# 2001 Australian V8 Ultimate

The 2001 Australian V8 Ultimate was the thirteenth and final round of the 2001 Shell Championship Series. It was held on the weekend of 1 to 2 December at the Sandown International Raceway in Melbourne, Victoria.

## Race report

Todd Kelly took his first round win in a race weekend mainly composed of heavy rain.

## Race results
### Qualifying

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 15 | Todd Kelly | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.5651 |
| 2 | 00 | Craig Lowndes | Gibson Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:11.6283 |
| 3 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.6793 |
| 4 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.7271 |
| 5 | 2 | Jason Bright | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.7981 |
| 6 | 18 | Paul Radisich | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:11.9300 |
| 7 | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.9606 |
| 8 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.9809 |
| 9 | 6 | Steven Richards | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.0715 |
| 10 | 4 | Marcos Ambrose | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.1007 |
| 11 | 9 | David Besnard | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.1141 |
| 12 | 600 | Simon Wills | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.2800 |
| 13 | 29 | Paul Morris | Paul Morris Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:12.2996 |
| 14 | 31 | Steven Ellery | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.3360 |
| 15 | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.3401 |
| 16 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.3451 |
| 17 | 43 | Paul Weel | Paul Weel Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.3722 |
| 18 | 10 | Mark Larkham | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.3784 |
| 19 | 35 | Jason Bargwanna | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:12.3941 |
| 20 | 34 | Garth Tander | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:12.4082 |
| 21 | 24 | Paul Romano | Romano Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:12.4670 |
| 22 | 54 | Tony Longhurst | Rod Nash Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:12.4938 |
| 23 | 21 | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.5159 |
| 24 | 021 | Jason Richards | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 1:12.5863 |
| 25 | 7 | Rodney Forbes | Gibson Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.6749 |
| 26 | 255 | Rick Kelly | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:12.8653 |
| 27 | 3 | Cameron McConville | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:12.9060 |
| 28 | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 1:12.9729 |
| 29 | 75 | Anthony Tratt | Paul Little Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:13.1390 |
| 30 | 76 | Matthew White | Matthew White Racing | Holden Commodore (VS) | 1:13.6237 |
| 31 | 16 | Dugal McDougall | McDougall Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:13.6320 |
| Source: ||||||

### Top Fifteen Shootout

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Time |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.2564 |
| 2 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.3574 |
| 3 | 15 | Todd Kelly | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.4480 |
| 4 | 4 | Marcos Ambrose | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:11.4927 |
| 5 | 2 | Jason Bright | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.5005 |
| 6 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:11.7299 |
| 7 | 18 | Paul Radisich | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:11.7426 |
| 8 | 31 | Steven Ellery | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:11.7790 |
| 9 | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:11.9256 |
| 10 | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:12.0316 |
| 11 | 6 | Steven Richards | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.2845 |
| 12 | 9 | David Besnard | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.2946 |
| 13 | 29 | Paul Morris | Paul Morris Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 1:12.3404 |
| 14 | 00 | Craig Lowndes | Gibson Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.3617 |
| 15 | 600 | Simon Wills | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1:12.8046 |
| Source: ||||||

### Race 1

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Laps | Time | Grid |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | 1hr 4min 59.5617sec | 1 |
| 2 | 00 | Craig Lowndes | Gibson Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 5.381 s | 14 |
| 3 | 15 | Todd Kelly | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 7.413 s | 3 |
| 4 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 8.332 s | 6 |
| 5 | 2 | Jason Bright | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 12.643 s | 5 |
| 6 | 4 | Marcos Ambrose | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 13.915 s | 4 |
| 7 | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 25.528 s | 9 |
| 8 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 27.344 s | 2 |
| 9 | 35 | Jason Bargwanna | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 29.468 s | 19 |
| 10 | 21 | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 34.836 s | 23 |
| 11 | 31 | Steven Ellery | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 35.264 s | 8 |
| 12 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 35.339 s | 16 |
| 13 | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 35.543 s | 10 |
| 14 | 9 | David Besnard | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 39.860 s | 12 |
| 15 | 6 | Steven Richards | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 44.333 s | 11 |
| 16 | 34 | Garth Tander | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 45.646 s | 20 |
| 17 | 16 | Dugal McDougall | McDougall Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 49.694 s | 31 |
| 18 | 600 | Simon Wills | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 50.185 s | 15 |
| 19 | 021 | Jason Richards | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 48 | + 55.199 s | 24 |
| 20 | 18 | Paul Radisich | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 57.438 s | 7 |
| 21 | 43 | Paul Weel | Paul Weel Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 57.676 s | 17 |
| 22 | 54 | Tony Longhurst | Rod Nash Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 47 | + 1 Lap | 22 |
| 23 | 14 | Tomas Mezera | Imrie Motor Sport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 47 | + 1 Lap | 32 |
| 24 | 7 | Rodney Forbes | Gibson Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 39 | + 9 Laps | 25 |
| Ret | 76 | Matthew White | Matthew White Racing | Holden Commodore (VS) | 33 | Retired | 30 |
| Ret | 10 | Mark Larkham | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 31 | Retired | 18 |
| Ret | 29 | Paul Morris | Paul Morris Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 29 | Retired | 13 |
| Ret | 75 | Anthony Tratt | Paul Little Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 25 | Retired | 29 |
| Ret | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 13 | Retired | 28 |
| Ret | 24 | Paul Romano | Romano Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 9 | Retired | 21 |
| Ret | 255 | Rick Kelly | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 7 | Engine | 26 |
| Ret | 3 | Cameron McConville | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 0 | Accident | 27 |
| Source: ||||||||

