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Home , 2007 1000 km of Monza, Andrea Montermini, Audi R10 TDI, Ben Bostrom, Cameron McConville, Craig Lowndes

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DUNLOP MOTORSPORT IN TOUCH [ www.injection.tv ] ISSUE THREE, APRIL 2008

A perfect dawn for Creation as LMS prepares for 2008 Fast fit retailing company HiQ is offering 20 per cent discount on race-inspired Dunlop tyres at stores across the county to co-incide with its three-year title sponsorship of the British Touring Championship. The deal was formally announced at the BTCC media day held at Rockingham in March ahead of the season opener at on March 30. The British Championship enjoys the support of Dunlop as the sole tyre supplier, as do major touring car series around the world, including the DTM and the Australian V8 Supercar series. HiQ is in the process of a big expansion around Britain and believes that the BTCC will help to raise the profile as it seeks to open a further 100 stores in the UK. For the BTCC, celebrating its golden anniversary in 2008 with an official entry list featuring 27 , the long-term partnerships formed with HiQ and terrestrial television in the UK are key to the success of the series. Jamie Campbell-Walter on his way to third fastest time overall at Paul Ricard BTCC Series director Alan Gow explains: "Stability is vital not only for the championship, but for the competitors. It gives them the opportunity to know Dunlop leads the fight against diesel as what the programme is and they can plan around it and make sure that everything is in place. You don’t need to find out Creation sets third fastest time at Ricard every year what the television package is, for example. "I can remember three years ago we Dunlop reaped the rewards of its by the diesel-powered team time in the class. The Team Essex had 12 cars on the grid. Now we have a development programme with the which then went on to win each of the Racing finished just one bigger grid than I have ever known. And British Creation team at the official Le six 1000km races. However, this year, tenth of a second behind the similar the success of the championship is not Mans Series test at Paul Ricard early in the two R10 TDIs set the fastest car of former Grand Prix driver Jos just grid size, but spectator numbers, March, when Jamie Campbell-Walter times overall ahead of their challenge Verstappen, with the Dunlop-shod and the quality and closeness of the set third fastest time overall. The 2000 to Peugeot this year. Quifel – ASM Team half a second down competition. FIA GT Champion set the fastest time Dunlop’s partner LMP1 teams ran in the hands of Olivier Pla and Miguel "I believe there will be more winners, of the LM P1 prototypes through testing programmes, with the Amaral. The British Bruichladdich team more surprises and an even more wide- on Dunlop's race tyre to head the Rollcentre team testing Belgian Vanina ran through an extensive driver test open title race in 2008. And, as we know petrol powered prototypes against the Ickx, the former Audi DTM driver who programme and set fourth fastest time. of more entries that will be joining the Audi diesel prototypes which were first raced for the British team for two Le In GT2, the Virgo Motorsport championship as the season progresses, our fans are in for a real treat. and second fastest. Mans Series seasons. team concentrated on set-up for each Campbell-Walter set a best time of Other drivers using Dunlop with the of the five race tracks rather than "I would like to thank all the BTCC's 1m41.797s on Dunlop’s race tyre in British team were Frenchmen Pierre working on an overall lap time. partners - in particular our television a car which has gone through a new Bruneau and . Portuguese Rob Bell and worked broadcaster ITV and title sponsor HiQ. development process in Luxemburg driver Joao Barbosa is expected to be on car set up and on the second Both are superb to work with and have demonstrated the kind of support that over the winter. confirmed to drive the car this season, day tyre development to prepare most championships can only dream of. The Le Mans Series test was a preview though his racing commitments in the themselves fully for the season ahead. to the five race series which will visit US mean that he will miss the race at They set second fastest time in the "Their enthusiasm and commitment is some of the most challenging race Monza on April 27. class behind the new of direct benefit to everyone connected circuits in Europe, including Barcelona, In the LM P2 category, Casper Elgaard GT3 RSR, but were running a 2007 with the BTCC and, of course, our huge fan base. Above all, I'm tremendously Monza, Spa, the Nurburgring and completed most of the testing in the high-mileage engine and the 2007 proud of the very strong shape the Silverstone. Each race lasts 1000kms, new Porsche RS Spyder and, with aerodynamics. Both are expected to be championship now finds itself in. or six hours, and the grid comprises 1990 Le Mans winner John Nielsen, updated in time for the opening round four classes; two prototype categories the Danish drivers set second fastest in Spain on April 6. "So, 2008 is going to be an extremely fitting way in which to celebrate our for prototype racing cars, and two for golden GT cars such as , Ferrari anniversary." and Porsche. Dunlop has increased its commitment in 2008 to the series, which runs Alan Gow, to the same regulations as the Le Series Mans 24 hours. This year, Dunlop is Director, expecting to supply up to 14 of the 50 British car entry at each of the LMS races. Touring Car Campbell-Walter's time, set early on Championship the second day of testing in southern France, was nearly two seconds faster than the best time achieved in 2007 Dunlop engineers oversee testing of the Virgo Motorsport Ferrari 430 GT 2 Mattia Pasini won the first ever night race for the 250cc class in Qatar Out of the dark, into the night, Dunlop in dominatant form Gadea and Pasini win in Qatar at Daytona in bike week '08

