Team Australia – XDECTM ECU manufacturer – china EUS-1001 Tester
Origins
After sponsoring young Australian driver Josh Hunt in the Toyota Atlantic Championship, Australian millionaire Craig Gore began to investigate fielding a Champ Car team. His empire already included a V8 Supercar team competing in Australia, and at the 2004 Surfer’s Paradise round of the CCWS, on the Gold Coast, Australia, Gore’s V8 driver David Besnard made his debut with a WPS sponsored Walker Racing Champ Car. He finished a creditable 7th place, and the seeds were sewn for Gore’s assault on the Champ Car series.
In late 2004 and early 2005 Gore, his associate John Fish and long time Champ Car World Series team owner Derrick Walker, created the Team Australia race program. Obsolete Reynard chassis were replaced with bespoke Lola units, and the team signed Canadian Champ Car veteran Alex Tagliani and Australian Formula 3 driver Marcus Marshall for the 2005 season.
A learning year
With a new chassis to learn, Team Australia was hardly going to upset the establishment in 2005. However, Tagliani’s consistent, solid drives took the team to many top-ten finishes and several podiums through the year. Tagliani finished the season in seventh place, equaling his career best finish. Marshall, by contrast, was unspectacular, struggling to break the top ten. In all fairness, the jump from a Formula Three car to a Champ Car is a huge one that was exacerbated by Marshall’s inexperience on the American circuits. By Team Australia’s homecoming at the 2005 Surfer’s Paradise race, they had announced that a third car would be run for Australian international driver Will Power. Power outpaced both teammates before a collision with Tagliani took him out of the race. Amongst some controversy it was announced that Marshall’s contract had been cut, and he was to leave the team. His attempt to appeal this in court was unsuccessful, and he was dropped in favour of Power, who signed a three year contract. The team ran their third car again in the season finale at Mexico, where newly crowned Atlantics champion, Dutchman Charles Zwolsman made his debut.
2006
Rumours that Ryan Briscoe would be taking the #15 car were crushed when Tagliani re-signed prior to Long Beach. In 2006, Team Australia’s commitment extended not only to two Champ Cars, but a two-car Atlantic squad, all aimed at fostering young talent. The team showed fantastic pace at the opening round at Long Beach, with Tagliani and Power running third and fourth respectively before a forced error dropped him down the order. He then suffered from brake problems but finished a competitive 9th, while Tagliani took a podium.
The team had consistent top-ten finishes, never really achieving more until Will Power took a sensational pole position at his home race at Surfer’s Paradise. He led the race comfortably until Sbastien Bourdais made a questionable move on Power which damaged both cars. Will finished well down the order, but made up for that with a podium at the season finale in Mexico. He also won the Roshfrans Rookie of the Year title, as well as the Bridgestone Passion for Excellence award, the first driver other than Bourdais to win it.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Team Australia expandeded its stable of global motorsport interests with a new partnership with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing that included the naming-rights sponsorship of Marcos Ambrose entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in North America.
The sponsorship was weaved into a nation-wide marketing campaign designed to promote quality Australian and Australian-themed products and Australia as a tourism destination.
The new green and gold Ford F-150 truck carried Team Australia, Aussie Vineyards and R. M. Williams signage. Featured in the primary bonnet position of the #20 Truck is signage for the Aussie Experience a large-scale interactive tourism exhibit set to launch in North America in January 2007.
A mobile replica of the Sydney Opera House, the Aussie Experience will be making tour stops at some of America largest spectator events over a two-year period in what will be one of the biggest Australian-themed marketing initiatives ever seen anywhere.
Marcos Ambrose showed lot of driver skill in the #20 Aussie Vineyards Ford F-150 on the banked ovals of America, with his best finish being a podium in Kansas. He sent shockwaves through the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series by taking the Bud Pole Position in Kentucky. It was a fantastic achievement considering that 2006 first year Marcos has driven on banked ovals.
Atlantics series
In only their first year of Atlantics, the team won their first title, with young French driver Simon Pagenaud. He was partnered by James Davison initially, until the underperforming Australian was dropped in favour of countrymate Michael Patrizi.
