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Porsche Challenge
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Source: aPorschapart.com
The 944 Challenge has grown from its beginnings in 1999 when a handful of eager 944 owners regularly entered in the Marque Sports class of the Victorian Motor Racing Championship. Since then, numbers have increased rapidly to the point where every round of the 944 Challenge has been a stand-alone
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| Eric & Fans at the Porsche Challenge |
race for 944's since round 1 2002. The fields are constantly growing with an average 28 cars for each event in 2004. The racing is close, and a real test of driver ability. The class controls are designed to equalise the performance of the cars while limiting the running costs and maintaining reliability. A testament to the reliability of these cars is the lack of activity in the pits between races. It is quite common to do nothing all weekend except top up fuel, check tyre pressures and fluid levels.
Any 944 model (built from 1982 to 1989) with the single cam non-turbo 2.5 litre fuel injected engine is eligible. It is also possible to upgrade a 924 although many changes are needed.
2004 March: Mahalla
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Source: aPorschepart.com
Febuary 19, 2004
Series Commentator: Matt Naulty
Welcome to some new players set to join our fun this year. Namely Glyn Crimp taking over Steve Picone's car, Geoff Fickling taking over Geoff Adams' car, and Eric Bana who will be driving a new car prepared by Jocaro motors. Yep, that's right, Eric's the one on the telly and in the movies. Welcome all.
Source: Smh.com.au
Date: Unknown
Eric Bana, variously a cinematic Chopper Read and the Incredible Hulk, is now prepping for another role. Motor sport buff Bana, who has previously competed in Targa Tasmania, has bought himself a Porsche 944 to run at some PROCAR rounds in the Australian Porsche drivers' challenge.
Source: aPorschepart.com
April 12, 2004
Series Commentator: Matt Naulty
Eric Bana 'Hulks' and slides as a professional.
Eric Bana is Car No. 67
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| Course Map for Mahalla | |||||||||
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| Porsche Challenge: Mahalla March 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Mahalla March 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Mahalla March 2004 |
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| Porsche Challenge: Mahalla March 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Mahalla March 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Mahalla March 2004 |
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| Porsche Challenge: Mahalla March 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Mahalla March 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Mahalla March 2004 |
2004 June: Phillip Island
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Source: aPorschepart.com
June 2004
Series Commentator: Matt Naulty
In 2004 the aPorschapart 944 Challenge has been one of the closest and hard fought challenge's since the inception in 1999 and today was no different, with blistering qualifying times and superfast race times. Going in to the 20 minute qualifying session on Saturday, conditions were ideal.
Eric Bana is Car No. 67
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| Course Map for Phillip Island | Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
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| Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
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| Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
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| Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island June 2004 |
2004 August: Sandown
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Source: aPorschepart.com
August 2004
Series Commentator: Matt Naulty
Two standout performers on the weekend were Robert "Launchit" Lange (Robert Lange Engineering) and Eric Bana (Witchmount Estate Winery), both putting in terrific driving performances, while there were a few battered cars at the end of the weekend's racing.
Eric Bana (Witchmount Estate Winery #67) having his best result in the series finishing 6th and Patsiotis also with 7th.
Eric Bana is Car No. 67
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| Course Map for Sandown | Porsche Challenge: Sandown August 2004 |
Porsche Challenge: Sandown August 2004 |
2004 September: Phillip Island
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Source: aPorschepart.com
September 2004
Series Commentator: Matt Naulty
Morriss, John Goddard (Plaza Auto Sales Bendigo) and Canny was a good scrap for third until Morriss spun out of the race at Honda, while Eric Bana (Witchmount Estate Winery) was in a terrific battle with Patsiotis, DiBenedetto and Howe for fifth place with F1 aspirant, Abay, charging his way through the field. Eric Bana capped off an impressive rookie season by finishing a solid 7th albeit missing two rounds.
Eric Bana is Car No. 67
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| Course Map for Phillip Island | Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
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| Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
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| Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
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| Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
Porsche Challenge: Phillip Island |
2004 November: Sandown
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Source: aPorschepart.com
November 2004
Series Commentator: Matt Naulty
Kane Rose (Melbourne's Cheapest Cars) had the title sewn up coming into this final round but that did not deter him as he put in another perfect race meeting to win both races in extremely trying conditions. He was the quickest qualifier, over two seconds faster than second placed John Morriss (Motorsport Leasing) followed by John Goddard (Plaza Auto Sales Bendigo), Sam Abay (BBS Alloy Wheels Aust), Eric Bana (Witchmount Estate Winery) and Brent Rose (Melbourne's Cheapest Cars), although Brent would be a non starter after tangling with the armco during qualifying.
The main race saw Morriss stalled on the line and swamped by a handful of cars as Kane Rose led Goddard, Bruce Rose, Bana, Abay, Smaliman, Morriss, Westaway, and Lucky Patsiotis (Abbotsford Body Repairs) on the opening lap. Abay had a made a great start from the back of the grid as Kane Rose pulled right away at the front the surprise packet was Bruce Rose, who was holding down third in a terrific drive. Morriss was driving like a man 'pissoffed' and was side by side with Abay up the main straight, just behind Bana who was also putting in a great wet weather drive, while back in the pack Stoffels, Lange, Barry Beeggood (Bedggoods Corner of Cars), Amber Anderson, Gary McDermott (Price Waterhouse Coopers) and David McMillan were having a good battle in the trying conditions. Morriss was really on a charge and after disposing of Abay his next victim was Bana, grabbing him as they went into the gum tree esses, then lining up Bruce Rose, whom he passed down the main straight.
At the halfway mark Bruce Rose, Bana and Abay were all pretty close as were Smallman and Westaway. Stoffels and Lange were also in close company with Anderson trying to latch onto them in the very wet conditions. Kane Rose was 'uncatchable' at the front of the field as Morriss set his sights on second placed Goddard. He was right on his tall on the last lap but was unable to find a way past (funny that) on the final corners of the race. Abay had picked up several more places on the closing laps to take fourth place.
Eric Bana put in another "scratch-free" effort, this time getting it up to 4th and Bruce Rose scored his best ever result, maybe due to a warm up day at Sandown last Sunday.
Eric Bana is Car No. 67
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| Course Map for Sandown | Porsche Challenge: Sandown |
Porsche Challenge: Sandown |
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| Porsche Challenge: Sandown |
Porsche Challenge: Sandown |
Porsche Challenge: Sandown |
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| Porsche Challenge: Sandown |
Porsche Challenge: Sandown |
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