The 2005 V8 Supercars China round (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2005 Buick V8 Supercars China round) was the fifth round of the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship Series. It was held on the weekend of 10 to 12 June at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China. This was the first championship event to take place outside of Australia and New Zealand and the only V8 Supercar event to have taken place in China.
After a tricky start to the season, the Holden Racing Team dominated the weekend with Todd Kelly taking pole position and winning two out of the three races to take overall round honours. Teammate Mark Skaife won the second race but was curtailed in race three after receiving a drive-through penalty for spinning Russell Ingall.
Championship leader Marcos Ambrose endured a tricky weekend as both Stone Brothers Racing cars struggled with car setup. Nevertheless, the defending champion retained the lead of the championship upon exiting the round, although though the strong performances of Kelly, Richards and Skaife allowed the Holden contingency to close the deficit.
Background
The event was held on the weekend of 10 to 12 June 2005. It was the first V8 Supercar event to be held at the Shanghai International Circuit, the first to be held in China, and consisted of three 100 km races with compulsory pitstops in each.
The event was initially slated for a 2004 date by series chairman Tony Cochrane in early 2003, signaling the first time that V8 Supercars would race outside Australia and New Zealand. The event was eventually confirmed for June 2005, with several teams updating their liveries for the weekend, including the HSV Dealer Team entry of Rick Kelly rebranding as Team Buick for the weekend.
Two Boeing 747's were deputised by Gibson Freight to transport the cars to Shanghai, China at a total cost of almost $1 million AUD.
Entry list
There were 32 drivers entered into the event which included fifteen BA Ford Falcon's, fifteen VZ Holden Commodore's and two VY Holden Commodore's.
Multiple car liveries were altered ahead of this round. Triple Eight Race Engineering replaced Betta Electrical signage with LG due to Betta Electrical's lack of China locations. Rick Kelly of HSV Dealer Team had a new Buick livery as part of a General Motors promotional drive that included title sponsorship of the event. The Castrol Perkins Engineering cars featured Castrol GTX as opposed to Formula R due to branding differences between Australia and China. The Team Dynamik cars changed numbers to 168 for Simon Wills and 328 for Max Wilson. This was done in reference to Chinese culture, with 168 being a rough translation of 'fortune and prosperity all the way', and 328 being a rough translation of 'business prosperity' and 'good fortune'.
Paul Dumbrell replaced Alex Davison at Rod Nash Racing for this round.
Race report Qualifying Mark Skaife secured provisional pole position by nearly four tenths ahead of Craig Lowndes. Despite suffering from an intermittent misfire, Jamie Whincup of Tasman Motorsport surprised the paddock by qualifying in sixth place provisionally. Teammate Jason Richards missed out on the shootout after Tasman Motorsport elected to conserve tyres for the remainder of the weekend. Paul Radisich of Team Kiwi Racing recovered from a turbulent round at Eastern Creek to qualify within the top ten.
Driver Team Vehicle Time 1 2 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:49.6053 2 888 Craig Lowndes Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 1:49.9893 3 51 Greg Murphy Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.0728 4 11 Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 1:50.1025 5 22 Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.1130 6 23 Jamie Whincup Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.1390 7 1 Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.1556 8 6 Jason Bright Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.2455 9 021 Paul Radisich Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.2827 10 17 Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.3578 11 3 Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.4020 12 16 Garth Tander HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.4474 13 9 Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.5047 14 67 Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.5049 15 88 Steven Ellery Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.6092 16 5 Greg Ritter Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.6176 17 50 Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.7469 18 10 Jason Bargwanna Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.7699 19 168 Simon Wills Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.8376 20 52 Matthew White Britek Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.8787 21 18 Glenn Seton Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.8925 22 7 Paul Dumbrell Rod Nash Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:51.0486 23 33 Cameron McConville Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:51.1391 24 20 Mark Winterbottom Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 1:51.1932 25 8 Craig Baird WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:51.3903 26 328 Max Wilson Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:51.4577 27 48 David Besnard WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:51.6225 28 75 Anthony Tratt Paul Little Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 1:51.6989 29 21 Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:51.8063 30 12 John Bowe Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:51.8184 31 34 Andrew Jones Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:51.8677 32 15 Rick Kelly HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:52.0723 Source:
Top ten shootout Mark Skaife successfully converted his provisional pole position in the shootout with him being the only driver to set a time in the 1 minute 49 second bracket. Jamie Whincup was excluded from the results after missing the pit exit release window.