Team details
The team gained most of its sponsorship from the businesses of Gore and Fish. Gore’s financial company, Wright Patton Shakespeare, features on the sides and nosecone of the cars, Fish Liquor are sponsors and their wine business Aussie Vineyards was the title sponsor. The team was also sponsored by the Queensland State Government, Visa credit cards, R. M. Williams, and Qantas. The relationship ended in early 2008 and Gore, Fish and Walker are no longer directly involved, with Walker announcing that Walker Racing will not contest the unified 2008 IRL season.. Gore has taken driver Will Power and the Team Australia name to KV Racing.
Drivers who have driven for Team Australia
IndyCar (2008) (KV Racing)
Will Power (2008)
Champ Car (2005-2007) (Walker Racing)
David Besnard (2004)
Alex Tagliani (2005-2006)
Marcus Marshall (2005)
Will Power (2005-2007)
Charles Zwolsman (2005)
Simon Pagenaud (2007)
V8 Supercars (2004-2007) (WPS Racing)
David Besnard (2004-2006)
Mark Noske (2004)
Owen Kelly (2004)
Alex Yoong (2004)
Charlie O’Brien (2004)
Neil McFadyen (2004)
John McIntyre (2004)
Marcus Marshall (2005)
Alex Tagliani (2005)
Craig Baird (2005-2006)
Max Wilson (2006-2007)
Jason Bargwanna (2006-2007)
Michael Caruso (2007)
Grant Denyer (2007)
Champ Car Atlantics (2006-2007) (Walker Racing)
Simon Pagenaud (2006)
James Davison (2006)
Michael Patrizi (2006)
Ryan Lewis (2007)
Simona De Silvestro (2007)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2006) (Wood Brothers/JTG Racing)
Marcos Ambrose (2006)
NASCAR Busch Series (2007) (Wood Brothers/JTG Racing)
Marcos Ambrose (2007)
Complete V8 Supercar results
to be completed (key)
Bold indicates Pole Position.
Year
Drivers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Pos
Pts
2004
ADL
ECR
PUK
HDV
BAR
QUE
WIN
ORP
SAN
BAT
SUR
SYP
ECR
Besnard
13
17
25
29
30
19
32
31
16
Ret
12
13
30th
790
Noske
28
20
20
21
30
35th
304
O’Brien
16
60th
132
McIntyre
21
Ret
18
46th
199
Yoong
21
15
28
36th
278
McFadyen
15
43rd
226
Kelly
21
33
44th
214
2005
ADL
PUK
BAR
ECR
SHA
HDV
QUE
ORP
SAN
BAT
SUR
SYP
PHI
Besnard
23
32
16
29
32
32
13
16
19
8
21
29
27
25th
904
Baird
28
28
19
15
20
23
16
33
19
8
14
23
31
23rd
980
Tagliani
22
13
54th
144
Marshall
22
13
53rd
144
2006
ADL
PUK
BAR
WIN
HDV
QUE
ORP
SAN
BAT
SUR
SYP
BAH
PHI
Wilson
9
22
23
10
17
12
29
11
14
17
13
16
17
15th
2038
Bargwanna
25
14
17
24
10
26
7
7
10
8
15
22
10
14th
2053
Besnard
11
14
45th
220
Baird
7
10
38th
287
2007
ADL
BAR
PUK
WIN
ECR
HDV
QUE
ORP
SAN
BAT
SUR
BAH
SYP
PHI
Wilson
26
18
15
18
23
13
19
13
Ret
7
10
25
24
19
17th
110
Bargwanna
19
25
30
20
15
18
22
21
Ret
7
11
10
29
21
18th
109
Caruso
Ret
15
49th*
6
Denyer
Ret
15
50th
6
Complete Champ Car Atlantic results
(key)
Bold indicates Pole Position.
