|
The Clipsal 500, held in Paul
Trengove’s home town of Adelaide, was run over the 20th –
23rd of March. During the off season, Paul has been working
tirelessly to get a sponsorship deal together that would see him in a
competitive 2001 spec Dallara for the 2003 Championship.
Unfortunately this
has so far been unsuccessful, but Paul decided to fund a drive at the
Clipsal 500 out of his own money. Owner of Scud Racing, Bill Maddocks,
was more than happy to help Paul out for the first round, and offered
one of the 1996 Model cars for the Clipsal 500.
Having never driven
the car before, Paul was quite cautious around the tight street circuit,
as a mistake can be very costly so early on. Although not on the pace,
he was comfortable with the car and was looking forward to the
qualifying.
After a few changes
to the car, Trengove was able to set a time of 1:24.64, the second
fastest time of the 1996 spec engine/chassis cars.
"I’m very
happy with the handling of the car, it’s very different to the Level 2
car I drove last year and its just a matter of finding the limit. Also,
after looking at the car’s data, we realised that the Toms Toyota
engine was well down on horsepower compared to the rest of the field, as
the engine was due for a rebuild.” I
In the second
qualifying, Paul nearly matched his time on a slightly slower track,
with a 1:24.79, again the 2nd quickest 1996 car behind
Holmes.
Race 1 on Saturday
afternoon, saw Trengove get a fantastic start, as he jumped on to the
back of the much faster 2001 cars. For a couple of laps Paul was able to
stay with the lead bunch as they sorted themselves out, but eventually
the quicker cars pulled away. This left Trengove with open space to
really get into a good rhythm and lead the other 96’s home. However
with 3 laps remaining, heading towards the slowest corner at the end of
Dequettivle Tce , the Dallara 96 lost 2nd Gear. After
coasting for the next lap Paul decided to bring the Scud Racing car into
pitlane and retire from the race.
“It was very
disappointing to have a mechanical problem in the first race of the
season, but I’ve jumped into a car I’ve never driven before and I
led the other 96’s for much of the race, so I’m really happy with
that”.
Race 2 saw Paul get a
great start again, but this time Holmes was able to jump ahead and lead
Paul through the first chicane. For the whole race both Trengove and
Holmes battled it out on the track. It was clear that Trengove was
quicker through the tight sections of the track, but Holmes had more
horsepower and was able to pull ahead down the long straight. At one
stage Trengove looked like making a passing manoeuvre down the pit
straight, but missed a gear and again dropped back, with Holmes taking
the chequered flag from Paul.
“I’ve been really
happy with my performance this weekend. The times I was setting in this
car were very competitive.”
Paul Trengove hopes
to be racing at the next round in a month’s time, at Symmons Plains in
Tasmania. He will be working very hard to find some sponsorship. If
successful, Paul will campaign a 2001 model Formula 3 car and will
certainly be one to keep an eye on for this year’s championship.
 |
|
Pos
|
Car
#
|
Driver
|
Vehicle
|
Class
|
Fastest
Lap
|
Gap
|
Laps
Comp.
|
|
1
|
2
|
Michael Caruso
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.9973
|
-
|
12
|
|
2
|
50
|
James Cressey
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:21.4732
|
0:00.4759
|
8
|
|
3
|
27
|
Alan Gurr
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:21.6395
|
0:00.6422
|
12
|
|
4
|
16
|
Christian Jones
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:22.2019
|
0:01.2046
|
13
|
|
5
|
4
|
Darren Palmer
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:22.9969
|
0:01.9996
|
6
|
|
6
|
75
|
Kenny Habul
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:23.4731
|
0:02.4398
|
13
|
|
7
|
19
|
Karl Reindler
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:23.6688
|
0:02.6715
|
13
|
|
8
|
33
|
Barton Mawer
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:25.5413
|
0:04.5440
|
8
|
|
9
|
8
|
Matt Fitzgerald
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:26.1047
|
0:05.1074
|
13
|
|
10
|
3
|
Craig Rundle
|
Dallara F398
|
C
|
1:26.2831
|
0:05.2858
|
9
|
|
11
|
6
|
Chris Coombs
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:27.5966
|
0:06.5993
|
12
|
|
12
|
12
|
John Boothman
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:28.3245
|
0:07.3272
|
11
|
|
13
|
70
|
Maher Algadrie
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:28.3979
|
0:07.4006
|
13
|
|
14
|
34
|
Paul Trengove
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:30.2493
|
0:09.2520
|
11
|
|
15
|
37
|
Rod Anderson
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:31.7886
|
0:10.7913
|
13
|
|
16
|
11
|
David Choon
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:32.5920
|
0:11.5947
|
10
|
|
17
|
88
|
Bill Maddocks
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:33.1269
|
0:12.1296
|
10
|
|
18
|
21
|
Graeme Holmes
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
 |
|
Pos
|
Car
#
|
Driver
|
Vehicle
|
Class
|
Fastest
Lap
|
Gap
|
Laps
Comp.