The first of the 18 round 2008 MotoGP Debon took the first pole of the year, but At the multi-venue racing extravaganza of to win by a comfortable margin but was championship lit up the desert sky outside it was Pasini who took a rookie victory, Daytona Bike Week 2008, Dunlop earned later disqualified for a technical infraction; Doha, Qatar on March 9th. An area the emerging from a second row start and a more race wins and podium positions than final results are pending appeal. size of 70 football pitches had been fully four-way battle for the lead with Barbera, all other tyre manufacturers combined. Not far away at Daytona Municipal Stadium, floodlit with 3,600 floodlights illuminating Kallio and Debon - the four covered by less Dunlop riders not only won the Superbike dirt-track fans witnessed an historic event the 5.4 km circuit for the event. All than 1.4 seconds at the finish. race and swept the podium, they also filled when Jake Johnson became the first rider practice and racing was held at night, with As with the 250cc category, all 34 125cc out the top eight positions. Rockstar Makita in history to sweep the Daytona double. racing continuing until just before midnight. riders have chosen Dunlop. Defending 's took the victory in The first night of the AMA Grand National Despite concerns that the increased levels champion Gabor Talmacsi of Hungary grand style to tally his 64th national win. Singles Championship races saw Johnson of humidity and the lower temperatures () knew from the winter testing that Defending Superbike champion finish ahead of fellow Dunlop riders Ken would result in much lower grip levels, he would be under pressure from a group followed teammate Mladin over the line, Coolbeth and Glen Schnabel. The following actual track temperature on race night of youngsters. Notable amongst these are while Graves Yamaha's Jason DiSalvo evening, Johnson won again, Schnabel never fell below 20C, and each of the three three teenage British riders; 17-year-old rounded out the top three, notching his moved up to second place, and Bryan Smith races were run at record pace. Bradley Smith who has succeeded Pasini first-ever Superbike podium. rounded out the all-Dunlop podium. The MotoGP race saw strong performances in the Polaris World Aprilia team, 15-year- The Supersport contest witnessed another Dunlop's overwhelming Daytona success from the ex-250 riders: Lorenzo (Yamaha) old Scott Redding making his GP debut Dunlop podium sweep, an impressive carried over to the evening Supercross started from pole and finished second to after a strong performance in the Spanish debut for the all-new D211GP DOT racing races. In the most brutal conditions ever defending champion Stoner (Ducati) with Championship in 2007, and 16 year old tyre which is available to the racing public. encountered in a Supercross event, Torco Pedrosa (-) third in a closely Danny Webb. The ever-popular took his Racing Fuels Honda rider Kevin Windham fought race. Rossi (Yamaha) could only Smith took his first ever pole and led the first Daytona win as he fought off the took his second win of the season on finish 5th, behind Dovizioso (Honda) and first lap, but developed technical problems charge of his Graves Yamaha teammate, a muddy, flooded racetrack in a driving ahead of Toseland (Tech 3 Yamaha). The and eventually finished 16th. Redding, 18- teenager . Monster Kawasaki rainstorm. Fellow Honda rider Davi Millsaps championship shows every indication of year-old , and Webb were in the rider Roger Hayden put in a heroic ride followed Windham in second aboard his being one of the most open for years. thick of the group fighting for the podium. with a fractured wrist to finish third. Dunlop-equipped Honda Racing The entire 250cc grid has again opted The lead changed eight times during the 18 In the Superstock class, Aaron Yates CRF450R. for Dunlop. With the top three from 2007 lap race, with Talmacsi and Gadea leading earned a decisive victory for Jordan Suzuki Meanwhile, in the Supercross Lites event, moving up to MotoGP, the championship on their , hounded by Joan Olive and Dunlop, and his teammate Geoff May Windham¹s 17-year-old rookie teammate looks as though it will be fought between (Derbi), Frenchman Mike di Meglio, Redding, followed close behind for a third-place Trey Canard proved his speed and the Aprilias led by Barbera, Bautista, Bradl and Webb. finish. The Formula Xtreme determination by running away to victory Debon, Luthi and Pasini and the KTMs of Talmacsi fell back with mechanical saw team Honda's win the once again. Conquering the same extreme Kallio, Aoyama and Simon. problems, leaving teammate Gadea to take pole and the accompanying Daytona Rolex, track and weather conditions as Windham, his second ever GP win. Olive was second, and he also posted the fastest lap of the Canard scored his third consecutive Lites and Bradl came out on top of a last lap race, a 1:39:604. Erion Honda Racing's East win aboard his Torco Racing Fuels battle for third with Di Meglio and Redding. led 53 laps of the Daytona 200 Honda CRF250R. 3 The 56th Sebring 12 hours yielded two podium positions in separate categories for Dunlop as the tyre manufacturer returned to the . The Lola AER of Jon and Clint Field, and Richard Berry, finished third in LM P1 behind the Intersport took third in class at Sebring two Audi R10 TDIs, but ahead of the 2 are supported by a further 55 cars, factory-run Peugeot. Terry Borcheller including the BMW Z3 and Lotus Exige, and Chapman Ducote shared their while the Division Sport 1 and 2 are Aston Martin with Antonio Garcia also well subscribed, with Renault Clios and they finished third in the GT1 and Mini Coopers boosting the grid by a class behind the factory Corvette further 26 cars. Dunlop's representative Matt Jackson headed the testing times at Rockingham and Brands team after Ducote crashed due Musko Motorsport, based in the to a problem with the brakes and