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Australian GTP Sandown Preview

23 June 1999

CENTURY BATTERIES AUSTRALIAN GT PRODUCTION CAR CHAMPIONSHIP

SANDOWN PREVIEW

SANDOWN STRAIGHTS COULD FAVOUR VIPERS

The Century Batteries Australian GT Production Car Championship is set
to come alive at Sandown International Motor Raceway this weekend, as a
46-strong grid, lines up for round five of the championship.

While the GTP stars and cars did battle in the OAMPS Insurance Endurance
Classic at Sandown last year, this weekend will be the first time the
Century Batteries Championship has graced the prestigious Melbourne
circuit.

Jim Richards, leading the championship in the Porsche 911 RSCS, believes
the Porsches will have their work cut out for them this weekend, as the
track will favour the big horsepower cars such as the Dodge Viper GTS
which is returning to the series this year and at Sandown for the first
time.

"Sandown is a collection of slow corners coming onto big long straights
and that means the Vipers are likely to have the jump on us and - we'll
be doing it tough," Richards said.

Richards has a strong history at Sandown having claimed a number of
touring car championship races and is now looking forward to what is a
great driver's track.

"Sandown has a certain novelty about it, because we don't race there
very often and that will make taking the Porsche there for the first
time all the more enjoyable," Richards said.

"I wouldn't say that we're necessarily confident of a win - you only
ever go into a race to do your best and if that's better than the next
guy then you'll come away with success."

Melinda Price and Sam Newman in the Gibson Motorsport Vectras will both
be challenging for Class D honours against current leader Phil Kirkham
(Mazda 626) at the Melbourne track this weekend.

Price is making her debut in one of two Holden Vectras entered in the
series and is delighted to be back in the drive after an eight-month
break from racing.

Price's last drive was in the Larry Perkins prepared Commodore at the
1998 Primus 1000 at Bathurst.  Price says an eight month lay-off is not
ideal preparation but is glad to be getting back into the driver's seat
for a competitive run.

"My first taste of the Vectra was trying out Sam's (Newman) car during
practice at Hidden Valley.  It felt pretty good up there, and once we've
settled into the series and had a chance to work on our setup, then we
should be a chance of taking class honours by the end of the year."

Price says that she is looking forward to debuting her Vectra with her
celebrity team-mate on track and hopes to go one better than Newman.

"I'd like to think that he won't see me for dust, but seeing he already
has points on the board I won't be making any bets.  It should be a
great weekend and if it rains, as it has a tendency to do at Sandown,
all the better."

Roland Hill will be making his debut in the Holden Commodore V8 VS
Executive at Sandown Raceway, joining class leader Peter Phelan (Holden
Commodore VT SS) and Commodore VS driver Mark Cohen to make a three
strong Holden assault on Class C.

Geoff Full (Subaru Impreza WRX) is hoping to continue his commanding run
in the Autobarn Class B of the championship following his run of
unchallenged race victories this year.  Mark King ( Mitsubishi Lancer
Evo 3) and Wayne Vinckx (Nissan 200SX) are chasing Full in the class.

Class E youngster Craig Dontas (Suzuki Swift GTi) will be returning to
the series after missing the Hidden Valley round while repairing his car
from his spectacular exit from race two at Phillip Island.  Dontas' spun
Suzuki was struck by Peter Fitzgerald's Porsche 911 RSCS, resulting in
major damage to both cars.

Kosi Kalaitzidis (Proton M21 Coupe) is hoping to again find the
outstanding form from the Hidden Valley round, where he claimed both
class victories, and challenge current Class E leader Sue Hughes (Suzuki
Swift GTi).  Warren Luff also returns aboard the Peugeot 306 Style which
took Class E victories at Phillip Island.

Ric Shaw (Toyota MR2 Bathurst) continues to lead Class S, but Wayne
Russell's BMW 323i is keen to bounce back after failing to topple Shaw
in Darwin.

