MOTORSPORT: Gore and Team Kiwi 'skeletons'

$300,000 headaches for Gore and TKR's David John
The Australian motorsport community has been staggered, even thrilled it would be fair to say, at the immunity of V8 Supercar racing to the economic meltdown.

While teams inevitably are feeling some effects of belt-tightening by companies on which they depend, especially for sponsorship, the V8 picture looks pretty healthy as the new season approaches, with the opening round in Adelaide on March 19-22.

That Adelaide event, the Clipsal 500, has won another major accolade -- it was named the country's best major event for the second year in a row at the national tourism awards in Melbourne last Friday.

However, a couple of "skeletons" have appeared on the V8 scene, although the origins pre-date the economic meltdown.

Team Kiwi Racing owner David John's bankruptcy has been confirmed, although the indications are the team can still survive.

And Max Wilson, the Brazilian who raced in V8 Supercars for several years and for WPS Racing until its collapse a year ago, is chasing embattled former team owner Craig Gore in the courts for more than $300,000.

It has been reported on the Gold Coast that Wilson issued a statutory demand at the end of January for $312,125 he claims he is owed in sponsorship and driving fees.

While Wilson's lawyers claim there is no real dispute that the money is owed and overdue, an affidavit by Gore says there is a "real dispute" about whether the money is owed.

The case is listed for the Queensland Supreme Court in Brisbane on April 1, but in the meantime there is more on it here.

Meanwhile, TKR owner John's bankruptcy -- declared in New Zealand a week ago -- was confirmed last Thursday, because of $328,544 he owes the ANZ National Bank.

However, John has said that does not mean TKR is bust.

Indeed, he told the NZ court a recent deal with Paul Morris Motorsport had freed up $1 million of machinery and equipment to be sold.

He claimed he had assets of $5.2 million, would retain 100 per cent of TKR, and it was reported he will be able to apply for the bankruptcy to be dissolved once his debt to the bank is paid.

The bank's attitude, espoused by its lawyer Paul Murray, is that it has "heard it all before".

"In four or eight weeks they will be in the same position," Murray told the court.

Meanwhile, TKR accountant Michael McDonald has been appointed team chief for now and will replace John as a director of Numero Uno, the company that holds the V8 Supercar racing licence.

Phillip Groves, who describes himself as a long-time motorsport fan, is asking the South Australian coroner to investigate Cooper's death and recommend changes to prevent a repeat tragedy.

Groves is a proponent of purpose-built tracks rather than street circuits.

"On a real, purpose-built motor racing track, there would never have been an accident of this magnitude," Groves said.

The Independent Weekly newspaper in Adelaide has reported that the SA coroner is still deciding whether to hold an inquest into Cooper's death, depending on whether it is deemed a matter of substantial public importance -- particularly relating to public health and safety.

Adding to the difficulties the new Rally Oz organisers are facing in the Northern Rivers area, primarily with environmentalists, was the reminder from former West Australian tourism minister Mark McGowan on ABC radio in that area that his government had stopped funding the event in WA in 2005 "for financial reasons which included a relatively low return on investment for taxpayers".

We can't see that financial equation looking any prettier in northern NSW than it came to look in WA.

Most likely, we reckon, is an era of Super 2000 cars without turbos, perhaps with a move to smaller-capacity cars with turbos a bit further down the track.

Frank Costa, reputed to be Australia's biggest fruit and vegetable merchant and president of the Geelong Football Club, is a powerful figure in the regional centre and has given the proposal by Linfox -- the company of transport magnate Lindsay Fox and his family -- a big tick, although in this matter that support probably counts for nothing.

What we find weird in the Geelong Advertiser newspaper's report here is the words of Victorian premier John Brumby.

"I can say that we're working closely with Lindsay Fox on a range of business investment proposals around the state," Brumby said.

That's entirely understandable.

And clearly Brumby does not need or want to destabilise the event at Albert Park anymore than it is already by the diabolical ticket sales scenario it finds itself in this year.

But in stating that there were no plans to change the venue he said: "I saw the speculation about it, but I think, the GP itself, they're pretty happy with where they are, so I don't think it has gone any further than that."

Now we don't expect the F1 GP to be moving from Albert Park to Avalon, certainly not in the lifetime of F1's commercial supremo  Bernie Ecclestone.

But Brumby's comment raises a question over who is running things in Victoria.

"The GP itself, they're pretty happy with where they are!"

The "GP itself" = the Australian Grand Prix Corporation.

