Jesus Racing Fights Fuel Infringement

July 14

The Jesus Racing team is challenging the method of fuel sampling for the Yokohama V8 Ute Series following their return of an irregular fuel sample at the completion of Race Three at the Townsville event over the weekend.

At the conclusion of the third race, when temperatures peaked, the Jesus Ute (the Number 9 Falcon) had a fuel sample taken from a rubber bleed line under the bonnet which runs off the main fuel rail.

This small sample taken from the 40 cm line had a different shade of colour when compared to the sample taken from the official fuel supplier.

When the colour varied from the control fuel, the team immediately requested a further sample be taken. The second sample varied from the first sample in that it was lighter and much closer to the colour of the control fuel.

The team requested the line from which the fuel sample was taken be completely cleared as it is not actually part of the fuel line. (It is a piece of tubing that runs off a tee piece connected to the fuel line) and therefore may have actually stored stagnant fuel.

Unfortunately this request was denied by the Technical Steward and Jesus Racing was charged based on this variation in colour.

Jesus Racing has contacted the provider of the fuel and has begun the process of obtaining a full chemical composition comparison of the fuel taken from car number 9 and the control fuel.

Driver Andrew Fisher says the process has been frustrating. “We expressed our concern about the manner in which the sample was taken and asked for a sample to be taken from the actual fuel in the system. This was denied”.

Sieders Racing is contracted to run the Jesus Ute and is therefore responsible for the preparation, maintenance and running of car number 9 at the race track. They have since taken their own sample and will provide this, along with the other sample provided by the V8 Ute category, to the laboratory for comparative analysis.

It’s also a heavy blow for the Sieders Race Team.

Jesus Racing has a clause in their agreement that can now be enforced, giving them the right to terminate their relationship with the Sieders Race Team based on any technical infringement.

“We have this clause in our agreement because we, above ALL teams, need to be above and beyond reproach,” says Andrew. “It is very frustrating and damaging to our reputation to be caught up in this type of mess, which is why we must see this through to the end.

"I can't believe that Cams uses this method of testing in a series with as high a profile as the V8 Utes. A judgment based purely on colour!.

"All three samples are just varying shades of yellow," he says.

"I can't understand why the CAMS official does not allow us to chemically test the fuel to prove that it's the same as the control fuel.

“We have offered to pay for this test but to no avail".

Luke Sieders from Sieders Racing Team says they triple check everything on the Jesus Racing car- for obvious reasons.

"We purchase our fuel from the control fuel supplier. We have done nothing wrong and yet now our reputation is called into question.

"This certainly highlights the need for a more professional approach to fuel testing because there is a lot at stake.

"It is amateurish to have no firm process for testing fuel and I believe the category needs to review this with CAMS if the Yokohama V8 Ute Series is to be taken seriously.

Sieders is concerned this development has jeopardized their relationship with the Jesus Racing Team.

“Andrew and the team has been very clear,” says Luke. “Any technical infringement will damage their brand and may see them terminate our agreement. This would be a shame given how long we have worked together.

“I have spoken to Andrew and the Jesus Racing Team and despite this incident, he is supportive of the Sieders Race Team. He accepts the infringement is not legitimate and is keen to get the fuel samples chemically tested so as to confirm this beyond any doubt”.

Fisher says Jesus Racing is not on trial, but they will fight to clear their name. “ We do not prepare, maintain or run the race car,” he says. “The situation for us is simple- we just want to reveal the truth so our name can be cleared.

“We will have the fuel tested and we will appeal the infringement”.

FISHER SUFFERS DISAPPOINTING WEEKEND WITH THE COWBOYS IN NORTH QLD.

July 12

Jesus Racing Team’s Andrew Fisher has slammed the standard of driving in this weekend’s round of the Yokohama V8 Ute Series, saying the North Qld circuit brought out the cowboy in some of his fellow drivers.

“I saw some of the worst driving I have witnessed in the entire series at Townsville this weekend, “ says Andrew. “Amateur driving saw me spun around 180 degrees in two consecutive races and although the drivers involved were charged, nothing can make up the positions I lost when I was facing entirely the wrong direction!”

The incident in Race Two saw Andrew slip from third position to 10th. Although he managed to claw back some ground, the Jesus Racing Ute finished in sixth, which was much further back than he’d hoped and cost valuable points on the competition ladder.

The Jesus Ute sustained considerable damage in Race Two and the team worked hard for it to be race-ready for Round Three- where the same thing happened again. Once again, the ute suffered more costly damages.

“It was certainly a disappointing weekend for the Jesus Racing Team,” says Andrew. “We knew we were already up against it as our Ford Ute was already behind the Holden eight ball. We have been extremely concerned about parity as the more powerful Holdens have a huge advantage on tracks with long straights. But we didn’t factor in that in addition to stronger competition, we would also be up against poor driving skills.

“The Standards Advisor told me he was appalled by some of the on-track incidents,” says Andrew. “In fact, he says they were some of the worst he’s seen. I seriously hope things improve for the rest of the season.”

The Jesus Racing Team finished the weekend in fifth place overall and remains at third place on the ladder.