Netherlands, services the entire ten-race Jackson fires warning shot damaged the rear diffuser. One high series which starts at the Nurburgring profile entry to this year’s ALMS is on April 20. the Drayson-Barwell Aston Martin DBRS9. Running on bio- across Vauxhall's bows Porsche headed the 2008 pre-season ethanol fuel, the team will be the Records are set to fall in the HiQ British got up their sleeve.” Jackson, who headed test session for the International GT Touring Car Championship this year after the BMWs of and Stephen first in the series to compete with Open ahead of what is expected to Mat Jackson unofficially broke the track Jelley's at Rockingham, will contest the Aston Martin’s GT2 car which is still be a closely-fought season. Porsche records at both Rockingham and at Brands 2008 championship in a car with racing under development. Paul Drayson and Ferrari have put a lot of effort into Hatch in his BMW Dealer Team UK BMW pedigree, having taken over the BMW 320si and his co-drivers Jonny Cocker their new title challengers which will during pre-season testing. that used to win his third and Tim Sugden used a GT3- Jackson not only beat the qualifying lap successive World Championship title. contest the GT Open, American and specification car for Sebring, which record at Brands Hatch, but despite cold Reigning champion , and the FIA ran well until Drayson crashed out. temperatures, he also beat the pole-sitting was second fastest at Brands Hatch in his GT Championship. Team Autorlando, time set by in April 2001, the Vauxhall Vectra, ahead of Turkington’s BMW, with driver Richard Westbrook, posted longest-standing record currently in the the Ulsterman being one of the few not to fastest time ahead of the Playteam BTCC. try Dunlop’s qualifying tyre at the end of the The 2008 Dutch Supercar Challenge “Even I was surprised by that time,” said test. Former Vauxhall driver , is going from strength to strength SaraFree Ferrari of Andrea Montermini. Jackson, who finished the 2007 season who has swtiched to Honda, was fourth. in 2008 with no fewer than 25 Corvette has entered the Z06 GT3, seventh overall with two wins, and second The opening round of the British Touring cars having entered the GT class with Twenty-Two Motorsport, while in the Independent’s category. “It is a great Car Championship will take place at Brands for the full season while in other , Mosler and Dodge are all boost for everyone in the team, but you Hatch on March 30 before heading to categories are also boasting healthy well represented once again. still don’t know what everyone else has Rockingham on April 13. numbers. Division Supersport 1 and Whincup keeps advantage as Tander dominates maintained his advantage Davison. “To have ticked off a race win and at the head of the Australian V8 Supercar now a round win certainly is incredible and I drivers’ table following the second round at think it is going to do wonders for everyone Eastern Creek, . However, it was Will in the team.” Davison who stole the show by delivering Winterbottom had a stunning opening race, the Jim Beam Racing team its first round rocketing from 10th to fourth off the grid, win in seven years. Just one week later and he passed to run third was in dominant form, before he had even completed a lap. winning each of the three He followed Davison over the line in race support races at Albert Park, Melbourne, two, but in race three another lightning start to win the non-championship round for saw him take the lead away from the lights, . and he held on to take the victory. follows through Turn 1 at Albert Park Tander was also one of three winners in Behind, championship leader Whincup put in From the lights, he challenged Lowndes’ making up an average of one place per lap. Sydney on March 9, along with Davison a solid performance, taking third in race one, 888 Ford through the opening corners In the final race, Garth Tander scored his and Mark Winterbottom. The reigning fifth in race two and fourth in race three to before Richards made an unsuccessful third straight win of the weekend for Holden champion started from tie the round with in fourth place lunge which ended his race prematurely. and claimed the round win. alongside his HRT team-mate on 240 points. That was enough to maintain “I managed to avoid Lowndes but got hit With three second-place finishes Davison and took a comfortable win in race one. his lead at the head of the drivers’ standings by Rick Kelly, which broke the steering,” finished 24 points behind for Ford, the only However, in race two, he struggled to ahead of the non-point scoring race at said an unhappy Richards after the race. interloper in a top six dominated by Holden. get off the line, allowing Davison to take Albert Park on March 16. Winterbottom claimed control. Winterbottom’s team-mate a solid fifth place in Having qualified sixth for the opening race, had a major accident at Eastern Creek and race one, and took a a fantastic start helped Davison to work the Ford Performance Racing team put in a fine podium in third his way through to second behind Tander, mammoth 357 man hours preparing a back place in race two, and a brilliant getaway from the front row up Ford Falcon for Albert Park. challenging Davison in race two put him out of reach of the Both of the FPR Falcons lined up on the all the way to the chasing pack. He slipped back in race grid for the first of three races, which were flag. three, but his performance was enough to a straight Ford versus Holden shootout, on Richards recovered deliver his team the round win. Saturday afternoon. from his first “It feels absolutely incredible,” said Richards’ new was working well race incident and as he qualified third fastest, the second catapulted from 26th quickest Ford behind , which on the grid to 12th, meant that he lined up fourth on the grid. Winterbottom moved to fourth after Eastern Creek 4 DUNLOP MOTORSPORT RESULTS AND POINTS, 2008

