MARK'S 3RD CHAMPIONSHIP

 

The year 2000 was Mark's 3rd year with the Holden Racing Team, and

his best, so far. It was the year he won his 3rd Shell Australian Touring

Car Championship. I believe he should have won the Championship in

1999, had it not been for his bad luck at the Adelaide 500. But it was

not to be. So when 2000 came around, it was his turn. This was the

year where he won the Adelaide 500, which I believe is Mark's best

race. (Check out the "Mark's Best Race" Page for more information).

This year was an exciting year in Touring Cars, with the Championship

going down to the last race at Bathurst, right up until the last lap.

Throughout the year it was a close fight with Garth Tander, but Mark

came through at the end for a fantastic Championship Number 3.

 

 

 

Mark with his Championship Trophy, and Championship winning

car, at the 2000 AVESCO Awards Dinner, held at the Adelaide

Entertainment Centre, December 2000.

“This photo comes from the official AVESCO Site”

 

 

 

Here is a list of Mark's results from all the 2000 rounds.....

 

CIRCUIT	QUALIFIED	RACE 1	RACE 2
Phillip Island	3rd	3rd	3rd
	QUALIFIED	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3
Barbagallo	1st	2nd	2nd	3rd
	SHOOTOUT	RACE 1	RACE 2
Adelaide 500	2nd	DNF	1st
	QUALIFIED	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3
Eastern Creek	1st	1st	2nd	2nd
	QUALIFIED	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3
Hidden Valley	2nd	1st	1st	2nd
	SHOOTOUT	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3
GMC 400 - Canberra	3rd	14th	6th	2nd
	QUALIFIED	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3
Queensland Raceway	2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd
	QUALIFIED	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3
Winton Motor Raceway	5th	DNF	14th	3rd
	QUALIFIED	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3
Oran Park	1st	1st	3rd	1st
	QUALIFIED	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3
Calder Park	6th	2nd	5th	5th
	SHOOTOUT	RACE
Queensland 500	5th	1st
	QUALIFIED	RACE 1	RACE 2	RACE 3
Sandown	5th	3rd	2nd	3rd
	SHOOTOUT	RACE
Bathurst 1000 - Mt Panorama	3rd	6th

 

 

** "It's just so fantastic to win the title this year because,

with so many excellent teams and great drivers out

there, titles are bloody hard to win", Mark Skaife **

“This quote comes from The Official 2000 Holden Racing Team Annual”

 

 

POLE POSITIONS	ROUND WINS
Barbagallo	Eastern Creek
Eastern Creek	Hidden Valley
Oran Park	Oran Park
	Queensland 500

 

 

** "Do I think this title is my best? When I won in '92 and '94

the category was also very healthy, but it's harder to win these

days because the whole series counts, it's more team-oriented

and there are more days when you've got to get there. I was

really keen and motivated to get into it this year, so yeah, this

title is the best, for sure", Mark Skaife **

“This quote comes from The Official 2000 Holden Racing Team Annual”

 

 

 

Mark at Oran Park, July 2000.

"This photo was taken by Andrew Hall, and comes

from Issue # 55 of "Motor Racing Australia' Magazine"

 

 

 

ROUND FORMATS

Phillip Island

2 x 45 minute races

(with 1 compulsory pit stop each race)

 

Barbagallo

3 x 20 minute sprint races

 

Adelaide 500

2 x 250 km races

(with 2 compulsory pit stops each race, for fuel and tyres)

 

Eastern Creek

3 x 20 minute sprint races

 

Hidden Valley

3 x 20 minute sprint races

 

GMC 400 - Canberra

1 x 25 lap/100 km race (Saturday)

1 x 25 lap/100 km reverse grid race (Saturday)

1 x 50 lap/200 km race (Sunday)

 

Queensland Raceway

3 x 20 minute sprint races

 

Winton Motor Raceway

3 x 20 minute sprint races

 

Oran Park

3 x 20 minute sprint races

 

Calder Park

3 x 20 minute sprint races

 

Queensland 500

1 x 500 km race (Co-Driving with Craig Lowndes)

 

Sandown

3 x 20 minute sprint races

 

Bathurst 1000 - Mt Panorama

1 x 1000 km race (Co-Driving with Craig Lowndes)

 

 

Mark with his 2000 Holden Racing Team Commodore.