|
|
1
|
50
|
James Cressey
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.6778
|
-
|
13
|
|
2
|
16
|
Christian Jones
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.7028
|
0:00.0250
|
13
|
|
3
|
2
|
Michael Caruso
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.9946
|
0:00.3168
|
14
|
|
4
|
33
|
Barton Mawer
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:21.1343
|
0:00.4565
|
12
|
|
5
|
4
|
Darren Palmer
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:22.2933
|
0:01.6155
|
10
|
|
6
|
19
|
Karl Reindler
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:22.3408
|
0:01.6630
|
13
|
|
7
|
8
|
Matt Fitzgerald
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:22.4673
|
0:01.7895
|
13
|
|
8
|
75
|
Kenny Habul
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:22.5074
|
0:01.8296
|
14
|
|
9
|
3
|
Craig Rundle
|
Dallara F398
|
C
|
1:22.8474
|
0:02.1696
|
8
|
|
10
|
6
|
Chris Coombs
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:24.6858
|
0:04.0080
|
12
|
|
11
|
34
|
Paul Trengove
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:25.7539
|
0:05.0761
|
14
|
|
12
|
21
|
Graeme Holmes
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:26.7406
|
0:06.0628
|
12
|
|
13
|
12
|
John Boothman
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:27.8350
|
0:07.1572
|
12
|
|
14
|
70
|
Maher Algadrie
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:27.8856
|
0:07.2078
|
13
|
|
15
|
88
|
Bill Maddocks
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:27.9068
|
0:07.2290
|
13
|
|
16
|
37
|
Rod Anderson
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:30.7194
|
0:10.0416
|
9
|
|
17
|
11
|
David Choon
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:31.6532
|
0:10.9754
|
13
|
|
18
|
27
|
Alan Gurr
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
 |
|
Pos
|
Car
#
|
Driver
|
Vehicle
|
Class
|
Fastest
Lap
|
Gap
|
Laps
Comp.
|
|
1
|
50
|
James Cressey
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:19.8290
|
-
|
10
|
|
2
|
2
|
Michael Caruso
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.0471
|
0:00.2181
|
11
|
|
3
|
16
|
Christian Jones
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.0558
|
0:00.2268
|
15
|
|
4
|
27
|
Alan Gurr
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.1553
|
0:00.3263
|
15
|
|
5
|
33
|
Barton Mawer
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:20.3710
|
0:00.5420
|
11
|
|
6
|
8
|
Matt Fitzgerald
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:21.3612
|
0:01.5322
|
13
|
|
7
|
4
|
Darren Palmer
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:21.4222
|
0:01.5932
|
10
|
|
8
|
75
|
Kenny Habul
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:21.5537
|
0:01.7247
|
14
|
|
9
|
19
|
Karl Reindler
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:22.0119
|
0:02.1829
|
12
|
|
10
|
3
|
Craig Rundle
|
Dallara F398
|
C
|
1:22.2041
|
0:02.3751
|
5
|
|
11
|
21
|
Graeme Holmes
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:23.7549
|
0:03.9259
|
14
|
|
12
|
34
|
Paul Trengove
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:24.6415
|
0:04.8125
|
14
|
|
13
|
6
|
Chris Coombs
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:24.7100
|
0:04.8810
|
13
|
|
14
|
12
|
John Boothman
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:25.1100
|
0:05.2810
|
10
|
|
15
|
70
|
Maher Algadrie
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:25.2293
|
0:05.4003
|
14
|
|
16
|
88
|
Bill Maddocks
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:25.7881
|
0:05.9591
|
11
|
|
17
|
11
|
David Choon
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:25.8928
|
0:06.0638
|
12
|
|
18
|
37
|
Rod Anderson
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:27.3027
|
0:07.4737
|
14
|
|
 |
|
Pos
|
Car
#
|
Driver
|
Vehicle
|
Class
|
Fastest
Lap
|
Gap
|
Laps
Comp.