American Le Mans Series Remaining races Results, Sebring 12 hours April 6, St Petersburg 1. Bernhard/Dumas/Collard, Porsche RS Spyder, 351 laps April 20, Long Beach 2. Leitzinger/Franchitti/Lally, Porsche RS Spyder 351 laps May 18, Salt Lake City 3. Capello/Kristensen/McNish, Audi R10/TDI, 351 laps July 13, Lime Rock 4. Dyson/Smith, Porsche RS Spyder, 350 laps July 20, Mid Ohio 5. Brabham/Sharp/Johansson, ARX-01B, 349 laps August 10, 6. Werner/Luhr/Rockenfeller, Audi AG R10/TDI, 333 laps August 24, Mosport 7. Lammers/Lienhard/Theys, Porsche RS Spyder, 333 laps August 31, Detroit 8. Magnussen/Fellows/O'Connell, Corvette C6.R, 328 laps October 5, Atlanta 9. Field/Field/Berry, Lola B06/10 AER, 327 laps October 19, Laguna Seca 10. Gavin/Papis/Beretta, Corvette C6, 320 laps

Round 2 Points, Sydney Results Round 3, Melbourne Drivers’ points (do not count towards drivers’ title) 1. Will Davison (Ford) 260 1. Garth Tander (Holden) 300 1. Jamie Whincup 540 2. Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 244 2. Will Davison (Ford) 276 2. Rick Kelly 432 3. Garth Tander (Holden) 242 3. Rick Kelly (Holden) 252 3. Lee Holdsworth 426 4, Rick Kelly (Holden) 240 4. Mark Skaife (Holden) 228 4. Mark Winterbottom 382 5. Jamie Whincup (Ford) 240 5. Russell Ingall (Holden) 176 5. Will Davison 356 6. Craig Lowndes (Ford) 210 6. Cameron McConville (Holden) 172 6. Craig Lowndes 339 7. Russell Ingall (Holden) 192 7. Steven Johnson (Ford) 160 7. 330 8. Mark Skaife (Holden) 184 8. Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 160 8. Garth Tander 326 9. Lee Holdsworth (Holden) 168 9. Lee Holdsworth (Holden) 150 9. Mark Skaife 322 10. Greg Murphy (Holden) 156 10. (Holden) 148 10. 308

