07 AMRS-3 Winton (28-29th April)

[PVDA]

Seeing it's only two weekends away I thought it was time to start a thread on it.

No doubt the guys at Winton will post the entry numbers and other stuff as it becomes available to them.

I'm there as usual

[RS500]

Have been trying to get out there but cant organize flights ect around work

Intermarque should be great out there, Not only due to the Aston Martins debut but there are some other great cars and larger grids appearing in the series.

[Silver 3]

The Australian Sports/Gt Intermarque Championship - to give it it's full title ! Should be interesting as the new arrival of the John Kaias Aston Martin( Brit GT winner 2006) makes it's Australian debut ( all being well in the next few days with the Aus customs) takes on the unbeaten Paul Whitmarsh Porsche GT2. Whitmarsh fought off the Darcy Russell Viper in the last round so it will be interesting to see a new generation car take on the previous. Also of interest the debut of the ex Kaias cars in the hands of RossLilley(997 Cup) and Neil Bryson(996 Cup) -- all part of the clean out to make way for the Aston. Also on the entry list are a number of new cars to racing that range from the Toyota MR2 to the Porsche 996 TT. Also on the entry list are a couple of Nissan GTR's. Makes for an interesting mix of marques!

[SamDale]

It's looking like the best round yet, with entries as follows:

- Touring Car Challenge / V8 Giants - 20
- Thunder Sports - 19
- Super TT / 3.3 Litre Holdens - 20
- Production Touring Car Championship - 18
- Intermarque Championship - 30 (including the Aston Martin!)
- Oz BOSS - 10 (including a 2001 Swift Formula Atlantic!)
- X Challenge will also debut, with an endurance race including two pitstops

Some best ever fields in there, and some exciting additions to the series!

Should be a great weekend.

The second instalment of the TV from Round 2 at Calder will be shown this weekend. The Touring Car Challenge / V8 Giants will be screened on Channel Nine for the first time, this Saturday at noon. Future rounds will return to the regular timeslot on SBS Speedweek.

[Bullett]

Is the 996TT the ex Steven's Nations Cup car? What's the cost to come and watch? What happened to the former IRL car that was said to be in QLD?

[SamDale]

I don't have the info on admission prices at the moment, but will post when I find out.

And the IRL car - this one - as far as I know is still in Queensland, and still intends to race at some point. More info on the driver here - www.kangarookid.com

[RS500]

Wayne Hennig owns the ex Stevens car and drove it in Round 1 of the Australian Sports/Gt Intermarque Championship. Will be interesting to see the 997 racing against the various other model of Porsche that will be out there

[Trevor]

I will be there doing the normal things, eh PVDA?

[Silver 3]

Originally Posted by Bullett

Is the 996TT the ex Steven's Nations Cup car? What's the cost to come and watch? What happened to the former IRL car that was said to be in QLD?

The ex Stevens car is GT2 -- as RS 500 correctly says now owned by Wayne Hennig-- who will be at Winton. Also present will be 996TT of Dom Loughman- due to make his and the cars race debut.For Queensland there will be several more TT's running -- as well as another 996 GT2R set to debut.

[Bullett]

Are these GT2R's ex-Nurburgring 24 hour cars or something similar?

[RS500]

I have been seeing alot of the Ex Belcar GT2R's and 996TT on the market lately due to the GT3 reg's that were bought in at the start of this year.

[Silver 3]

Originally Posted by SamDale

It's looking like the best round yet, with entries as follows:

- Touring Car Challenge / V8 Giants - 20
- Thunder Sports - 19
- Super TT / 3.3 Litre Holdens - 20
- Production Touring Car Championship - 18
- Intermarque Championship - 30 (including the Aston Martin!)
- Oz BOSS - 10 (including a 2001 Swift Formula Atlantic!)
- X Challenge will also debut, with an endurance race including two pitstops
Some best ever fields in there, and some exciting additions to the series!
Should be a great weekend.

Interesting that overall numbers are building.The Thundersports will see some intersesting additions in the WRX engined Sakers-- one to be driven by Luke Youlden- should give the West something to think about. These type of cars have been missing from the Australian contempory motorsports scene with few opportunities to race- and here is one.Another class that got my attention at round 1 was the PTTC- with the BMW's of Searle and Kelly really trying to win.
The Lotus Challenge addsa bit more depth to the categories racing as well. There is in OzBoss one of the best sounding race cars in the Bob Muir( there is a name from the past) Lexus V8 engined ex F3000/FH etc-- this is how these cars should sound-- sensational.
I think all the negatives we have heard about AMRS while coming into the fair comment category will be a bit harder to sustain after this meeting. Quite a few cars not normally seen in Victoria should get everybodies attention.

[Silver 3]

Originally Posted by Bullett

Are these GT2R's ex-Nurburgring 24 hour cars or something similar?

Not the same but similar spec. Wayne Hennig car is ex Dave Stevens. Wayne has another under construction and Scott Juniper in Queenland has built one also. There are 2 under construction in Victoria also. They are great looking cars and will liven up the front of most grids( when sorted)

[BFC]

Originally Posted by Big_Trev

I will be there doing the normal things, eh PVDA?

yeah annoying us

[Trevor]

That is the plan, BFC

[Silver 3]

Did not want to let this thread slide away. A much improved overall entry list is a major contrast to 12 months ago and some of the virulent critics should have an objective look . Now that some of the "glamour" events are out of the way the much " vaunted"F3 could only manage 10 cars last weekend-- compared to more than that in Oz Boss.What is interesting is that F3 has had every advantage afforded to it and the numbers continue to fall. Interesting? Other categories on the program are building numbers and quality-- also in contrast to other comparable series.

