australia.

The IndyCar Series made its debut at Surfers Paradise last month in a non-points race where Ryan Briscoe claimed victory. During the race weekend, IndyCar Series executives met with event organizers and government officials to discuss various date and commercial options for 2009 and beyond. The Gold Coast event, along with the Edmonton race, was added to the 2008 IndyCar Series schedule after the unification of North American open-wheel racing was confirmed in February, less then a month prior to the start of the 2008 schedule.

On July 30, the IndyCar Series announced its 2009 schedule featuring 18 races, including two new destinations, bookend dates for the state of Florida marking changes to the season-opening and closing venues, and expanding the season-long championship by a month. The announcement was the earliest release of its schedule in IndyCar Series history.

"We are disappointed that we could not find suitable solutions for both the IndyCar Series and Gold Coast Indy organizers but it was not due to lack of effort," said Terry Angtsadt, president of the commercial division for the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body for the IndyCar Series. "Chairman Terry Mackenroth and general manager Greg Hooton rolled out the red carpet for the IndyCar Series last month and they are to be commended for their efforts in conjunction with the Queensland government."

“We appreciate the efforts and support of the organizers and the government to North American open-wheel racing dating back to its debut at Gold Coast in 1991, but we will move on offering our competitors one of the most diverse and challenging schedules in all of motorsports. The 2009 schedule features 10 oval races, three permanent road courses and five temporary circuits, including the debut of the IndyCar Series at Long Beach and Toronto."

Media Contact: John Griffin, Indy Racing League, (317) 492-6579, jgriffin@indycar.com
World Wide Web: http://www.indycar.com

Electrical woes knock Greg Rice to 2nd in ARRC race in Georgia

Fox40 and Rice Confirmed for ARRC – RACE REPORT

SANBORN, NEW YORK. (November 10/2008) – Greg Rice dominated the three days of the American Road Race of Champions event until the last half hour. Rice was the fastest in every session of practice and qualifying, and led the Championship race from the start. Having opened up a 6 second lead after 5 laps, the 3-time Formula First champion seemed set to win the first FST race held at the ARRC at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia.

Not to be, electrical problems struck, and the leader dropped to a distant 2^nd as the engine crackled and popped with a nasty misfire. After several laps, the engine started to pull again and Rice set out in chase of new leader Greg Schings. Rice explains, "I had a similar problem in testing and thought it was fixed with a repaired exhaust system. I was just about to park it, when it suddenly cleared itself. There was still a slight miss at very high rpm, but I was going for it!" Rice caught Schings on lap 18 of the 19 lap race and the two exchanged the lead several times over the last 1 ½ laps. Schings won the "Battle of the Gregs" in a photo finish called in dramatic fashion by Speed Channel commentator Greg Kraemer.

Greg Rice finished 2^nd and established the new FST lap record after setting the new FST qualifying record the day before. Doug Seim was the 3^rd driver on the podium.

Despite the brief mechanical interruption, the Fox40World.com sponsored Problemchild SM2 race car still has not recorded a DNF in 31 races in 4 years. The 2008 tally shows 7 wins, the ARRC runnerup finish, and a crippled engine 5^th place finish.

Other supporters of the Fox40-Rice Racing Team include: Autowerks Engines, Vallis Motorsports, Superlite GTR Wheels

MonteCarloPoloClub .

The Fox40-Rice Racing team had a display of Fox40 products on hand and gave away over 100 Fox40 Whistles to SCCA volunteer workers and fans. Former SCCA Presidents Cup winner and sports psychology consultant Howard Landon was present to sign autographs.

Greg Rice is a veteran of Canadian and American formula car racing. Racing highlights include racing in the Canadian Tire Pro F2000 series in 1984-5, winning Canadian FV titles in 1986-7, SCCA NE FV Championship in 1987, and SCCA FV Runoff finishes of 8^th and 4^th. He also won a ProVee race at Lanier Speedway across the street from Road Atlanta. His last Road Atlanta appearance ended in spectacular fashion going end-over-end at the start of the 1992 FV Runoff race.