Year
Drivers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Pos
Pts
2006
LGB
HST
MTY
POR
CLE 1
CLE 2
TOR
EDM
SNJ
DEN
MTL
ROA
Pagenaud (R)
4
2
2
Ret
2
5
4
1
9
3
2
Ret
1st
258
Davison (R)
13
10
21
Ret
13
13
12
13
7
Ret
17th
69
Patrizi (R)
8
Ret
25th
21
2007
LVG
LGB
HOU
POR1
POR2
CLE
MOT
TOR
EDM1
EDM2
SAN
ROA
Lewis
DNP
Ret
Ret
3
5
Ret
13
5
12th*
75*
De Silvestro (R)
Ret
Ret
15
16
16
11
7
Ret
18th*
50*
Complete Champ Car results
(key)
Bold indicates Pole Position.
Year
Drivers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Pos
Pts
2004
LGB
MOT
MIL
POR
CLE
TOR
VAN
ROA
DEN
MON
LAG
LVG
SUR
MEX
Besnard (R)
7
20th
18
2005
LGB
MTY
MIL
POR
CLE
TOR
EDM
SNJ
DEN
MON
LVG
SUR
MEX
Tagliani
15
3
10
Ret
4
3
7
9
Ret
5
7
4
8
7th
207
Marshall (R)
14
Ret
13
14
12
Ret
8
Ret
12
16
9
11
16th
104
Power (R)
Ret
10
22nd
17
Zwolsman (R)
13
27th
8
2006
LGB
HST
MTY
MIL
POR
CLE
TOR
EDM
SNJ
DEN
MTL
ROA
SUR
MEX
Power (R)
9
7
11
Ret
18
9
7
6
6
4
5
13
12
3
6th
213
Tagliani
3
Ret
5
DNS
11
4
6
Ret
Ret
Ret
7
11
3
5
8th
205
2007
LVG
LGB
HST
POR
CLE
MTT
TOR
EDM
SAN
ROA
ZOL
ASS
SUR
MEX
Power
1
3
11
4
10
3
1
Ret
4
Ret
4
14
Ret
2
4th
262
Pagenaud (R)
Ret
14
5
8
5
4
4
4
10
11
12
6
5
6
8th
232
Complete NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
(key)
Bold indicates Pole Position.
Year
Drivers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Pos
Pts
2006
Ambrose
DAY
FON
ATL
MAR
GAT
LOW
MAN
DOV
TEX
MIC
MIL
KAN
KEN
33
Ret
Ret
23
26
27
26
18
3
19
21st
2,228
MEM
O’RE
NAS
BRI
LOU
LVG
TAL
MAR
ATL
TEX
PHX
HMS
33
22
3
26
23
7
17
25
16
10
15
27
Complete NASCAR Busch Series results
(key)
Bold indicates Pole Position.
Year
Drivers
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Pos
Pts
2007
Ambrose
DAY
FON
MEX
LVS
ATL
BRI
NAS
TEX
PHX
TAL
RIC
DAR
LOW
DOV
NAS
KEN
MIL
LOU
16
25
8
10
28
28
17
Ret
22
Ret
26
19
20
6
Ret
11
15
30
10th*
1,939*
DAY
CHI
GAT
O’RE
MTL
WKG
MIC
BRI
FON
RIC
DOV
KAN
LOW
MEM
TEX
PHX
HMS
35
37
Overall Stats
Series
Seasons
Races
Poles
Wins
Podiums
(Non-win)
Point Finishes
(Non-podium)
Total Points
Championships
Best Finish
(Championship)
Champ Car
4
69
3
2
7
47
1,054
0
6th (2006)
Champ Car Atlantic
2
35
1
1
5
17
473
1
1st (2006)
NASCAR Truck
1
22
1
0
2
18
2,228
0
21st (2006)
NASCAR Busch
1
20
0
0
0
17
1,939
0
N/A
Complete to July 20, 2007.
References
^ Walker Racing won’t be making switch from Champ Car to IndyCar Series, Associated Press, March 9, 2008
External links
Team Australia Motorsport
WPS Racing
Walker Racing
Categories: Australian auto racing teams | Champ Car teams
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