|
|
1
|
16
|
Christian Jones
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:19.6666
|
-
|
15
|
|
2
|
50
|
James Cressey
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:19.7048
|
0:00.0382
|
12
|
|
3
|
27
|
Alan Gurr
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:19.9312
|
0:00.2646
|
14
|
|
4
|
33
|
Barton Mawer
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:19.9624
|
0:00.2958
|
14
|
|
5
|
2
|
Michael Caruso
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.0942
|
0:00.4276
|
15
|
|
6
|
8
|
Matt Fitzgerald
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.5675
|
0:00.9009
|
13
|
|
7
|
19
|
Karl Reindler
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.9613
|
0:01.2947
|
15
|
|
8
|
4
|
Darren Palmer
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:21.1979
|
0:01.5313
|
12
|
|
9
|
3
|
Craig Rundle
|
Dallara F398
|
C
|
1:21.8339
|
0:02.1673
|
13
|
|
10
|
75
|
Kenny Habul
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:22.2962
|
0:02.6296
|
12
|
|
11
|
21
|
Graeme Holmes
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:24.0437
|
0:04.3771
|
14
|
|
12
|
34
|
Paul Trengove
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:24.7978
|
0:05.1312
|
12
|
|
13
|
70
|
Maher Algadrie
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:25.5360
|
0:05.8694
|
14
|
|
14
|
88
|
Bill Maddocks
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:26.0530
|
0:06.3864
|
13
|
|
15
|
12
|
John Boothman
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:26.1332
|
0:06.4666
|
11
|
|
16
|
37
|
Rod Anderson
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:27.2763
|
0:07.6097
|
12
|
|
17
|
11
|
David Choon
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:27.3245
|
0:07.6579
|
13
|
|
18
|
6
|
Chris Coombs
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:36.8539
|
0:17.1873
|
1
|
|
 |
|
Pos
|
Car
#
|
Driver
|
Vehicle
|
Class
|
Fastest Lap
|
Laps
Comp.
|
|
1
|
2
|
Michael Caruso
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.7428
|
8
|
|
2
|
27
|
Alan Gurr
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.5938
|
8
|
|
3
|
33
|
Barton Mawer
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:20.0566*R
|
8
|
|
4
|
50
|
James Cressey
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.3848
|
8
|
|
5
|
16
|
Christian Jones
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.3973
|
8
|
|
6
|
8
|
Matt Fitzgerald
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:21.3694
|
8
|
|
7
|
19
|
Karl Reindler
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:21.1114
|
8
|
|
8
|
4
|
Darren Palmer
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:21.6544
|
8
|
|
9
|
75
|
Kenny Habul
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:23.0057
|
8
|
|
10
|
6
|
Chris Coombs
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:25.3484
|
8
|
|
11
|
21
|
Graeme Holmes
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:25.0543
|
8
|
|
12
|
70
|
Maher Algadrie
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:26.2106
|
8
|
|
13
|
88
|
Bill Maddocks
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:25.1793
|
8
|
|
14
|
11
|
David Choon
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:26.5892
|
8
|
|
15
|
37
|
Rod Anderson
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:28.2140
|
8
|
|
DNF
|
3
|
Craig Rundle
|
Dallara F398
|
C
|
1:26.7748
|
6
|
|
DNF
|
34
|
Paul Trengove
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:27.0062
|
5
|
|
DNF
|
12
|
John Boothman
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:27.6690
|
3
|
|
*R Lap Record
 |
|
Pos
|
Car
#
|
Driver
|
Vehicle
|
Class
|
Fastest Lap
|
Laps
Comp.
|
|
1
|
50
|
James Cressey
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:19.7221*R
|
12
|
|
2
|
16
|
Christian Jones
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:19.9088
|
12
|
|
3
|
33
|
Barton Mawer
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:20.1206
|
12
|
|
4
|
8
|
Matt Fitzgerald
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.8566
|
12
|
|
5
|
27
|
Alan Gurr
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:19.8552
|
12
|
|
6
|
4
|
Darren Palmer
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:21.1322
|
12
|
|
7
|
75
|
Kenny Habul
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:22.2991
|
12
|
|
8
|
3
|
Craig Rundle
|
Dallara F398
|
C
|
1:22.2700
|
12
|
|
9
|
19
|
Karl Reindler
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:20.6589
|
12
|
|
10
|
21
|
Graeme Holmes
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:24.3560
|
12
|
|
11
|
34
|
Paul Trengove
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:24.4310
|
12
|
|
12
|
70
|
Maher Algadrie
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
1:24.4632
|
12
|
|
13
|
6
|
Chris Coombs
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:25.4118
|
12
|
|
14
|
88
|
Bill Maddocks
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:24.2818
|
12
|
|
15
|
11
|
David Choon
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:24.6543
|
12
|
|
16
|
12
|
John Boothman
|
Dallara F396
|
T
|
1:27.7599
|
11
|
|
DNF
|
37
|
Rod Anderson
|
Dallara F396
|
C
|
1:34.2572
|
2
|
|
DSQ**
|
2
|
Michael Caruso
|
Dallara F301
|
C
|
-
|
-
|
|
*R - Lap Record
Adelaide
Gallery
|