For more information, please contact:

Susanne Merrell, Susanne@Fox40world.com, 1-888-663-6940

Greg Rice, greg13rice@hotmail.com, 716-946-1857

Other information links: www.Fox40world.com , www.formula-first.org , www.arrc-online.com

The next Fox40-Rice Racing event will be the Atlantic City Indoor Midget races on January 16 and 17 at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ. For more information, contact Greg Rice.

NASCAR Trucks: Fitzpatrick Qualifies Sixth but Falls Victim to First Lap Crash in Phoenix

Gotta watch out for those bonehead leaders....

Fitzpatrick Qualifies Sixth but Falls Victim to First Lap Crash in Phoenix

Avondale, Az. (November 10, 2008) – J.R. Fitzpatrick made his second-career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start on Friday night at Phoenix International Raceway and the Canadian stock car champion proved to have what it takes to race against the Truck Series stars after qualifying the No. 71 Mammoet Chevrolet in sixth position for the 150-lap Lucas Oil 150.

But Fitzpatrick's top-10 run ended early after the leaders spun in front of the field on the very first lap, collecting the Mammoet Chevrolet and sending Fitzpatrick to the garage for repairs. After sixty laps behind the wall, Fitzpatrick returned to the track making 45 more circuits around the speedway before calling it a night and being credited a with 30^th place finish.

"On Friday, we laid down an awesome qualifying lap, and I believe we could have got a solid top-10 if we didn't get tangled up on the first lap wreck," explained Fitzpatrick. "We just had nowhere to go once the smoke cleared." Fitzpatrick was happy even though they didn't get the finish they deserved. "The No. 71 team did an awesome job getting the truck to work great after we struggled a bit in the practice sessions," he explained. "I believe it had more to do with me getting seat time at a track because that was the biggest I have ever been on."

With Fitzpatrick making his first start on a one-mile oval, he sought advice from fellow Chevrolet driver, Kevin Harvick, which paid off. "After getting some strong advice from Kevin Harvick, I picked up on a lot of errors I was making," said Fitzpatrick. "Also the team thought of a lot of changes to make the truck better for the race." It was the team's first return to the track after skipping Atlanta and Texas.

"Missing Atlanta and Texas seemed like we had been put in detention," said Crew Chief, Jon Wolfe. "The sad part was that we traveled 2500 miles to only run ¾ of a lap in the race, but that is the way it works sometimes. The team put together an awesome truck for J.R. and we went out and qualified 6^th. All was good until a bonehead move by the leaders on the first lap ended our night. J.R. just had nowhere to go and heavily damaged our truck. After some major repairs, we returned to the track 60 laps later, just so J.R. could get some seat time."

Fitzpatrick will take the No. 71 Mammoet Chevrolet to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Ford 200 on Friday, November 14^th. Live television coverage will begin on the SPEED Channel at 7:30 p.m. ET with radio coverage coming to you live courtesy of MRN Radio.

From Jamie Maynard / TRG

NASCAR TRUCKS: Photos of JR Fitzpatrick in Phoenix

Photos of JR Fitzpatrick and the #71 truck from the Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday, November 7th, courtesy of Jamie Maynard, TRG Motorsports

Kawartha Welcomes New Kart Club

Kawartha Downs and Speedway, Fraserville Ontario welcomes the Kawartha Durham Kart Club (formerly Mosport Kart Club) which will be moving to their new home in the spring of 2009 and hosting a 10-12 race championship season. Special race events are being proposed for the season including a shared date with the stock cars and an evening event under the lights.

Work will be done on the existing track and additional sections will be added to compliment the high speed straights and high banks of the speedway to produce many technically challenging configurations for the kart racers. Club members and guests will enjoy the fully paved pits, washroom facilities and will continue to benefit from the extensive experience of the Directors in organizing and running an efficient race day.

Providing a venue for budding young racers to begin their climb up the racing ladder was a key reason for this new venture at Kawartha Speedway. A variety of racing disciplines are available for young karters and introducing them to the stock cars at Kawartha adds to the possibilities.
Kawartha Downs and Speedway offers something for everyone.

