The Year of the Enforcer
Australia The Lucky Country While motor sport fans in other countries have been contending with snow, ice and TV replays we have had racing over our summer. If Two Litre Touring Cars aren't your cup of tea then how about World of Outlaws stars driving methanol burning V8 sprint cars?
The downside is that telecasts of major foreign races are at inconvenient times, either late at night or very early morning. The trusty VCR is an essential companion for the dedicated Australian motor sport fan.
The 2001 road racing season opens at reasonable hour. The V8's first outing is in the support races to the QANTAS Australian F1 Grand Prix at Albert Park on March 3rd and 4th. This isn't a championship round so it will give the teams a chance to compare their new cars under race conditions before the season starts for real at Phillip Island. The fans get to see the new seasons paint schemes in the metal for the first time.
The sprint races won't give the complete picture. The move to more two 100Km races instead of three sprints for the Shell Series in 2001 will see who can make their tyres last and still be quick.
The Champion for 2001 is........
The team to beat will be the Holden Racing Team, with the defending Shell Series Champion Mark Skaife carrying the number 1 plate. The change in race format will disadvantage Mark as he is a very good at qualifying but did run into tyre problems at the end of the longer races last year. Jason Bright fresh from Indy Lights and Champ cars replaces Craig Lowndes in the other HRT car. Obviously Jason is fast and quite adaptable but must take some races to get used to a Holden and the new team. In this ultra competitive series that rules out Jason as a series contender, although he will win races towards the end of the year. How the team itself reacts to the Lowndes affair will be interesting. Whatever the office racers may have done Jeff Grech and the boys were a good team. Craig always seemed to be cheerful and bubbling with enthusiasm. Taking that out of the team and with Jason feeling his way how will the team spirit be effected?
The Garry Roger's team finished off last season on a high by winning Bathurst and Garth Tander securing second place in the driver's championship. The team have built two brand new VX Commodores for 2001, a big undertaking for a small team. Combined with the extra pressure of trying to live up to their success last year could make it a difficult year for this team.
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