Moorabbin JAXQuickfit

After a disappointing race in Phillip Island, the two seasoned drivers are looking to make history, with Australia’s most successful V8 Supercar team and celebrate Toll Holden Racing Team’s 20th anniversary on top of the podium.

McConville, who finished second in last year’s Bathurst race, pulled back from fulltime V8 Supercar competition at the end of last season to operate his own JAXQuickfit Tyres store.

When approached by Walkinshaw Racing to compete in this season’s long-distance races, Cameron realized his passion for the sport was still well and truly alive and jumped at the opportunity.

“I am really looking forward to making a solid contribution to the team’s success,” Cameron McConville explained.

“I’m ecstatic, to be driving with Garth and for the factory Toll Holden Racing Team it is a wonderful opportunity and one I’m not taking lightly,” McConville said.

This will be the second time Tander and McConville have teamed up, having contested the 2004 enduros together when they drove for Garry Rogers Motorsport.

Tander said the Toll HRT’s decision to sign McConville for this year’s enduro campaign was an easy one.

“Cameron was the obvious choice to me, he’s a great guy, we have been team-mates and driven together [at GRM] before, and we have exactly the same seating position,” Tander said.

“He’s got a lot of experience and even though Cam’s retired from fulltime driving he has plenty of miles under his belt this year.

“Cameron finished second at Bathurst last year, so it’s a strong combination whenever you can pair the first and second place finishers together.”

This will also be McConville’s second enduro campaign with HRT, the 36 year old having partnered Craig Lowndes in 1999, earning a pair of podium finishes – their second place finish at Mount Panorama securing Lowndes and HRT their third Australian Touring Car/V8 Supercar Championship.

“It’s ironic that the last time I drove only in the enduros in a season I drove for HRT, so I’m back to where I started – I guess it’s just meant to be!” McConville said.

To prepare for the grueling endure conditions, Cameron has kept himself extremely busy, maintaining a strict training regime whilst still coping with the challenges of running a tyre retail store.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the team, the Series II Commodore race cars will sport the team’s original livery which Allan Grice and Win Percy carried on their way to the team’s first victory in the 1990 Great Race.

Australian-owned JAXQuickfit Tyres is unique in representing the top five global manufacturing giants of the tyre industry, including quality and high performance passenger car, light truck and four-wheel-drive tyre brands … BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli together with value for money brand options.

This enables it to offer customers a mix of brands that span the premium, major and budget market sectors.

In 2009 JAXQuickfit celebrated its 60th year in business. Nationally, the network serves more than 42,000 customers per month through its approaching 80 stores along the eastern seaboard.

JAXQuickfit Tyres’ (www.jaxquickfit.com.au) Moorabbin store is located at: 15 Taylor Street, Moorabbin. Phone 9532 2811.

For further information:

Jeff Board
CEO
JAXQuickfit Tyres
(02) 8801 3001

Coupled with second place in race 1, the result also secured the round victory for Maxwell, who won at the same track in February.

“The lead changed every lap and I was just hanging it out there, taking anything that came to me,” said Maxwell.

“In the last few laps we were probably all lacking the grip to pull away. Jamie made a small error and I was able to get by him.

“It’s been a better weekend for us, and to take the round win is a good result considering the last few have been shockers.”

The top three positions in the Championship remain unchanged with Staring ahead of Maxwell, and Allerton in third spot.

Riders and teams will now turn their attention to the final event on the 2010 calendar at Symmon’s Plains. Three class champions – Superbike, Supersport and Superstock 1000 A&B – will be crowned at the November 12-14 event where the series will once again feature in conjunction with the V8 Supercars in a great showcase for Dunlop tyres.

PHILLIP ISLAND RESULTS
Round 6 – Australian Superbike Championship
1. Demolition Plus GAS Honda – Wayne Maxwell
2. Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing – Bryan Staring
3. Motologic Racing Team – Glenn Allerton

McConville, who pulled back from fulltime V8 Supercar competition at the end of last season to operate his own JAXQuickfit Tyres store, is contracted with Walkinshaw Racing to compete in this season’s long-distance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

To ensure McConville was up for the challenge, he was scheduled to contest two rounds of the second-tier Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, at Winton and Townsville, earlier this year.

His experience outclassed the competition and McConville dominated at Winton, impressing industry heavyweights and resulting in a call-up to compete in the main Championship Series at the Sucrogen Townsville 400.

“Everything I have done this year has been in anticipation of the next three races, so I am really looking forward to making a solid contribution to the team’s success,” Cameron McConville explained.