With a NASCAR North stock car race, harness racing, weekly stock car racing, soap box derbies, and now karting, add a fantastic on-site restaurant and OLG slots and there’s a great day at Kawartha for everyone in the family.

“With the overwhelming support we’ve received from Kawartha Speedway and especially from Track Manager, Derek Lynch, we will be able to focus on building this great club and providing the best possible racing” – Paul Evans, KDKC President. “We welcome KDKC as part of the vision we have as we continue to develop our facility. KDKC is an exciting part of the motorsport activities we have planned for the future” – Derek Lynch

Visit the Kawartha Speedway website: www.kawarthadowns.com
And the Kawartha Durham Kart Club: www.kawarthadurhamkartclub.com

FBMW AMERICAS: David Ostella update

David Ostella wrapped up his first open wheel championship a week ago as the FBMW Americas schedule came to a close at the F1 Brazilian Grand Prix. After a disappointing Saturday race that ended with a blown engine, the teenager from Maple, Ontario, rebounded on Sunday with a climb from outside the top ten to eighth.

 
The weekend began with a tenth best time in practice, then Ostella chopped over a full second in qualifying but still went backward, timing eleventh in the field. “It was a little upsetting to know I went that much faster but just not fast enough,” he said upon his return to Canada. “I was hoping to place in the top ten, but missed by one, and then knew it was going to be work to get back toward the front. But I had no worries. We only had one session for practice and I thought it was good. I was a little slow through the corners but was just trying to get used to the track.”

 
Race one began well on Saturday, as Ostella launched from a standing start and gained positions through turn one and down the hill. “The first race I had a good run around the outside but had to slow down at the apex of two and then had nothing down the straight,” he said. “I got passed and went to right to the back!” If he didn’t have enough work in front of him after qualifying, he certainly did after lap one when the climb forward began. Twelve, eleven, ten, nine, eight... “and with three laps to go I head down the straight and the motor blows and I coasted into the pits.”

 
That cued the season finale Sunday morning as Ferrari-crazed Brazilians began streaming into the Interlagos circuit. “In race two I had a decent start and with help from Ricardo Favoretto after turn three we drafted forward,” Ostella said. “I then missed my braking point for turn four which let him get by, but I was then up to ninth and got eighth when my teammate Giancarlo Vilarinho blew a tire. I lost the pack in front of me when I messed up a corner, and from there I just stayed eighth.”

 
David raced at the Brazilian Grand Prix with support from his season-long partners in Global Precast Motorsports, Alpinestars, and RAW Integrated, but it isn’t over yet. Next up will be the Formula BMW World Final December 5-7 at Mexico City. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez will host FBMW racers from around the world with the winner earning a cherished test in a BMW Sauber F1 Team Formula One race car. For more information, please visit www.davidostella.com

From: Jason Holland // Photo Credit: Kathy Kerber
Photo Cutline: Brazil was the final race in the Americas Championship.

<<in car by Kathy Kerber.jpg>>

Sports Car Club of BC - November newsletter

Click here to download a PDF of the Sports Car Club of BC's November Pit Pass newsletter.

Thanks to Peter Weedon for sending it along.

Miss TW Steel China Crowned in Chengdu City

Chengdu City, China (November 09, 2008) – TW Steel, the ‘Official Watch and Timing Partner’ of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport crowned Miss Dyan Zou Xiao Qian as the winner of ‘Miss TW Steel China’ in Chengdu City today as Round 2 of the 2008-09 A1GP season played out at the Chengdu International Circuit in the Sichuan Province of China.

The second leg of TW Steel’s global search to find ‘Miss TW Steel 2008-09’, with the grand finale to be held at Brands Hatch in England in May 2009, stopped in China this weekend following a successful debut at the opening round of the new A1GP season at Zandvoort in The Netherlands last month.