[Aquarius]

Because of the overfill of v8sportcars, sorry supercars, the general popluation are not interested in open wheelers, it is a sad time, but what can be done to re-new interest?

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Silver 3

Now that some of the "glamour" events are out of the way the much " vaunted"F3 could only manage 10 cars last weekend-- compared to more than that in Oz Boss.

I am a fan of the AMRS and F 3000 V6/ Oz Boss but you are quick to compare this two F3. Was it not last round that it ran around with 2 cars ?

Sure things can/ have improved but me thinks you are crowing very early and without any real point.

[Robert Ryan]

Because of the overfill of v8sportcars, sorry supercars, the general popluation are not interested in open wheelers, it is a sad time, but what can be done to re-new interest?

Sprintcars on a roadcourse? I would go. No unfortunately it is outside of Europe becoming a worldwide trend, Openwheeler racing is declining. it is not big or has a pretty secondary role in the US/Australia/New Zealand/South America or now Asia..Sedans are taking over.

[Silver 3]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

I am a fan of the AMRS and F 3000 V6/ Oz Boss but you are quick to compare this two F3. Was it not last round that it ran around with 2 cars ?

Sure things can/ have improved but me thinks you are crowing very early and without any real point.

Not to sure how you see I was crowing-- that was not the point. Last year the AMRS and particularly Oz Boss was getting beaten over the head for it's low numbers etc. My point of copmparison was that the Cams love child which has had every advantage with some good programs ( like the AGP) which attracted(?) good numbers only subsequently for those numbers to evaporate.It was mooted at one point that F-3 should amalgamate with F-H (etc) which was rejected by F3 -- perhaps it is time to look again? Perhaps that was one point. Another was definately that the CAMS series overall numbers is down dramatically-- and when that was the case in other places the AMRS was copping a bagging on this very forum.In your case DRT I can understand your sensitivity-- being a Cams apologist at every opportunity.

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Silver 3

My point of copmparison was that the Cams love child which has had every advantage with some good programs ( like the AGP) which attracted good numbers only subsequently for those numbers to evaporate.

Absolutely which would be a concern for AF3 organisers.

Originally Posted by Silver 3

It was mooted at one point that F-3 should amalgamate with F-H (etc) which was rejected by F3 -- perhaps it is time to look again?

A good idea in theory but how is this going to work between CAMS and AASA

Originally Posted by Silver 3

In your case DRT I can understand your sensitivity-- being a Cams apologist at every opportunity.

Do you think it might be time to move on ?

[Silver 3]

Originally Posted by D.R.T.

Absolutely which would be a concern for AF3 organisers.



A good idea in theory but how is this going to work between CAMS and AASA


Do you think it might be time to move on ?

The categories have to see where their bread is buttered best and then worry about where they run.F-3 has Toyoto breathing down their neck- how long do you actually think Cams will resist that money?Where would that leave the F-3 cars- in Oz-Boss!. Better to do sooner rather than later.

I certainly think that is long overdue -- when are you planning your move!

[D.R.T.]

Originally Posted by Silver 3

The categories have to see where their bread is buttered best and then worry about where they run.F-3 has Toyoto breathing down their neck- how long do you actually think Cams will resist that money?Where would that leave the F-3 cars- in Oz-Boss!. Better to do sooner rather than later.

Time will tell what happens here Silver. No doubt we will during this time we will be subjected to your blinding insight

[Bullett]

Originally Posted by Silver 3

Now that some of the "glamour" events are out of the way the much " vaunted"F3 could only manage 10 cars last weekend-- compared to more than that in Oz Boss.What is interesting is that F3 has had every advantage afforded to it and the numbers continue to fall. Interesting?

Do you remember F4000 or FHolden were in the same place? They were the much "vaunted' category...now look at them. You can't take one round and say they are dead and should go to AMRS.

[noaxetogrind]

Originally Posted by Silver 3

The Australian Sports/Gt Intermarque Championship - to give it it's full title ! Should be interesting as the new arrival of the John Kaias Aston Martin( Brit GT winner 2006) makes it's Australian debut ( all being well in the next few days with the Aus customs) takes on the unbeaten Paul Whitmarsh Porsche GT2. Whitmarsh fought off the Darcy Russell Viper in the last round so it will be interesting to see a new generation car take on the previous. Also of interest the debut of the ex Kaias cars in the hands of RossLilley(997 Cup) and Neil Bryson(996 Cup) -- all part of the clean out to make way for the Aston. Also on the entry list are a number of new cars to racing that range from the Toyota MR2 to the Porsche 996 TT. Also on the entry list are a couple of Nissan GTR's. Makes for an interesting mix of marques!

Hey silver, 30 on the intermarque entry list including an Aston, a couple of Nissan GTRs but only 14 in practice with no Aston or Nissan. I was wondering if you could tell us whether this was a case of category management fabricating entry lists or whether there are genuine reasons for all the no shows? Also, can you let us know how you tell the difference between a fabricated list and genuine reasons for no shows so that next time you are throwing stones at the GT category management from your glass house we will know how to discern the difference?