ENTRIES

CLASS A
1 Domenic Beninca Porsche 911 RSCS
3 Peter Fitzgerald Porsche 911 RSCS
5 Jim Richards Porsche 911 RSCS
8 Ed Aitken Porsche 911 RSCS
9 Ray Lintott Dodge Viper GTS Coupe
11 Jamie Cartwright Toyota Supra RZ Twin-Turbo
12 Geoff Morgan Porsche 911 RSCS
18 Murray Carter Chevrolet Corvette C5 V8 Coupe
27 Darren Palmer Ferrari F355 Challenge
29 Gary Waldon, Dodge Viper GTS Coupe
38 Rod Salmon Mitsubishi Lancer RS Turbo Evo V
41 Terry Bosnjak Mazda RX-7 SP Twin-Turbo
45 John Teulan Nissan Skyline GT-R Turbo 4WD
57 Graham Alexander Mitsubishi Lancer RS Turbo Evo V
65 Craig Dean Ford Mustang Saleen

CLASS B
6 Geoff Full Subaru Impreza WRX Turbo
7 Peter Boylan Subaru Impreza WRX Turbo
15 Bob Hughes Mazda RX-7 Twin Turbo
25 Richards Davis HSV GTS-R 215i
34 Mark King Mitsubishi Lancer RS Turbo Evo III
40 Dwayne Bewley Subaru Impreza WRX Turbo
47 John Trimbole Mitsubishi Lancer RS Turbo Evo III
66 Paula Elstrek Mazda RX-7 Twin Turbo
76 Wayne Vinckx Nissan 200SX Sport Coupe Turbo
91 Gary Deane Subaru Impreza WRX Turbo

CLASS C
16 Peter Phelan Holden Commodore VT SS V8
20 Robert Chadwick Mitsubishi Magna TH Sports V6 3.5
33 Roland Hill Holden Commodore VS SS V8
46 Ryan McLeod Ford Falcon EL XR8
55 Mark Cohen Holden Commodore VS SS V8
88 David Ratcliff Toyota Camry Touring V6

CLASS D
17 Sam Newman Holden Vectra GL 2.2 Sedan
28 Melinda Price Holden Vectra GL 2.2 Sedan
71 Phil Kirkham Mazda 626

CLASS E
21 Kosi Kalaitidis Proton M21 Coupe
36 Warren Luff Peugeot 306 Style
37 Nathan Thomas Suzuki Swift Gti
74 Sue Hughes Suzuki Swift Gti
75 Craig Dontas Suzuki Swift Gti

CLASS S
13 Colin Osborne Toyota MR2 Bathurst
26 Wayne Russell BMW 323i
35 Ric Shaw Toyota MR2 Bathurst
54 Matt Lehmann Mazda MX-5 Sports

POINTS AFTER ROUND FOUR:

Outright Drivers Championship
Richards, Jim 71.5
Beninca, Domenic 62*
Fitzgerald, Peter 41
Cartwright, Jamie 31
Aitken, Ed 30
Bosnjak, Terry 27
Park, Wayne 24
Morgan, Geoff 22
Full, Geoff 13
Spiridis, Perry 10
Dean, Craig 6
Boylan, Peter 4
King, Mark 4
Palmer, Darren 4
Alexander, Graham 3.5
Lynton, Beric 3
White, Damien 3
Carter, Murray 2.5
Cowley, John 2
Elstrek, Paula 2
Salmon, Rod 2
Shaw, Ric 1
Vinckx, Wayne 0.5

Class A
Richards, Jim 67.5
Beninca, Domenic 61
Fitzgerald, Peter 40
Aitken, Ed 31
Cartwright, Jamie 31
Bosnjak, Terry 27
Park, Wayne 24
Morgan, Geoff 23
Dean, Craig 10
Spiridis, Perry 10
Alexander, Graham 4.5
Palmer, Darren 4
Carter, Murray 3.5
Lynton, Beric 3
White, Damien 3
Salmon, Rod 2

Class B
Full, Geoff 82.5
King, Mark 40
Vinckx, Wayne 40
Elstrek, Paula 34
Boylan, Peter 23
Cowley, John 16
Jacob, Scott 16
Hughes, Bob 3

Class C
Phelan, Peter 58
Cohen, Mark 52.5
Ratcliff, David 46
Chadwick, Robert 42
Mcleod, Ryan 41
Cribbin, Denis 18

Class D
Kirkham, Megan 30
Kirkham, Phil 30
Newman, Sam 12

Class E
Hughes, Sue 56
Kalaitzidis, Kosi 46
Mckay, Peter 30
Luff, Warren 22.5
Best, Darren 22
Thomas, Nathan 17
Dontas, Craig 8

Class S
Shaw, Ric 74
Russell, Wayne 66.5
Osborne, Colin 49
Haynes, Clayton 20
Kirkham, Phil 12
Lehmann, Matt 10
Lucas, Nicolas 5
Kirkham, Megan 4