The 10 finalists proved to be an immediate hit with the enthusiastic Chengdu crowed as they faced the judging panel between Sunday’s Sprint and Feature races. The judges charged with the task of picking a winner included Jordy Cobelens, Managing Director of TW Steel, Michael Farnan, Director of the Chengdu Blades – the local Chinese Super League football team, and A1GP TV presenters Diana Binks and James Hinchcliffe.

After much deliberating the panel selected Dyan Zou Xiao Qian, from Qiandao, as the winner of ‘Miss TW Steel China’. The 21-year-old will now represent China in the final in May competing against the winners from nine other A1GP host-nation countries for the title of ‘Miss TW Steel 2008-09’, $25,000 in prize money and a photo-shoot with a top lifestyle magazine.

“We’ve had a great time here in Chengdu selecting ‘Miss TW Steel China’,” said TW Steel’s Jordy Cobelens. “We’ve enjoyed being here showing our support for the Sichuan Province alongside A1GP following the earthquakes earlier this year. The competition for ‘Miss TW Steel China’ was certainly tougher than the panel expected but in Dyan I think we’ve found a great ambassador and we look forward to seeing her again in the final at Brands Hatch next year. I’d like to congratulate her on winning today’s competition while also congratulating A1 Team Ireland and A1 Team Portugal for their victories here in China today.”

The 2008-09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport heads to Malaysia and the Sepang International Circuit in two weeks time, Friday 21st – Sunday 23rd November –
http://www.twsteel.com/

For further information or images please contact Stuart Morrison – TW Steel:
Mobile: +1 514 945 3253 / Email: stuart@sm-pr.com

Kuno Wittmer awarded Bertrand-Fabi Memorial Trophy

Montreal, Quebec.— Kuno Wittmer had a pretty busy racing calendar and a mostly winning one, ending the season with both third places in the final standings in the SCCA World Challenge and Grand Am Koni Challenge series. Clearly the best results ever achieved by a Quebec driver in both touring series. At the Quebec Motorsports Federation season ending gala evening, Wittmer was awarded the Bertrand-Fabi Memorial Trophy, acknowledging his accomplishment on the international scene. In 2008, the 26 year-old driver entered 32 events, won 6 outright and had no less than 24 Top 10. He also entered a few events in the Canadian Castrol Championship and earned two wins by the same token.

“I had a pretty busy calendar this year, claims Wittmer, and it was filled with success. My brother Nick and I have been with very good teams in the last years and we have elbowed our way up in the standings over the best racing facilities in North America. Nick suffered a few mechanical gremlins this year while I was lucky not to DNF a single event. In the Koni Challenge, I teamed up with Peter Cunningham: we didn’t have the fastest car but we stayed out of trouble and were always among the leaders.”

“In the World Challenge, RealTime Acura was obviously the best team and we fought for the title among us (Cunningham and Kleinubing). It came down to the last lap of the last round where each could come out the winner. Finally, I ran a few events with Lombardi Honda Racing in the Canadian series in order to develop a strong car for 2009 and I earned a few victories in the process. I want to thank both teams, i-Moto and RealTime Acura for their fast machines and some sponsors. But mostly my family who has been involved in motorsports for more than 40 years!

After a few karting years, Kuno entered single seaters in formula 1600, Renault and Atlantic. He started with touring cars in the Motorola and Hankook series (Quebec touring champion in 2002). He took part in the Honda Michelin series and was national champion in 2005. He is among the best touring car drivers in North America.

Bertrand-Fabi Memorial Trophy honors the memory of a young and brilliant driver who died in a Formula 3 race in England in 1986, on his way to a promising formula one career. In the past, this coveted award was given to drivers like Richard Spénard, Claude Bourbonnais, Alex Tagliani and Patrick Carpentier.

Kunick Autosport preparing 2009:

For the Wittmer brothers, 2009 could be as busy and propositions are being considered: “We have to look at the rule changes, the cars and the teams involved”, he concludes. “The two main touring series are in the picture but there could be some class changes. We – Nick and I – will also drive for Lombardi Honda Racing in the Canadian series. But until the Test days in January, we will enjoy the off-season break.”