Round 4 - Winton, August 1st - 3rd

2008 BIANTE Touring Car Masters

RARE SPARES AND WADE AUNGER JOIN BIANTE TOURING CAR MASTERS SERIES

Rare Spares has joined as a Series Sponsor coincidentally with Australian Motorsport personality Wade Aunger being appointed oncourse series commentator for the burgeoning Biante Touring Car Masters.

Aunger and Rare Spares join the Biante TCM during a major growth phase for the series, with 2008 bringing bigger grids, new model cars and an increased involvement by legendary touring car drivers including Jim and Steve Richards, John Bowe, Glenn Seton and Phil Brock.

The Rare Spares involvement in the BTCM’s family of sponsors is a fitting promotional partner in many aspects.

Rare Spares is undoubtedly the most recognised name in the Australian Automotive Aftermarket which includes the growing restoration industry.

When customers are searching for weather seals, rubber kits, rust repair panels, badges, interior components, decals, lamps, lenses, door belts, ute and boot mats, clips and fasteners, hose, glass, pedal pads, lock sets or any other restoration part or accessory they need look no further than Rare Spares!

Rare Spares General Manager Mr. David N Rayner believes this new relationship with the Series is an exciting match.

"Rare Spares is excited to be embarking on this new relationship with the Biante Touring Car Masters. There's an obvious synergy with our company and the racecars involved and we're excited about the potential of our new association. We look forward to working closely with Wade Aunger and the Biante Touring Car Masters for the remainder of the 08 season and hopefully beyond.

Wade Aunger’s commentary for the rough and tumble historic tin-top races will dovetail nicely at V8 Supercar meetings with his position as V8 Ute series announcer. He will also undertake publicity for the Biante TCM.

His larger-than-life commentary is a perfect match for the throaty roar of the BTCM’s multi-marque muscle car field.

“The Biante Touring Car Masters Series is a fantastic category and an important part of the ustralian Motorsport landscape,” says Aunger, “I’ve always loved those style of cars because it’s what I grew up as a kid adoring. I won’t lie; it’s a bit of a dream come true for me to commentate these amazing racecars. I can’t wait.”

The Novocastrian is arguably best known as a presenter of SBS’s Speedweek, Fox Sports’ Inside Speed and the Nine Network’s Speed Machine. Aunger is an 11-year Speedweek veteran.

Rare Spares and Wade Aunger join the Biante Touring Car Masters Series this weekend at Winton Motor Raceway…

JB AND JIMMY TO JOUST AT WINTON

Former Australian Touring Car Champions and Bathurst winners John Bowe and Jim Richards will square off at Winton Motor Raceway on the August 2-3 weekend for Round Four of the BIANTE Touring Car Masters.

Bowe rejoined the BIANTE TCM last time out at Darwin and claimed Round Three with a clean sweep of all three races. JB missed Round Two and was delighted to be back in the stunning Tony Hunter owned 1969 Chev Camaro at Darwin`s Hidden Valley Raceway.

“I had a very good time with the car at Clipsal, we managed to win a couple of races so it’s great to be back in the Series. There is a lot of public interest in the cars. I think the Series is going places”.

“The cars are an adventure to drive. They are not as precise as a V8 Supercar but they’re good fun to drive.”

Bowe was also pleased to be back racing against Jim Richards. “It’s like going back in time. I’ve had some amazing races against Jimmy over the years - when I was in the Volvo, the Sierra, in V8 Supercars, when I was in a Ferrari and he was in the Porsche. He’s a terrific competitor – he’s always been a hero of mine and a major inspiration to keep racing. I love it”.

Richards debuted his gorgeous 1964 Falcon Rallye Sprint in Darwin and collected a fourth, a second and very nearly the victory in the final race after Bowe began to struggle with worn tyres and braking issues in the sweltering conditions.

“It probably went better than we thought it would. With a new car sometimes you just don’t know. We were just glad to get through without any major dramas.”

“The hot weather in Darwin and the effect it had on tyres and brakes on the bigger cars may have made it look a little better than what it was. At a cold circuit they might be a bit harder to pass. But if tyres and brakes become a bit suspect we can pounce” (as happened in the final race in Darwin).

“The car’s weak point is getting off the line and getting to the first corner. Even with a quick (qualifying) time some of the big cars will probably still beat us to turn one. It’s strong point is it’s light weight – it will look after it’s tyres and brakes better than the bigger cars. Still Winton should suit the car. It will be fun!”