Remaining races Results, 250cc, Round 1, Qatar Results, 125cc, Round 1, Qatar March 30, Jerez 1. Mattia Pasini (Aprilia) 1. Sergio Gadea (Aprilia) April 13, Estoril 2. Hector Barbera (Aprilia), +0.557s 2. Joan Olive (Derbi), +0.932s May 4, Shanghai; May 18, Le Mans 3. (KTM), +1.029s 3. Stefan Bradl (Aprilia), +1.660s June 1, Mugello; June 8, Catalunya; June 22, 4. Alex Debon (Aprilia), +1.418s 4. Mike di Meglio (Derbi), +1.771s Donington; June 29, Assen 5. Yuki Takahashi (Honda), +12.944s 5. Scott Redding (Aprilia), +1.819s July 13, ; July 20, Laguna Seca 6. Alvaro Bautista (Aprilia), +14.480s 6. Danny Webb (Aprilia), +7.689s August 17, Brno; August 31, Misano 7. Karel Abraham (Aprilia), +16.721s 7. Simone Corsi (Aprilia), +8.684s September 14, Indianapolis; September 28, 8. Aleix Locatelli (Gilera), +18.987s 8. Pol Espargaro (Derbi), +8.693s Motegi 9. Pol Espargaro (Aprilia), +32.232s 9. Efran Vasquez (Aprilia), +9.054s October 5, Phillip Island; October 19, Sepang; 10. Hector Faubel (Aprilia), +41.102s 10. Nicolas Terol (Aprilia), +10.902s October 26, Valencia

Le Mans Series test, Paul Ricard Le Mans Series Calendar

1. Audi Sport Team Joest, R10 TDI, 1m39.705s April 6, Barcelona 2. Audi Sport Team Joest, R10 TDI, 1m40.777s April 27, Monza 3. Creation Autosportif, CA07-AIM, 1m41.797s May 11, Spa 4. Team Matmut, Courage Oreca, 1m41.805s August 17, Nurburgring 5. Charouz Racing, Lola Aston Martin, 1m42.631s September 14, Silverstone 6. , Pescarolo , 1m42.860s 7. Team Oreca Matmut, Courage Oreca, 1m43.864s * June 1, Le Mans test day 8. Merksteijn, Porsche RS Spyder, 1m43.829s * June 14/15, Le Mans 24 hours 9. Essex Racing, Porsche RS Spyder, 1m43.956s *not part of the championship 10. Quifel ASM, Lola AER, 1m44.456s

For further information: Jean-Felix Bazelin, General Manager, Motorsport, EU, jean_felix_bazelin@dunlop-.com Dunlop Motorsport Division, Jeremy Ferguson, International Motorsport Manager, [email protected] Dunlop Tyres Ltd, Fort Dunlop, Gary Wassell, Manager, Car Motorsport, EU, [email protected] Birmingham, B24 9QT Stephen Male, Manager, Motorsport EU, [email protected] Tel: +44 121 306 6000 Sabastian Mincone, Sales and Product Manager Motorcycle EU, [email protected] fax: +44 121 306 7000 Graham Shuter, Key Account Manager, Car EU, [email protected] e-mail; [email protected]

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