RACE RAP: MONDAY, October 18
THE COUNTDOWN TO SUPERCARS HAS BEGUN
With less than a fortnight until the Repco Supercars Championship resumes at Sydney Motorsport Park, more details of the quadruple-header are emerging.
Best for drivers and teams is the Beaurepairs Sydney Cup, which will bring a nice trophy and $25,000 to the driver who scores the most points over the November stampede.
The backing from the tyre retailer extends its SMP support as the naming-rights backer of the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight
WRC TITLE WILL BE DECIDED AT MONZA
When Thierry Neuville won Rally Spain for Hyundai he ensured that the battle for the 2021 world title will end, as it did in 2020, in a in-house battle between Toyota drivers Sebastian Ogier and Elfyn Evans at the final event in Italy.
Ogier is shooting for his eighth championship before he steps down from full-time driving in the WRC, while Evans will be looking for redemption after crashing out of the Monza rally last year.
Evans followed Neuville home in Rally Spain while local hero Dani Sordo claimed the final podium place, pushing Ogier back to four and denying him the points he needed to claim the crown before heading to Monza.
NEW LOOK FOR SLADE IN SYDNEY
Tim Slade will have a bold new look when the Repco Supercars Championship resumes, thanks to Dayco.
His CoolDrive Mustang is being wrapped in Dayco colours to celebrate the tie-up with the global automotive engine and thermal management component manufacturer.
But there is more, as the car will also have special reflective signage to ensure Slade stands out in any battle pack.
JIMMIE AND ROMAIN GO INDY
NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson and Formula One refugee are both good to go for the Month of May in 2022 after completing their rookie orientation at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Both drivers largely avoided high-speed IndyCar ovals through the 2021 season but are moving closer to racing at the Indianapolis 500, with Grosjean planning a championship challenge after moving to Andretti Autosport to drive the DHL car formerly campaigned by Ryan Hunter-Reay.
The next step towards the Indy 500 is the open test at The Speedway on April 20-21 next year, when Scott McLaughlin will also be in action for Team Penske.
BIG CHANGES IN WRC
The arrival of hybrid Rally1 cars in the World Rally Championship in 2022 will also bring major changes to the driver rosters for the leading teams, but no return to the calendar for Rally Australia as New Zealand gets a slot in the 13-round series.
Craig Breen, an Irishman who has been a stand-out part-timer for Hyundai this year, will lead the M-Sport Ford squad, driving the team’s all-new Puma-based rally racer.
Second-generation driver Oliver Solberg, the son of world champion Petter from Norway, will be a regular at Hyundai as he shares the team’s third car with veteran Spaniard Dani Sordo.
PORSCHE WRAP AT THE BEND
The two premier Porsche racing categories, Carrera Cup and Porsche Sprint Challenge will share a finale at The Bend in South Australia the weekend after the Repco Bathurst 1000.
Carrera Cup competitors will race in a double-header from December 10-12, and Sprint racers will also do back-to-back pointscore races at the Adelaide circuit.
Of Covid-19 restrictions stop any teams travelling to The Bend, a drop-the-round ruling could be used again for the finale.
