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2009 Fujitsu V8 Calendar
Rnd 1 - Mar 19-22 - Clipsal 500 - SA
Rnd 2 - May 1-3 - Winton Raceway - VIC
Rnd 3 - July 10-12 - Townsville - QLD
Rnd 4 - Jul 31-Aug 2 - Sandown - VIC
Rnd 5 - Aug 21-23 - Queensland Raceway - QLD
Rnd 6 - Oct 8-11 - Mount Panorama - NSW
Rnd 7 - Dec 4-6 - Homebush - NSW

Good to see the street tracks on there but it's still 3 rounds too short and still massive gaps everywhere.

I'm not particularly surprised. Walkinshaw's buying him out and taking control of HRT, so there were rumours he was getting put into a satellite car. Guess he doesn't want to go the way of the other drivers that have gone that way and just been mediocre for the rest of their careers

Shame Always liked Skaife. Good change for Davison though, but I myself wouldn't want to race in 'the glamour team HRT'. Sounds a bit gay.

I wouldn't put my livelihood in the hands of a man like Walkinshaw on pain of death.

Smart move, Mark.

Heh, Tom's still got to pay him for buying the team. Wonder how clean (or real) the money is

It's a shame he's retiring but I guess it's for the best. He has kind of been fading in recent years and it's better then plodding around somewhere near the back.

With Bernd Schneider retiring as well...

Not surprised to see him retire, but now's probably the right time to do so. I think if he stayed on a couple more years he would become no more than a field filler.

In reality Walkinshaw always had control of HRT, but to officially take ownership the V8SA board has to approve it, as the last time the ownership issue came up Walkinshaw was not allowed to have ownership of a licence.

Apparently MNews say:
-Kelly Bros to buy out HSVDT licences to run Kelly Racing, probably with Red Bull sponsorship.
-Marcus Marshall Racing to run using the PWR licence in a 888 BF.
-Dumbrell to third HRT car in Autobarn colours, alongside Davison and Tander.
-Also PCR to acquire second licence.
Craziness.

The Kelly parents already own the licences, they'll just separate themselves from HSV.

1) Heard that on the telecast late on Sunday, wouldn't really make much difference, considering their parents own the HSVDT licences. All that would do is put Paul Dumbrell out of a ride, which can only be described as a good thing. But, I do wonder whether they will still run out of the Walkinshaw Performance stable, though.

2) The Marshall Racing deal is crazy. I don't think Marshall would be a great team owner, and anyways, doesn't he have another year to run on his contract with Britek to drive the 26 IRWIN car?

3) Someone at HRT must have had their brains shot to consider Dumbrell in a 3rd car. He's done nothing for HSVDT this year, with the exception of the last 2 rounds, and is a very over rated driver. But, money talks, I guess.

4) A 2nd car for PCR doesn't surprise me, considering that was rumored in June (it was in V8X 2 issues ago). I wonder whether Glenfords will step up to the plate and sponsor 2 cars or if someone can bring sponsorship.

I don't think there was ever a length of a deal mentioned for Marshall. Given his 'outstanding' performance you'd be crazy to sign him for longer than a year.

I think HRT/HSV need the Autobarn sponsorship more than we realise, therefore they have to keep PD around.

Also as I understand it, Todd will run Jack Daniels livery, and RK will run Red Bull in Kelly Racing.
So, what happens to Perkins?

Gotta love silly season.

HRT: Tander and Davison (though Leanne Tander's name popped up over the weekend.). Maybe a 3rd car with Dumbrell bringing Autobarn money.
TAS: J Richards and Murphy
Perkins: ? and ? (Perkins) (face a fight to keep the Jack Daniels sponsorship)
BJR: A Jones (?) and McConville
Kelly: R Kelly (Red Bull) and T Kelly (Jack Daniels)
GRM: Holdsworth and Caruso
PMM: Ingall and Morris (?)
RNR: D'Alberto (maybe. Bargwanna impressed in enduros)

SBR: Van Gisbergen and ???? (A Davison, Owen, Bargwanna...)
FPR: Winterbottom and S Richards
DJR: Courtney and Johnson(?) (maybe Owen)
TKR: ???? (hopefully give up and send licence to PCR)
BRI: Bright and ?? (Owen, Macrow)
Marshall: Marshall (formerly PWR)
PCR: Coulthard and ???
888: Lowndes and Whincup
FRS: who knows

Weird stuff isn't it.
I don't mind HSVDT going into Kelly, because this year they just haven't be strong enough.

Hopefully TanderSport gets up and running and they have a Fujitsu Series entry next year, with Leanne Tander in it. The VE is meant to be allowed to compete in the Fujitsu Series next year (supposedly not a popular decision with series regulars), so Leanne should be a front runner given that she could well be in Garth's car of this year. Plus the fact she didn't do too badly last time she competed, and has plenty more race miles under her belt since then.

woot for the Fujitsu series being nothing more than a main game reject dumping ground!

Despite what was promoted as the original intentions for the series, i think the current situation was inevitable, The teams had to do something to recoup money on their old cars....

In my eyes.