One of the first to confirm their entry in the all new 2011 Australian Endurance Championship (AEC) was the Bezcorp Security team with their amazing little Toyota Yaris.
The Yaris is a truly great example of how to go racing have three 6 hour conducted on a small budget, and it and other’s like it would be ideal beginners cars for production car endurance racing such as the four round AEC.
The four AEC rounds will be at Calder Park Raceway on April 8/10 on the combined road/oval circuit, Winton Raceway in rural Victoria on June 3/5, the Queensland Raceway on August 5/8 and at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park on October 28/29.
The first three rounds will be 6 hour day/night races, with qualifying and a top 10 shoot-out on the Saturday, whilst the final round will at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park on October 28/29 with two 250 km races in daylight, one leg on Saturday, the second on Sunday.
Better known as owner of the Faber Castell BMW Super Tourer in the 1990’s, Bezcorp Security Racing’s team principal Paul Nelson has given details on just how economical the Yaris has been in its inaugural season.
“In July 2009 with the help of Bezcorp Security we decided to enter the 2010 Bathurst 12 Hour race. This would be somewhat of a return to the Mountain as we last raced there in 1998 in the AMP Bathurst 1000 in the BMW,” Nelson said.
“First thing we needed to do was to buy a car, and we chose the Toyota Yaris so as to give our sponsor Bezcorp Security maximum value, as they run a fleet of Yaris’ patrol cars. We purchased a good second hand one-owner car that had completed 70,591 kms
Nelson then purchased a good second hand one owner car with 70,591 kms on the clock, but the owner would only sell it to him if it was for his P plate daughter to drive.
Legendary touring car racer and engineer Bob Holden was a driver of the Faber Castell BMW, so he was the first person Nelson enlisted for the new team and not only has he been responsible for its preparation he has also been a driver.
“With Bob’s (Holden) magic, and the assistance of parts manufactured in New Zealand and the US – fro the same manufacturers that Holden used in 1997 for the BMW – a great engine was built whilst all of the race bits were added to the car. Given that we are pioneers of racing a Yaris anywhere in the world, it was not an easy task,” said Nelson.
In the Bathurst 12 Hour Nelson, Craig Bradshaw and 77 year old Holden started 42nd and finished 22nd and were second in class.
“Our next event was in July at the inaugural Eastern Creek 6 hour. Given that the only maintenance we had to do to the car was to replace the third gear syncro, we decided to fit a fully locked diff to eliminate wheel spin, and the result was six seconds a lap faster around Eastern Creek,” Nelson said.
Again like the Bathurst 12 hour, they had a faultless run at Eastern Creek finishing with a class win and 18th outright from 29. Then followed a 1 hour race in August at Wakefield Park, then the Wakefield 300 in November.
Incredibly, they could have continued to run on the same Michelin tyres that we used at Bathurst, testing, Eastern Creek and the Wakefield Park one hour, but due to torrential rain they opted for new rubber.
“The car loved the new Dunlops, as it immediately went three seconds a lap faster, and again ran faultlessly finishing 18th out of 39 and 4 laps ahead of our nearest class competitor, and in fact we did not even have to refuel the car.
Being gluttons for punishment they decided to enter the inaugural Eastern Creek 8 hour race only two weeks after the Wakefield 300, and the only maintenance required was to again replace the third gear syncro.
“With the steady as you go principle the Bezcorp Security Yaris again ran faultlessly with our only drama being a blown tyre mid way though the race. Even that drama did not really hurt us with a 6th outright position and first in class result.
To cap off a great year the success of the team was also rewarded by being crowned the Australian Manufacturers Champion for Small Cars!!
“So there it is, on the track a very successful year, and in terms of money spent it has also been a successful year.
Apart from purchasing and building the car (approx $35,000) our running costs have been small. A summary of money spent is as follows:
- Entry Fees $17,000 ($10,000 12 Hr)
- Tyres $6,000 (Total 20 - 12 for 12hr)
- Fuel $2,500 ($900 for 12 Hr)
- Endless Brake Pads $371 (Second set)
- Gearbox Syncros $300
- Oil and Filters $180
Nelson said that before the first AEC round at Calder, the engine will be freshened up, although it really doesn’t need it.
At this stage the complete driver line-up has not been announced, but among drivers in contention to join Nelson would have to be Holden, Bradshaw and Justin Matthews who also dove the Faber Castell BMW.
“I hope this helps other potential small car racers to come and join us. Small cars are really fun to drive and in fact probably need more skill to drive quickly than their big brothers.
“For the record the odometer currently reads 76,832 kms,” he concluded.
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