JB and Richo will face strong challenges from points leader Gavin Bullas (Boss Mustang), Alastair MacLean (Camaro), with Stephen Hoinville stepping back into the Stillwell Escort, as well as the nimble Torana of Victorian Trevor Talbot who always manages to harass any big V8 in front of him without mercy – much to the delight of Holden fans everywhere!

Darren Knight

WINTON COULD BE THE LEVELLER

It’s tight, it’s awfully hard on tyres sometimes and it brings out the kind of racing that is often nothing short of breathtaking.

It’s Winton Motor Raceway and this weekend it’s the venue for the fourth round of the 2008 BIANTE Touring Car Masters where some 25 of the country’s most iconic motor racing cars will converge with their passionate pilots to battle it out.

The fascinating part of this round, like all others, is the unique characteristics of the Winton layout and how they will almost certainly bring out different capabilities in the entrants list and their magnificent machines.

There’s no doubt some of the smaller cars will be a much tougher proposition on this circuit where brutish horsepower and outright speed will take a less dominant role. Little wonder then that LJ XU1 Torana driver Trevor Talbot believes that his Dukes Body Works backed bullet will be a force to be reckoned with.“I’ve raced at Winton many times before,” he concedes, “and last time we were running second to Paul Stubber so I know that we have speed there. I think that little Escort (Steven Hoinville) will be fast there too.” For Talbot, it’s too early to get too excited though.

He’s got issues.
“The new motor we were going to use this weekend developed some problems on the dyno last night,” frowns the 50 year old smash repairer from Langwarrin (near Frankston) in Victoria, “if we can overcome those problems in time we’ll be very competitive. The new motor has at least 40 more horsepower than what I have been using, so I’m very keen to get it sorted in time for Winton.”
Talbot certainly has an extensive inventory for the Torana, with three different motors to choose from.
“My second best motor needs work too so it’s either going to be feast or famine on the weekend. If we have the new motor in we’ll be fast, if we have the current engine in we won’t. It’s that simple.”

Certainly the nimble nature of the Torana, the Escort and even the Porsche combinations will be a significant assistance, particularly if the weather should turn foul as it often does in Ned Kelly country.

There’s no substitute for experience however and regardless of the weight disadvantage and comparative bulkier handling properties of the cars they are driving, legendary wheel twisters John Bowe and Jim Richards will be fearsome competitors. Consider the collective laps these two have done around Winton in a variety of cars!

Bowe’s Sunliner RV ‘69 Camaro led a clean sweep of the previous round at Darwin’s Hidden Valley whilst Jim Richards got off to a memorable start to the year in his new ’64 Falcon Rallye Sprint by finishing second overall for the weekend ahead of Gavin Bullas in his awesome 69 Boss Mustang.

Brad Tilley is expected to be a major contender as always in the Tilleys Automotive XY GT Falcon and Drew Marget hopes to get to grips with Winton early in his ’69 Ford Mustang Transam.

The spectacle of these beautifully prepared classic muscle cars with the picturesque Victorian countryside as the backdrop will be worth seeing in itself.

When you throw in Chris Stillwell’s ’68 Ford Mustang, Young’s Ian McAlister in his red 64’ Mustang, Tony Edwards’ 71 Holden Monaro, Ray Challis in the ’71 XY GT, Rory O’Neill’s Blackcat Racing Porsche 911, Alastair Maclean’s ’68 Chev Camaro, Greg East & Greg Waddington’s ‘72 HQ's Holden, Garry Treloar’s iconic ’72 Chrysler Charger RT, Nigel Benson’s ’71 Holden Monaro first time out, Mark Forgie’s Porsche 911, Graham Alexander’s ‘72 HQ Holden, Chris Wilson’s XU1 LJ Torana, Cameron Tilley’s ’70 Valiant Pacer, Eddie Abelnica’s ’69 Boss Mustang and John Nelson’s Porsche 911 RS you get a very clear idea of how rich with car and driver diversity the BIANTE Touring Car Masters really is.

The major sponsor of the TCM is the BIANTE Model Car Company.

BIANTE produce the best range of Australian die cast model cars. Their range includes both road and race cars from Australian manufacturers such as Ford and Holden. The models are limited edition collector’s items, which, in some cases, come with signed certificates of authenticity.

Wade Aunger

For more information visit www.biante.com.au