“I’m ecstatic, to be driving with Garth and for the factory Toll Holden Racing Team it is a wonderful opportunity and one I’m not taking lightly,” McConville said.

This will be the second time Tander and McConville have teamed up, having contested the 2004 enduros together when they drove for Garry Rogers Motorsport.

Tander said the Toll HRT’s decision to sign McConville for this year’s enduro campaign was an easy one.

“Cameron was the obvious choice to me, he’s a great guy, we have been team-mates and driven together [at GRM] before, and we have exactly the same seating position,” Tander said.

“He’s got a lot of experience and even though Cam’s retired from fulltime driving he has plenty of miles under his belt this year.

“Cameron finished second at Bathurst last year, so it’s a strong combination whenever you can pair the first and second place finishers together.”

This will also be McConville’s second enduro campaign with HRT, the 36 year old having partnered Craig Lowndes in 1999, earning a pair of podium finishes – their second place finish at Mount Panorama securing Lowndes and HRT their third Australian Touring Car/V8 Supercar Championship.

“It’s ironic that the last time I drove only in the enduros in a season I drove for HRT, so I’m back to where I started – I guess it’s just meant to be!” McConville said.

To prepare for the grueling endure conditions, Cameron has kept himself extremely busy, maintaining a strict training regime whilst still coping with the challenges of running a tyre retail store.

The next round of the V8 Supercars Championship Series is the L&H 500 at Phillip Island from 10-12 September, 2010.

Australian-owned JAXQuickfit Tyres is unique in representing the top five global manufacturing giants of the tyre industry, including quality and high performance passenger car, light truck and four-wheel-drive tyre brands … BFGoodrich, Bridgestone,Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli together with value for money brand options.

This enables it to offer customers a mix of brands that span the premium, major and budget market sectors.

In 2009 JAXQuickfit celebrated its 60th year in business. Nationally, the network serves more than 42,000 customers per month through its approaching 80 stores along the eastern seaboard.

JAXQuickfit Tyres’ (www.jaxquickfit.com.au) Moorabbin store is located at: 15 Taylor Street, Moorabbin. Phone 9532 2811.

For further information:

Jeff Board
CEO
JAXQuickfit Tyres
(02) 8801 3001

In the past, most teams put their full time racers in one car and ran the second car essentially as a support act. This move will really open up the list of possible winners, it has also placed a premium on the experienced and reliable co-drivers.

Since the long distance opener moved to Phillip Island there has been much more strategy involved, mainly because of the island’s inclement weather. The addition of non regular co-drivers will add to the tactics as well because obviously the best person to have in the car at the end will be the regular ace!

Some teams have picked wisely, some not so in my opinion. My pick of the top chances is divided between Courtney-luff in the DJR Ford, Winterbottom-Youlden in the FPR Ford, Tander-McConville in the HRT Holden, Whincup-Owen in the 888 Holden and Lowndes-Skaife in the other 888 Holden. That’s about it I reckon, for the top step of the podium anyway.

Throw in some bad weather, a safety car or two and the inevitable fuel consumption dramas that comes with the use of Ethanol E85 fuel and I can realistically see another 15 cars with a chance of a podium finish.

One thing all the teams can be sure of though is the strength and reliability of the SP Sport Maxx ‘Control’ tyre. Be it wet or dry, the Dunlop control tyre is totally dependable. From the heat of Darwin to the freezing cold of Phillip Island, Dunlop has given teams the consistent performance they need since 2002.

The Phillip Island race is a great prelude to the big one at Bathurst and is a chance for the drivers and teams to sharpen and hone their game. I would not miss it for quids!

With perfect execution, TeamVodafone’s Whincup won back-to-back races to gain back lost ground over Toll Holden Racing Team’s Will Davison and Garth Tander. Whincup swept the victories while Davison had dramas in the second race, finishing 11th.

“I’m aware of the Championship points and it’s just a roller coaster ride this time of year,” Whincup said of his now 122 point lead. “We’ve got another event to go in two weeks followed by the massive event in Sydney. It’s a big finish to the year.”

THE ISLAND 300 EVENT RESULTS

Race 21 of the V8 Supercar Championship Series
1. Jamie Whincup – TeamVodafone
2. Will Davison – Holden Racing Team
3. Rick Kelly – Jack Daniel’s Racing

Race 22 of the V8 Supercar Championship Series
1. Jamie Whincup – TeamVodafone
2. Rick Kelly – Jack Daniel’s Racing
3. Garth Tander – Holden Racing Team