Driver Team Vehicle Time 1 2 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:49.8516 2 11 Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VY) 1:50.0360 3 51 Greg Murphy Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.0667 4 021 Paul Radisich Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.1682 5 888 Craig Lowndes Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.1862 6 22 Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 1:50.2211 7 1 Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.5851 8 6 Jason Bright Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:50.7781 9 17 Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 1:51.2731 EXC 23 Jamie Whincup Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) time excluded Source:
Race 1 Pos No Driver Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid 1 22 Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 41:49.4584 6 2 11 Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 1.102 2 3 2 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 3.994 1 4 888 Craig Lowndes Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 4.377 5 5 1 Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 4.886 7 6 021 Paul Radisich Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 6.043 4 7 6 Jason Bright Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 9.838 8 8 3 Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 11.723 11 9 23 Jamie Whincup Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 13.132 10 10 51 Greg Murphy Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 13.738 3 11 17 Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 13.934 9 12 16 Garth Tander HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 19.124 12 13 9 Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 19.630 13 14 18 Glenn Seton Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 21.356 21 15 88 Steven Ellery Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 27.254 15 16 33 Cameron McConville Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 28.173 23 17 67 Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 28.499 14 18 168 Simon Wills Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 33.095 19 19 7 Paul Dumbrell Rod Nash Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 39.784 22 20 50 Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 41.641 17 21 10 Jason Bargwanna Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 45.997 18 22 12 John Bowe Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 46.794 30 23 5 Greg Ritter Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 46.962 16 24 8 Craig Baird WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 47.593 25 25 21 Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 48.997 29 26 34 Andrew Jones Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 22 + 51.285 31 27 52 Matthew White Britek Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 22 + 1:00.663 20 28 75 Anthony Tratt Paul Little Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 19 + 3 laps 28 Ret 48 David Besnard WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 12 Accident damage 27 Ret 20 Mark Winterbottom Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 12 Accident 24 Ret 328 Max Wilson Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VZ) 6 Radiator 26 Ret 15 Rick Kelly HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 2 Clutch 32 Fastest Lap: Todd Kelly (Holden Racing Team) - 1:51.0737 on lap 11 Source:
Race 2 Pos No Driver Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid 1 2 Mark Skaife Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 56:55.5933 3 2 11 Steven Richards Perkins Engineering Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 2.689 2 3 22 Todd Kelly Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 3.013 1 4 1 Marcos Ambrose Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 30 + 11.101 5 5 021 Paul Radisich Team Kiwi Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 14.214 6 6 9 Russell Ingall Stone Brothers Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 30 + 17.731 13 7 18 Glenn Seton Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 30 + 21.366 14 8 23 Jamie Whincup Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 30.861 9 9 33 Cameron McConville Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 35.730 16 10 5 Greg Ritter Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 30 + 39.968 23 11 50 Paul Weel Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 40.999 20 12 7 Paul Dumbrell Rod Nash Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 42.357 19 13 168 Simon Wills Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 44.388 18 14 328 Max Wilson Team Dynamik Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 47.682 30 15 12 John Bowe Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 30 + 50.378 22 16 15 Rick Kelly HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 58.145 31 17 21 Brad Jones Brad Jones Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 30 + 58.676 25 18 34 Andrew Jones Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 1:01.709 26 19 8 Craig Baird WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 30 + 1:05.254 24 20 6 Jason Bright Ford Performance Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 30 + 1:05.506 7 21 16 Garth Tander HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 1:12.223 12 22 67 Paul Morris Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 30 + 1:21.653 17 23 52 Matthew White Britek Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 30 + 1:36.701 27 24 88 Steven Ellery Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 29 + 1 lap 15 25 75 Anthony Tratt Paul Little Racing Holden Commodore (VY) 27 + 3 laps 28 26 17 Steven Johnson Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 25 + 5 laps 11 Ret 48 David Besnard WPS Racing Ford Falcon (BA) 21 Engine 29 Ret 10 Jason Bargwanna Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) 9 Engine 21 Ret 51 Greg Murphy Paul Weel Racing Holden Commodore (VZ) 3 Oil pressure 10 Ret 888 Craig Lowndes Triple Eight Race Engineering Ford Falcon (BA) 2 Clutch 4 Ret 3 Jason Richards Tasman Motorsport Holden Commodore (VZ) 2 Accident damage 8 DNS 20 Mark Winterbottom Larkham Motorsport Ford Falcon (BA) Did not start Fastest Lap: Todd Kelly (Holden Racing Team) - 1:51.0557 on lap 10 Source:
Race 3