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Formula Sprint 2
Japanese Grand Prix
Suzuka International Racing Course
Tuesday 2nd of April 2024 19:00:00
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November 06, 2004
Southern Cross United Motorsports have finished the 2004 season in hardly a blaze of glory, more like a whimper. It is not the way the team wanted to finish the season, but we all know that motorsport of any kind can be cruel and un-predictable.

The season was full of the usual highs and lows with a few exceptional performances thrown in.

I would have to say that the high point of the season was the first GP win for Kieran Ryan at the Italian GP. He started from 5th position on the grid, led the race a few times and managed to take and hold the lead with 3 laps to go. It was a fantastic effort on Kieran's part and was very much appreciated by the team and by the fans that were watching the race.

Two low points stick out in my mind. The first was at Monaco, when Shiro was leading, only to get a puncture on lap 67 and having to drive a full lap to get back to the pits and then finishing 3rd. That was definitely going to be a race win for Shiro and it just gutted the team.

The 2nd low point wasn't actually a certain incident, it was more of a performance low point. Angelo Wolner was signed to drive the 2nd car and out of 6 appearances for the team, only managed to finish one race. This just showed the team that his level of commitment was not there, and how careful you must be when signing a driver.

SCUM would like to thank the drivers that put their bum on a seat for the 2004 season for us. They are as follows:-

Matt Hunt 3 races

Angelo Wolner 6 races

Shiro Ryong 5 races

Kieran Ryan 4 races

Dan Regan 2 races

Peter Harding 15 races

Unfortunately the team played musical chairs with it's drivers for most of the season which had quite an unsettling effect on the whole team. Yet we still managed to finish 6th in the championship, which was the minimum target that the team had set at the start of the season. Holden are happy enough with the performance of the team and negotiations are under way for the supply of engines for the 2005 season.

The SC205 is in the wind tunnel as this goes to press and will be ready for winter testing in the new year.

I would like to officially announce that I am retiring from full-time racing and baring any unforeseen circumstances I won't race the SC205 in competition. I'm stepping down to a testing role and to concentrate more on the managerial side of the team. This has been a hard decision to make, as I still enjoy racing at the highest competition level, but with the work load that I placed on myself of managing, testing and racing I have found by the time Sunday comes around that I'm thinking about too many things and my racing has suffered. Being a driver you must have 110% commitment to driving or else your performance will suffer and mine has been suffering for a long time.

I would like to thank everyone that has helped me through the past 4 seasons, the team, my crew and the teams co-owner Dan Regan.

SCUM will have a totally new driver line-up for 2005. We have already signed Antonio Irissari and will be announcing his team-mate in the near future. With the SC205 and the new spec. Holden engine, we should be a formidable force in the race for the 2005 championships.

We would like to congratulate Mapes-Vo on winning the constructors championship and Mikko Jakkonen on winning the drivers championship again. Well done guys - but look out next year.

Everyone have a good break and we will see you at winter testing.