“This photo comes from the official Holden Special Vehicles Site”

 

 

MARK'S CHAMPIONSHIP SPEECH

"Thanks Peter for those kind words (regarding the introduction).

 

We think we've come a long way in this category but when I saw Norm Beechey

get out of that car a little while ago on that video thing and kiss the girls straight

away, I think we've got a bit to learn Norm, we've got a bit of ground to catch up

on (about Norm Beechey, in an old clip which was shown earlier in the night, who

gets out of his car and goes straight to kiss the girls).

 

Garth, thanks for those kind words about that series thing. Congratulations for running

second. We'll be looking forward to next year. And I'd mostly like to thank Shell for

their continued support of our series. I think that their long-term support now is the

longest serving sponsor in Australia in any form of sport and for their continued

commitment. Although they're our opposition brand, it's great to have them onboard

and great to be a supporter of our category.

 

Mostly for, I suppose, the series to be where it's at. We've all heard through the evening

of where the category has got to and certainly what we're doing as an event by event

basis and year by year is growing the category. And to AVESCO, to Tony and Wayne

and the team, to CAMS, to the promoters and to many of the volunteers and people

that are involved in our group, thank you for your support and to the continued growth

of our series. And especially to channel 10, to the guys, Murray Lomax, David White,

Mike Audcent, Andy Redford, Scott Young, and all the team that have done a fantastic

job of continuing to develop our series. And I'm sure that everyone here would agree

that the telecasts are nothing short of sensational and well done fellas.

 

Most importantly for our team I'd like to thank our guys, our personnel and our sponsors,

to Holden, Mobil, Bridgestone, CUB and HSV, we obviously need your support in terms of

the financial backing. But it's much more than financial backing, they're very close to us,

they're certainly very keen supporters of us and they go to great lengths to help the team

on all the occasions that we need that sort of help to make the team what it is today. More

than anything what makes great teams is great people. And there's no doubt that if you

look at the category that we're in right now and to have a record of 4 wins in 5 years and

3 on the trot, to this team, it's the number 1 team in the country, and to our guys, all our

personnel, thank you very much. You know the sort of effort that you go to and certainly

we appreciate it, well done fellas, great job.

 

More than anything I suppose for me personally I've been lucky enough to drive for 2 great

teams in my career, for Gibson in the early 90's that dominated the category and in the late

90's now with HRT and 2000 and beyond, we're looking forward to it, it's certainly very

good to be part of that. And the professionalism of this current team is certainly second to

none. I'm sure that when we talk about how the category has got to and where we're at right

now that when you consider how long the series is, the sort of competition that we've got,

we have some of the best teams and drivers in the world, and as many people have

commented tonight, it's the Number 1 Touring Car category in the world, so to be able to

dominate it for the last few years is an incredible record.

 

Motorsport, as I said, has come along way. We've been very lucky at HRT to have a guy of

the yulk of Craig Lowndes for the last couple of years, he's joined the team before I did and

certainly was a very strong and helpful supporter of their success. And I come along as a

bit of a Johnny-come-lately but since 1997 Craig and I have enjoyed great rivalry, it's been

fierce rivalry but it's been fantastic. And Lowndsey congratulations mate, you've done a

fantastic job for the team and we really appreciate the effort that you've gone to, and I wish

you all the best in the future.

 

And just finally, to our friends and family that have been involved in this season, it's been a

very tough year on and off the track, and thank you very much for your support.

 

Thank you."

 

“This is Mark's speech as he accepted his Championship Trophy at the AVESCO Awards Dinner, December 2000.”

 

 

 

** The Official Holden Racing Team Site **

 

 

*********** Mark Skaife "There Goes My Hero" ************