Matt Neal to race Bathurst in 2008

[Robbo]

Just read on Touring Car Times that Matt Neal is joining Boris Said in a Paul Morris Holden for the 2008 Bathurst race

[sinclat]

He's done this race before. Didn't he drive V8's for a year or two.

[Robbo]

yeah i think it was 2002 wasnt it? i think thats the year he didnt do BTCC anyway

[dannybo]

He's done this race before. Didn't he drive V8's for a year or two.
He's entered it in a Primera in the past aswell. Not sure about him entering for the full season though?
Thought in 02 he just took a sabatical from the BTCC to concentrate on family & the business?

[BTCCROCKS]

Good luck to him. I'm also sure, that about 10 years ago. Didn't some BTCC drivers get selected, to race in Bathurst?

[daveylad1978]

2001 it was. The Peugeot Sport drive went wrong and he took the Primera out in the Euro STC, as well as doing the Enduros in the V8s down under. Unfortunately he wrecked a brand new chassis at Oran park, but still remained mates with Paul Morris

[jonboy1066]

Strange choice of team, it has been a trend lately to get the VXR drivers to drive for 888, (as they are the same team) Would be good to see but don't hold your breath, about this time last year Autosport reported that Tom Chilton was going to race there in the 88 Falcon (Jamie Whincup's car) but it never happened, Richard Lyons & Simonnsen got the job instead

I'll never forget Lowndes and Mullers heroic race a couple of years ago with the "Team Betta Electrical Fridge" 6 degrees celcius and no front or rear windscreens yet they still finished the race with points. I saw Yvan in a whole new light after that race and learned a new found respect for him.

And that nasty shunt the year before when Clelland rear ended a limping Plato and turned over John Bowe's car. ending the race for Bowe and Brocky prematurely

[topgear1]

i know jason drove in the bathurst with a holden a few years ago.
ended up crashing into the late, great peter brock!!!!

[adet406]

i know jason drove in the bathurst with a holden a few years ago.
ended up crashing into the late, great peter brock!!!!


thought he took jonh cleland out . ?

yes mat has done the race befor and you may find that the team he is with will be suported by 888

[Radisich]

It was Cleland/Plato who came together in 2004 at Bathurst. I think Matt drove with PMM for 2 or 3 years, but without much great success. Other drivers include Radisich, Baird, Rydell, Menu and Muller

[redshoes]

i know jason drove in the bathurst with a holden a few years ago.
ended up crashing into the late, great peter brock!!!!
Close, no cigar.

He was partnering Peter Brock, and as others have already said crashed into Cleland. Technically I suppose it was Cleland who drove into Plato but Plato was to blame.

[topgear1]

Close, no cigar.

He was partnering Peter Brock, and as others have already said crashed into Cleland. Technically I suppose it was Cleland who drove into Plato but Plato was to blame.

soz.......dont smoke !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:p :p :rolleyes:

thought it may have been peter but i obvoiusly got my wires crossed there.

[jonboy1066]

To re iterate as TG1 doesn't seem to read posts before joining in:rolleyes:




And that nasty shunt the year before when Clelland rear ended a limping Plato and turned over John Bowe's car. ending the race for Bowe and Brocky prematurely


But yeah I agree with red shoes Plato was partly to blame as he was limping back to the pits and inadvertantly blocked Clellands path.

[redshoes]

Only partly? Try telling that to the thousands of Brock fans :)

Oh, and Cleland was sharing the car with Andrew Jones not John Bowe, although it was Bowe's usual race car. Bowe was in the team's other car partnering Brad Jones.

[topgear1]

[QUOTE=jonboy1066]To re iterate as TG1 doesn't seem to read posts before joining in:rolleyes:


what post didnt i read??
i have opologized for my my mistake- what's the problem??

[2.0 Civic]

I know Neal has raced the Bathurst 1000km before, Cant recall which year, But I think he came 2nd overall or 2nd in his make of car (Ford - Holden)

[daveylad1978]

1998 he was 2nd with Steven Richards in the Dynamics run Primera.

[2.0 Civic]

Also noted from the Touring Car Times site, Neal is not only doing the Bathurst 1000km, But also the Philip Island GP 500km

And Morris has said, Between them, They can make at least 3 of the 4 official test days for the V8's

[daveylad1978]

That's usually the deal. The same drivers do both enduros......

[jonboy1066]

Also noted from the Touring Car Times site, Neal is not only doing the Bathurst 1000km, But also the Philip Island GP 500km

And Morris has said, Between them, They can make at least 3 of the 4 official test days for the V8's

Do you mean Sandown 500?

[2.0 Civic]

Do you mean Sandown 500?


Matt Neal will compete in the V8 Supercar Endurance races in a Paul Morris Motorsport Commodore this year.
Neal, a former two-time British Touring Car Champion, and Boris Said, an expert NASCAR racer, will join forces in a second Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore VE at the Phillip Island 500 and the Bathurst 1000 for 2008.

Nope its deffinatly Philip Island 500km

[redshoes]

It was previously the Sandown 500, but this year the race has been moved to Phillip Island,

[jonboy1066]

Cool, that'll be good I love PI. It's a shame to see Sandown not on the calendar though, but worse is to see Pukekohe dropped, that was always one of my favorite races, I'm sure Hamilton will put on a good race but nevertheless it's sad to see one of the tightest and most spectacular races dropped even though I knew it was happening.

IMO Sandown should still be there as a race and Winton should have been dropped, The last two Winton races have been my least favorite of those seasons yet Sandown has produced some amazing performances.

