SEASON 2001
The V8 Ultimate at Sandown marked the end of the 2001 Shell Championship Series.
No matter what happened at this event, Mark had already claimed the Championship,
following his success at the Pukekohe round in New Zealand. This is his 4th Touring
Car Championship, giving him back-to-back Championships, and the Holden Racing
Team's 5th of the last 6 years!!
** CONGRATULATIONS MARK AND THE HOLDEN
RACING TEAM ON A FANTASTIC YEAR!!! **
Mark on the podium at Sandown with his Championship wreath, December 2001.
“This photo comes from the official Holden Special Vehicles Site”
Mark and Rob Starr at the AVESCO Awards Dinner, December 2001.
“This photo comes from the official AVESCO Site”
Here are Mark's results for the 2001 season.....
| CIRCUIT |
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
|
| Phillip Island |
1st
|
1st
|
1st
|
|
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
|
|
| Adelaide 500 |
2nd
|
4th
|
9th
|
|
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
||
| Eastern Creek |
10th
|
2nd
|
1st
|
|
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
RACE
3
|
|
| Hidden Valley |
1st
|
14th
|
3rd
|
1st
|
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
RACE
3
|
|
| GMC 400 - Canberra |
5th
|
3rd
|
24th
|
1st
|
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
RACE
3
|
|
| Barbagallo |
5th
|
2nd
|
2nd
|
2nd
|
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
RACE
3
|
|
| Calder Park |
1st
|
25th
|
11th
|
18th
|
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
|
|
| Oran Park |
2nd
|
1st
|
1st
|
|
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
|
|
|
| Queensland 500 |
15th
|
4th
|
||
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
|
|
| Winton Motor Raceway |
15th
|
3rd
|
2nd
|
|
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
|
|||
| Bathurst 1000 - Mt Panorama |
5th
|
1st
|
||
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
RACE
3
|
|
| Pukekohe 500 - New Zealand |
2nd
|
3rd
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
|
SHOOTOUT
|
RACE
1
|
RACE
2
|
RACE
3
|
|
| V8 Ultimate - Sandown |
1st
|
1st
|
4th
|
DNF
|
Mark hasn't had the best of luck this year, as some of the above results demonstrate.
The reasons for this are as follows. He was taken out in Race One at Adelaide, and
almost the same in Race Two (recently Mark said "The only thing that didn't hit me
in Adelaide was the Safety Car"). He was given a Stop/Go penalty in Race One at
Hidden Valley for apparently jumping the start (although I don't agree). He was then
involved in a mid-field incident in the reverse-grid Race Two at the GMC 400, causing
him a lengthy pit stop to repair damage to the front of the car. Then he was given
another Stop/Go penalty in Race One at Calder Park for a first-corner incident (too
harsh). And finally, damage to his car denied him a finish in the final race of the
season. Despite all this, however, he still wins the 2001 Championship!!
|
POLE
POSITIONS
|
ROUND
WINS
|
|
Phillip
Island
|
Phillip
Island
|
|
Hidden
Valley
|
Eastern
Creek
|
|
Calder
Park
|
Bathurst
1000
|
|
V8
Ultimate - Sandown
|
Mark's fantastic result from the Top 15 Shootout at the V8 Ultimate at Sandown has given
him 4 Pole Positions for the 2001 season, the most of anyone this year. This also gave him
the Bridgestone Pole Award at the AVESCO Awards Dinner. Well done Mark!!
Mark on the podium at Eastern Creek, after winning the round, April 2001.
“This photo comes from the official AVESCO Site”
ROUND FORMATS
Phillip Island
2 x 100 km races
Adelaide 500
2 x 250 km races
Eastern Creek
2 x 100 km races
Hidden Valley
1 x 50 km race (Saturday)
2 x 100 km race (Sunday)
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)
Barbagallo
1 x 20 minute race (Saturday)
2 x 20 minute races (Sunday)
Calder Park
3 x 20 minute races
Oran Park
2 x 100 km races
Queensland 500
1 x 500 km race (Co-Driving with Jason Bright)
Winton Motor Raceway
2 x 100 km races
Bathurst 1000 - Mt Panorama
1 x 1000 km race (Co-Driving with Tony Longhurst)
Pukekohe 500 - New Zealand
1 x 100 km race (Saturday)
2 x 100 km races (Sunday)
V8 Ultimate - Sandown
1 x 150 km race (Saturday)
2 x 150 km races (Sunday)
Mark at Calder Park, July 2001.
“This photo comes from the official AVESCO Site”
** The Official Holden Racing Team Site **
*********** Mark Skaife "There Goes My Hero" ************