Team Australia

For other uses, see Team Australia (disambiguation).
A Team Australia-run Panoz DP01 Champ Car chassis in 2007.

Team Australia was an auto racing team competing in the V8 Supercars and Champ Car World Series. It was created in early 2005 when two Australian businessmen bought into Derrick Walker's Walker Racing operation. After the 2007 the operation was scaled back to just Will Power who joined KV Racing, before ending entirely a year later.

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 Surfers 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. 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 pole position at his home race at Surfer's Paradise. He led the race comfortably until Sébastien Bourdais made a move on Power which damaged both cars. Power finished well down the order, but made up for it 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 expanded its stable of global motorsport interests with a partnership with Wood Brothers/JTG Racing that included the naming-rights sponsorship of Marcos Ambrose's entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2006.

The sponsorship was weaved into a nationwide 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.

Driving the #20 Aussie Vineyards Ford F-150, Ambrose had best finishes of 3rd in Kansas and Nashville and took the pole position in Kentucky.

Atlantic series

In their first year of Atlantic, 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.[1] 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)
Champ Car (2005–2007) (Walker Racing)
V8 Supercars (2004–2007) (WPS Racing)
Champ Car Atlantics (2006–2007) (Walker Racing)
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2006) (Wood Brothers/JTG Racing)
NASCAR Busch Series (2007) (Wood Brothers/JTG Racing)

Complete motorsport results

V8 Supercar

to be completed (key)

Year Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos Pts
2004 Australia
ADL
Australia
ECR
New Zealand
PUK
Australia
HDV
Australia
BAR
Australia
QUE
Australia
WIN
Australia
ORP
Australia
SAN
Australia
BAT
Australia
SUR
Australia
SYP
Australia
ECR
Australia Besnard 13 17 25 29 30 19 32 31 16 Ret 12 13 30th 790
Australia Noske 28 20 20 21 30 35th 304
Australia O'Brien 16 60th 132
New Zealand McIntyre 21 Ret 18 46th 199
Malaysia Yoong 21 15 28 36th 278
Australia McFadyen 15 43rd 226
Australia Kelly 21 33 44th 214
2005 Australia
ADL
New Zealand
PUK
Australia
BAR
Australia
ECR
China
SHA
Australia
HDV
Australia
QUE
Australia
ORP
Australia
SAN
Australia
BAT
Australia
SUR
Australia
SYP
Australia
PHI
Australia Besnard 23 32 16 29 32 32 13 16 19 8 21 29 27 25th 904
New Zealand Baird 28 28 19 15 20 23 16 33 19 8 14 23 31 23rd 980
Canada Tagliani 22 13 54th 144
Australia Marshall 22 13 53rd 144
2006 Australia
ADL
New Zealand
PUK
Australia
BAR
Australia
WIN
Australia
HDV
Australia
QUE
Australia
ORP
Australia
SAN
Australia
BAT
Australia
SUR
Australia
SYP
Bahrain
BAH
Australia
PHI
Brazil Wilson 9 22 23 10 17 12 29 11 14 17 13 16 17 15th 2038
Australia Bargwanna 25 14 17 24 10 26 7 7 10 8 15 22 10 14th 2053
Australia Besnard 11 14 45th 220
New Zealand Baird 7 10 38th 287
2007 Australia
ADL
Australia
BAR
New Zealand
PUK
Australia
WIN
Australia
ECR
Australia
HDV
Australia
QUE
Australia
ORP
Australia
SAN
Australia
BAT
Australia
SUR
Bahrain
BAH
Australia
SYP
Australia
PHI
Brazil Wilson 26 18 15 18 23 13 19 13 Ret 7 10 25 24 19 17th 110
Australia Bargwanna 19 25 30 20 15 18 22 21 Ret 7 11 10 29 21 18th 109
Australia Caruso Ret 15 49th* 6
Australia Denyer Ret 15 50th 6

Champ Car Atlantic Championship

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position) (results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Car Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 D.C. Points
2006 Swift-Mazda Cosworth LBH HOU MTY POR CLE1 CLE2 TOR EDM SJO DEN MTL ROA
Australia James Davison 5 13 10 21 25 13 13 12 13 7 22 17th 69
Australia Michael Patrizi 8 15 25th 21
France Simon Pagenaud 15 4 2 2 23 2 5 4 1 9 3 2 17 1st 258
2007 Swift-Mazda Cosworth LVG LBH HOU POR1 POR2 CLE MTT TOR EDM1 EDM2 SJO ROA
Switzerland Simona De Silvestro 5 17 28 15 16 16 11 7 18 13 22 10 22 19th 69
United Kingdom Ryan Lewis 15 Wth 25 27 3 5 21 13 5 9 13 23 10 12th 107

Champ Car World Series

(key) (results in bold indicate pole position) (results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Chassis Engine Drivers No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 D.C. Points
2005 Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8t LBH MTY MIL POR CLE TOR EDM SJO DEN MTL LSV SRF MXC
Canada Alex Tagliani 15 15 3 10 18 4 3 7 9 14 5 7 4 8 7th 207
Australia Marcus Marshall 5 14 16 13 14 12 14 8 12 12 16 9 11 16th 104
Australia Will Power 10 22nd 17
25 15
Netherlands Charles Zwolsman 13 27th 8
2006 Lola B02/00 Ford XFE V8t LBH HOU MTY MIL POR CLE TOR EDM SJO DEN MTL ROA SRF MXC
Australia Will Power 5 9 7 11 11 18 9 7 6 6 4 5 13 12 3 6th 213
Canada Alex Tagliani 15 3 11 5 Wth 11 4 6 12 14 16 7 11 3 5 8th 205
2007 Panoz DP01 Cosworth XFE V8t LSV LBH HOU POR CLE MTT TOR EDM SJO ROA ZOL ASN SFR MXC
Australia Will Power 5 1* 3 11 4 10* 3 1 15 4 16 4 14 16 2 4th 262
France Simon Pagenaud 15 12 14 5 8 5 4 4 4 10 11 12 6 5 6 8th 232

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
Season Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 NCTC Pts
2006 Australia Ambrose 20 Ford DAY CAL ATL MAR
33
GTY
34
CLT
36
MFD
23
DOV
26
TEX
27
MCH
26
MLW
18
KAN
3
KEN
19
MEM
34
IRP
22
NSH
3
BRI
26
NHA
23
LVS
7
TAL
17
MAR
25
ATL
16
TEX
10
PHO
15
HOM
27
21st 2228

Busch Series

NASCAR Busch Series results
Season Driver No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NBSC Pts
2007 Australia Ambrose 59 Ford DAY
16
CAL
25
MXC
8
LVS
10
ATL
28
BRI
28
NSH
17
TEX
31
PHO
22
TAL
25
RCH
26
DAR
19
CLT
20
DOV
6
NSH
36
KEN
11
MLW
15
NHA
30
DAY
35
CHI
37
GTY
18
IRP
32
CGV
7
GLN
13
MCH
19
BRI
37
CAL
13
RCH
15
DOV
20
KAN
39
CLT
40
MEM
4
TEX
30
PHO
15
HOM
10
8th 3477

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

References

  1. Walker Racing won't be making switch from Champ Car to IndyCar Series, Associated Press, 9 March 2008
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