Castrol Motorsport News Podcast

DJR Mustang wildcard for Bathurst!

This week’s Castrol Motorsport News Podcast is headlined by some breaking news on an extra entry for the Bathurst 1000. Host Andrew van Leeuwen and V8 Sleuth’s Stefan Bartholomaeus also break down the Winton SuperSprint, including those battles between Cam Waters and Shane van Gisbergen, and the winners and losers throughout the field. There’s more news to unpack too, with Sandown’s place on the 2022 Supercars calendar under threat and the category’s two-day formats coming under criticism. These hot topics plus all the latest motorsport news and results from around the world, the Motorsport News Mailbag and Castrol Stars of the Week.

May 24, 2022

32 min

Bathurst 12 Hour debrief, mystery surrounds new Mustang

This week’s Castrol Motorsport News Podcast features a massive Bathurst 12 Hour debrief. Host Andrew van Leeuwen and V8 Sleuth’s Stefan Bartholomaeus run through the winners and losers from the event and explain how Audi handed an advantage to their Benz rivals. Race-winner Kenny Habul talks about his connection to Peter Brock and Bathurst, purchasing property on Conrod Straight and his plans to do more racing at Mount Panorama. Craft-Bamboo Racing drivers meanwhile explain their unusual pit strategy that nearly won them the race. AVL and Stefan express some strong opinions on the regulations that must be scrapped for 2023, following a confusing weekend. They also discuss the mystery behind the new Ford Mustang and what it means for Supercars, and why Scott McLaughlin isn’t coming back for Bathurst. All that plus the Motorsport News mailbag, Castrol Stars of the Week and the latest news headlines from around the racing world.

May 17, 2022

41 min

Defection: Walkinshaw Andretti United's Ford deal analysed

WAU is turning blue! Castrol Motorsport News Podcast host Andrew van Leeuwen and V8 Sleuth’s Stefan Bartholomeus analyse the shock news that Supercars’ most famous Holden team is switching to Ford Mustangs for 2023. The boys take a deep dive look at the announcement, the reaction, what factory support actually means and whether there will be a road car tie-up between the two parties. Hear also from WAU’s Ryan Walkinshaw and Ford Australia President & CEO Andrew Birkic about the Supercars deal. Elsewhere, AVL and Stefan preview this weekend’s Bathurst 12 Hour, discuss the Formula 1 driver descent in Miami and look at the latest NASCAR biff and barge at Darlington. All that plus the latest Motorsport News headlines from around the world and the Castrol Stars of the Week.

May 10, 2022

37 min

Holden squad's shock Ford switch, unpacking Perth controversies

This week on the Castrol Motorsport News Podcast host Andrew van Leeuwen and V8 Sleuth’s Stefan Bartholomaeus dissect an entertaining and controversial weekend of Repco Supercars Championship action at Wanneroo Raceway. AVL talks about the breaking news linking Walkinshaw Andretti United with a shock switch to Ford for 2023 before the boys discuss the team’s epic struggle in the West, and then give their verdicts on the contact between Jack Le Brocq and Scott Pye and the penalty that cost Cam Waters a race victory. AVL catches up with Will Davison to discuss his drought-breaking win and future beyond 2022. There’s also a look at the future of Targa Tasmania after a tragic 30th anniversary event, the Motorsport News Mailbag, Castrol Stars of the Week and all the latest headlines from around the racing world.

May 3, 2022

40 min

Supercars race into unknown, Ferrari's flop in Italy

The Castrol Motorsport News Podcast recaps all the news from Australia and around the world. This week host Andrew van Leeuwen and V8 Sleuth’s Stefan Bartholomaeus preview the Perth SuperNight and look at the big unknown heading to the West Aussie event after two seasons away. The boys also dig into the hot topics from the weekend’s Formula 1 Grand Prix at Imola, including Charles Leclerc’s costly error and the clash between Daniel Riccardo and Carlos Sainz. They also discuss Australian MotoGP star Jack Miller’s future and the prospect of Supercars joining the Formula 1 support bill at overseas events, while Erebus Motorsport boss Barry Ryan joins the podcast to chat about his team’s recent form swings, the wait to start building Gen3 cars and more.

April 26, 2022

33 min

Bathurst 6 Hour: The good, the bad and the ugly

On this week’s Castrol Motorsport News Podcast host Andrew van Leeuwen and V8 Sleuth’s Stefan Bartholomaeus unpack the hot topics from an entertaining Bathurst 6 Hour. The boys debate whether production car racing should be a true test of a car’s capabilities or whether Balance of Performance should be applied to dominant machinery, and discuss the ‘limp mode’ lottery that plagued several entries. Also on the agenda is the Bathurst TCR action, the big COVID question Supercars is currently facing and just what Alpine will do with Aussie hotshot Oscar Piastri next season. The boys also face a curly Motorsport News Mailbag question and name their Castrol Stars of the Week.

April 19, 2022

29 min

Ferrari's Melbourne masterpiece, Supercars winners and losers

Castrol Motorsport News Podcast host Andrew van Leeuwen and V8 Sleuth’s Stefan Bartholomaeus wrap a mega weekend of racing at Albert Park. Charles Leclerc’s domination of the Australian Grand Prix and another DNF for Max Verstappen begs the question; is the title fight already a one Prancing Horse race? The boys also discuss Daniel Ricciardo’s fortunes on home soil, Sebastian Vettel’s shocker, Leclerc’s ‘Charles 2.0’ frustration and the F1 stars who sampled Supercars. AVL and Stefan also give their verdict on Albert Park’s new layout and dip into the hot topics from the four Supercars races, including Shane van Gisbergen’s latest show of brilliance, a controversial tangle involving Chaz Mostert and the continued rise of Grove Racing. All this plus the latest from MotoGP, IndyCar, NASCAR and much more.

April 12, 2022

39 min

It's back! F1 returns to new-look Albert Park

This week’s Castrol Motorsport News Podcast previews the return of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, two years after the infamous event cancelled by COVID-19. Host Andrew van Leeuwen speaks to Richard Craill about what to expect from a revised Albert Park layout as Craill prepares for his F1 commentary debut on Network Ten. V8 Sleuth’s Stefan Bartholomaeus joins AVL to dissect Shane van Gisbergen’s maiden Australian Rally Championship outing and what could be next for the code-hopping Kiwi. They also discuss F1’s Las Vegas gamble, dip into the Motorsport News Mailbag and reveal their Castrol Stars of the Week.

April 5, 2022

35 min