Yes, the AGPC may well be "pretty happy" with where it is, but it lost $40 million on this event last year and is looking at a loss of $50 million or more this year -- and no real prospect that these losses are ever going to reduce.

Should it not be a matter of what the GOVERNMENT is happy with?

Looks very much like a case of the tail wagging the dog.

Anyway, we suspect the choice between Albert Park and Avalon is irrelevant.

Although Victoria's F1 contract was only renewed last year, come 2015 we find it hard to envisage the state signing up again, for any venue, when the losses by that time are accumulated.

Its new German wonderboy, Sebastian Vettel, topped the test times at Jerez in Spain overnight.

And Mark Webber has said after more mileage in the RB5: "The car development is coming on well, and so is the Mark Webber Leg Development Program."

>>>More reports over the weekend that Honda's F1 team has been saved.

What a sad and sorry saga this has been, but the indications increasingly are that the team will be fronted by technical whiz Ross Brawn and perhaps still partly, even largely, funded by Honda this year.

It would amount to a management buyout, headed by Brawn with former chief Nick Fry perhaps in a lesser role -- with the financing of the revamped outfit perhaps taking a year to finalise.

And there is speculation that Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello may stay as Jenson Button's teammate, rather than rookie Bruno Senna.

While it is important for F1 that the team survives, there are signs it could all get even messier yet.

Signs are that at least 200 jobs will have to go in any rescue, but that if workers laid off are retrenched by the new ownership rather than Honda they will be severely disadvantaged.

While survival is paramount, and the team may be much further advanced on adapting its 2009 car to take Mercedes-Benz engines rather than Honda, starting the season so far behind the eight-ball is almost a guarantee of a woeful season.

It will be worth keeping an eye on autosport.com over the next couple of days for any news of Button testing a "Brawn" car.

>>>We've said several times already that the proposal for a new US F1 team run out of North Carolina with a base in Spain is over-optimistic, even misguided.

But at least NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch -- winning of today's third Sprint Cup round in Las Vegas -- is positive about it.

"It's something I'd love to take a shot at one day," Busch said.

"It's not quite time for me to do that yet."

His immediate priority, though, is to win the Sprint Cup and it would be a massive jump anytime from American stock car racing to F1.

Busch conceded that, but in the brash manner for which he is renowned added: "It's probably easier to go that route than it is for those guys to come to this route.

"These cars have less downforce, less grip, more weight on the car, less technical advancements and stuff like that.

"To me it seems like it would be a lot easier to drive a car that's fully equipped.

"It's kind of like getting in a Volkswagen Beetle versus a Ferrari."

Before the economic/motorsport meltdown bit as hard as it has, there were plans for Busch to test an F1 Toyota over this off-season.

His NASCAR team, Joe Gibbs Racing, runs Toyota Camrys in the Sprint Cup.

The manufacturer connection is not particularly strong to Busch though, and there would be little problem for him to join the US F1 team if it eventuates -- although we very much doubt it will.

>>>Australia's Marcos Ambrose continued his strong midfield finishing record in his first full season of Sprint Cup racing at Las Vegas this morning.

The duel V8 Supercar champion was classified 20th after having qualified his Toyota a brilliant fifth but then started from the back of the field because of an engine change.

Lots of Toyotas had to go to the rear of the field after engine changes brought on by a mysterious wear issue between their camshafts and lifter.

Also implicated is Castroneves' lawyer Alan Miller, who has represented several NASCAR stars -- including Kyle Busch.

Witnesses in the case will include triple NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, Colombian F1 star turned NASCAR racer Juan Pablo Montoya and Castroneves' team owner, Roger Penske.

If convicted, all three defendants reportedly face 6½ years in jail.

In Castroneves' absence, Australian Will Power is deputising at Team Penske alongside fellow Aussie Ryan Briscoe.

Briscoe topped the timesheets a couple of times at last week's IndyCar testing, while Power was also quick.

Indeed, it will do four international races this year with its R35 GT-R. More here.

Nissan's executive vice-president Carlos Tavares said: "Motorsports is an important part of Nissan's strategy for building a strong brand with consumers who share our passion for high-performance driving.

"In addition to being an important touch-point for consumers, motorsports serve as a dynamic proving ground for automotive innovation."

Nissan will continue to participate this year in Japan's Super GT series' GT500 class -- the highest level of motorsport in its home market.

The company will also support grassroots activities in select countries outside of Japan.