Round 5 - Eastern Creek, September 6th - 7th

BIANTE Touring Car Masters,

ANOTHER ICON JOINS THE MASTERS

Press Release – 3 September 2008.

2008 BIANTE Touring Car Masters

Round Five, MCM Eastern Creek Raceway, Eastern Creek, September. 6-7.

Charlie O’Brien will make his BIANTE Touring Car Masters debut at the Muscle Car Masters this weekend at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway behind the wheel of Chris Stillwell’s ’68 Mustang.

Charlie’s suitably pumped about the very idea.

“There are so many reasons I’m excited about the weekend,” he admitted from his Gold Coast base today, “I’ve wanted to run in a BIANTE Touring Car Masters event for some time but to be doing it in a 68 Mustang which is so similar to what the great Pete Geoghegan drove is fantastic. The reason I got into Motorsport was watching Pete weave his magic in a 68 Mustang.”

Chris Stillwell will drive the potent Ford Cosworth powered Escort from his fleet – a car that is fast gaining a cult following of it’s own amongst fans of all ages.

“I’m very grateful to Chris for letting me drive the Mustang,” O’Brien concedes, “in all my years of racing I’ve never had a lap in one so this weekend I can change all that.”

Asked how he thinks he’ll fair he replies in typical O’Brien fashion.
“I don’t know until I’ve had my bum in it,” he laughs, “I imagine it’s big and heavy like the NASCAR was around Indy but I’m yet to find out. I haven’t been around Eastern Creek since 1994 when I ran the NASCAR there and before that it was 1990 in one of Brock’s Sierras. I guess it’ll be a first for me for many reasons.”

Charlie’s hopeful that this weekend’s debut may lead to a more regular drive in the BIANTE Touring Car Masters.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in doing something next year,” he grins, “I’ve been talking to people for a while now to let them know my hand is up. I hope something comes of it. I’m sure after this weekend I’ll be more determined than ever.

Drew Marget is champing at the bit and the Victorian speedster can’t wait to make tracks with his immaculate ’69 Mustang Fastback.

“The Muscle Car Masters is such a fantastic event,” grins Marget, “all of our guys know that it’s a place that we race where we can really turn it on. There are so many enthusiasts in the crowd for our kind of racing and the mix of cars we bring to the track. It’s just a great vibe and a great event to showcase the BIANTE Touring Car Masters.”

Marget comes into the Masters weekend – which is also the fifth round of the Biante Touring Car Masters - confident that he can improve on his last round performance at Winton Motor Raceway.

“I think we missed the mark a bit at Winton,” he concedes, “I’m hoping we can turn in a solid performance at Eastern Creek and avenge the last round. I like the undulations of the Eastern Creek circuit and I think it suits our cars.”

Marget knows that with the big crowd comes the big ambitions of several drivers.

“Everyone (the drivers) wants to do well at the Masters,” he concedes, “so you get guys really coming out of their shells on weekends like this. As always, I think Brad Tilley is a real danger man. The car control that guy has is incredible.”

Tilley was a hot prospect at the previous round at Winton, but spun out whilst making a crucial bid for the lead in one spectacular race over that weekend when he and Gavin Bullas “came together”.

None the less Tilley’s car speed was certainly enough to keep Ford fans very happy indeed and the charismatic gasman will bring excellent form into this weekend.

Gavin Bullas may well be the dark horse after his explosive performance and subsequent round win at Winton in his cherry red ’69 Mustang Fastback and the man with the commercial pilot’s licence will indeed be a jet around Eastern Creek.

There’s no substitute for experience and nobody knows that better than busy wheel twister and Aussie race legend John Bowe as he eyes off a potential victory in his powerful Sunliner RV Camaro that he has wheeled with awesome effect in the last two rounds.

Newcastle’s Steve Mason returns this weekend with his immaculate blue ’69 SS Chevy Camaro and after missing Winton the affable Novocastrian will waste little time in letting the Hercules engine powered rocket loose on that big Eastern Creek main straight.

The successful Waddington Racing pairing of Greg East and Greg Waddington will be at it again with East hoping to repeat his dominance of Division 2 (and savaging of some of the Division 1 cars in the process) at Winton by running the Waddington Engines 5litre HQ Holden up the front around the creek.

Melbourne’s Eddie Abelnica had a disappointing weekend at Winton in Round Four and he too would like to put that behind him with an improved performance in the Boss 302ci Ford Mustang.

“I think Eddie will be a bit of a dark horse,” quips Drew Marget, “I think he’ll love it around Eastern Creek and that 69’ Mustang will handle like a dream.”

A stout field has nominated for the fifth round of the Biante Touring Car Masters this weekend and includes:

Steve Mason

Charlie O’Brien

Ian McAlister

Chris Stillwell

Cameron Mason

Phil Brock

Mike Erwin

John Bowe

Rory O’Neill

Alastair Maclean

Gavin Bullas

Drew Marget

Greg Waddington

Greg East
Garry Treloar

Nigel Benson

Brad Tilley

Mick Wilson

Trevor Talbot

Steve Makarios

The official series sponsor for the Touring Car Masters is Australia’s leading model race and road car manufacturer BIANTE. For the complete range of Biante products please visit www.biante.com.au

Rare Spares is the official commentary sponsor for the BIANTE Touring Car Masters. Rare Spares is the most recognised name in the Australian Automotive Aftermarket which includes the growing restoration industry. You can’t restore a car without Rare Spares!