[redshoes]

It's not dropped completely, there's a regular 400km sprint race at Sandown earlier in the year.

[jonboy1066]

Oh yeah I can see that now, cheers, I got the Sandown 400 @ Melbourne mixed up with the non championship round at the Melbourne Grand Prix. And didn't see Sandown on the list:o

[nicemms91]

I'm looking forward to Neal in Bathurst, should be good!

If only I could actually go .... :(

[tommoore]

In the supertouring years a lot of teams from europe took cars and drivers out to Bathurst, in 1998 Neal finshed 2nd with Steven Richards, the winner (and only by 2 seconds after 1000km) was a factory Volvo driven by newly crowned BTCC champ Rydell, partnered by Jim Richards (Stevens dad), also in the mix was two vectras, one badged Holden for two aussie drivers, and one Vauxhall for their 97/98 BTCC lineup of Cleland and Warwick, an independant Accord for Lee Brooks and Rob Gravett, a second Volvo for Tim Harvey and STCC front runner Jan Nielson, and im sure Paul Radisich was in there somewhere.
Since it went to v8s Neal, Plato, Muller and Cleland reguly went for the end of year enduros.

[dannybo]

IMO Bathurst is one of the best races in the world, 12 hours of highlights most of the time lol.

I remember the Muller/Lowndes windowless run, wasnt that the year Skaife hit a Roo' coming down the mountain at 140mph?

[2.0 Civic]

IMO Bathurst is one of the best races in the world, 12 hours of highlights most of the time lol.

I remember the Muller/Lowndes windowless run, wasnt that the year Skaife hit a Roo' coming down the mountain at 140mph?

I remember hearing a driver had hit a Roo' one year, Cant think of who it was, Probably Skaife as you said, Or what year it was.

But didnt a wheel of one of the Holdens land in the windscreen on a Ford(Or vice versa) Last year after Turn 2??

[jonboy1066]

Steven Richars hit a 'roo about 3 years ago at Bathurst http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rmGEvRFQcqU

and the Window less run by Lowndes/Muller was because of Paul Dumbrell's wheel going through Lowndes' windscreen 2 years ago.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1i4xN0vfpUk

I don't think anyone copped a wheel last year though there was a near miss for a Roo.

[hoppers30040]

i hope matt does well and he raced there in 1998 for the supertouring in a st spec nissan and tim harvey and rickard rydell were there aswell both driving volvos.

Andy

[topgear1]

i hope matt does well and he raced there in 1998 for the supertouring in a st spec nissan and tim harvey and rickard rydell were there aswell both driving volvos.

Andy


this year is differnt though.
he is racing a v8- best of luck to him though, maybe we will get a btcc star known in austrailia

[Radisich]

It was Jim Richards who hit the 'roo in 2004.

[redshoes]

maybe we will get a btcc star known in austrailia
Matt is already well known amongst Australian V8 fans but for all the wrong reasons.

In 2000 he managed to write-off Paul Morris' brand new previously un-raced Commodore when he stuffed it into the wall at Oran Park. Later that year at Bathurst he caused a big shunt between the lead 2 cars, leading to the retirement of one of them, whilst being lapped (he was already 3 laps down).

[topgear1]

Matt is already well known amongst Australian V8 fans but for all the wrong reasons.

In 2000 he managed to write-off Paul Morris' brand new previously un-raced Commodore when he stuffed it into the wall at Oran Park. Later that year at Bathurst he caused a big shunt between the lead 2 cars, leading to the retirement of one of them, whilst being lapped (he was already 3 laps down).

oh. i heard about that.
how fast exactly are these V8 machines?- last i knew it was about 3 seconds 0-60

[2.0 Civic]

oh. i heard about that.
how fast exactly are these V8 machines?- last i knew it was about 3 seconds 0-60

Top speed coming down the mountain id say roughly 170-180mph, But I stand to be corrected :rolleyes:

[2.0 Civic]

Steven Richars hit a 'roo about 3 years ago at Bathurst http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rmGEvRFQcqU

and the Window less run by Lowndes/Muller was because of Paul Dumbrell's wheel going through Lowndes' windscreen 2 years ago.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1i4xN0vfpUk

I don't think anyone copped a wheel last year though there was a near miss for a Roo.

I have to ask, Where did the wheel come out of? Looks like it came straight from the trees! :confused: :confused: :confused:

[redshoes]

If you look closely you can just see the car in front smoking and pulling across the track.

At the end of the Conrod Straight they are nudging 300km/h (180mph) before braking for The Chase.

[bringbacktheolddays]

According to autosport website,Giovanardi is doing it aswell in a Ford. so can only say he has taste in good cars aswell then.:D :D

[dannybo]

According to autosport website,Giovanardi is doing it aswell in a Ford. so can only say he has taste in good cars aswell then.:D :D
888 run the Betta Electrical cars over there, I pressume he'll be pedaling one of them?

[topgear1]

888 run the Betta Electrical cars over there, I pressume he'll be pedaling one of them?

yeah!!!!!
stop the bathurst!!!- go any buy some electric cars - touring car driver- head to head!!!!

that would be a fantastic motorsport event.:D :D :D

[daveylad1978]

It's not Betta Electrical anymore, it's Team Vodafone.

[dannybo]

It's not Betta Electrical anymore, it's Team Vodafone.
Oh rightio, some catching up to do me thinks!:o

[Radisich]

Giovanardi will be racing for Team Vodafone with ex-F3 racer Mark Hynes. Good to have BTCC stars back in the V8s