### Race 2

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Laps | Time | Grid |
| 1 | 15 | Todd Kelly | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | 1hr 12min 49.5203sec | 3 |
| 2 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 10.481 s | 8 |
| 3 | 00 | Craig Lowndes | Gibson Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 16.660 s | 2 |
| 4 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 18.032 s | 1 |
| 5 | 4 | Marcos Ambrose | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 36.186 s | 6 |
| 6 | 18 | Paul Radisich | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 37.706 s | 20 |
| 7 | 35 | Jason Bargwanna | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 51.329 s | 9 |
| 8 | 6 | Steven Richards | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 59.882 s | 15 |
| 9 | 021 | Jason Richards | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 48 | + 1:03.875 s | 19 |
| 10 | 31 | Steven Ellery | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 1:07.592 s | 11 |
| 11 | 2 | Jason Bright | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 47 | + 1 lap | 5 |
| 12 | 21 | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 47 | + 1 lap | 10 |
| 13 | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 47 | + 1 lap | 29 |
| 14 | 9 | David Besnard | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 47 | + 1 lap | 14 |
| 15 | 600 | Simon Wills | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 47 | + 1 lap | 18 |
| 16 | 43 | Paul Weel | Paul Weel Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 47 | + 1 lap | 21 |
| 17 | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 47 | + 1 lap | 7 |
| 18 | 14 | Tomas Mezera | Imrie Motor Sport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 46 | + 2 laps | 23 |
| 19 | 7 | Rodney Forbes | Gibson Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 46 | + 2 laps | 24 |
| 20 | 54 | Tony Longhurst | Rod Nash Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 46 | + 2 laps | 22 |
| 21 | 34 | Garth Tander | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 46 | + 2 laps | 16 |
| 22 | 255 | Rick Kelly | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 46 | + 2 laps | 30 |
| 23 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 46 | + 2 laps | 4 |
| 24 | 10 | Mark Larkham | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 46 | + 2 laps | 26 |
| 25 | 3 | Cameron McConville | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 45 | + 3 laps | 31 |
| 26 | 16 | Dugal McDougall | McDougall Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 40 | + 8 laps | 17 |
| Ret | 29 | Paul Morris | Paul Morris Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 46 | Retired | 27 |
| Ret | 17 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 12 | Retired | 12 |
| Ret | 75 | Anthony Tratt | Paul Little Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 1 | Retired | 28 |
| Ret | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 0 | Accident | 13 |
| Ret | 24 | Paul Romano | Romano Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 0 | Retired | 29 |
| Source(s): ||||||||

### Race 3

| Pos | No | Name | Team | Vehicle | Laps | Time | Grid |
| 1 | 00 | Craig Lowndes | Gibson Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | 1hr 11min 05.3245sec | 3 |
| 2 | 4 | Marcos Ambrose | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 1.926 s | 5 |
| 3 | 15 | Todd Kelly | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 3.003 s | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | Jason Bright | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 12.428 s | 11 |
| 5 | 29 | Paul Morris | Paul Morris Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 13.275 s | 27 |
| 6 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 26.345 s | 23 |
| 7 | 255 | Rick Kelly | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 47.018 s | 22 |
| 8 | 11 | Larry Perkins | Perkins Engineering | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 47.868 s | 30 |
| 9 | 600 | Simon Wills | Briggs Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 48.137 s | 15 |
| 10 | 46 | John Faulkner | John Faulkner Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 48 | + 48.901 s | 13 |
| 11 | 21 | Brad Jones | Brad Jones Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 49.902 s | 12 |
| 12 | 35 | Jason Bargwanna | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 48 | + 50.483 s | 7 |
| 13 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 1:03.520 s | 28 |
| 14 | 31 | Steven Ellery | Steven Ellery Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 1:10.273 s | 10 |
| 15 | 9 | David Besnard | Stone Brothers Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 48 | + 1:11.937 s | 14 |
| 16 | 021 | Jason Richards | Team Kiwi Racing | Holden Commodore (VT) | 47 | + 1 lap | 9 |
| 17 | 54 | Tony Longhurst | Rod Nash Racing | Holden Commodore (VX) | 47 | + 1 lap | 20 |
| 18 | 10 | Mark Larkham | Larkham Motor Sport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 47 | + 1 lap | 24 |
| 19 | 14 | Tomas Mezera | Imrie Motor Sport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 47 | + 1 lap | 18 |
| 20 | 75 | Anthony Tratt | Paul Little Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 46 | + 2 laps | 29 |
| 21 | 7 | Rodney Forbes | Gibson Motorsport | Ford Falcon (AU) | 46 | + 2 laps | 19 |
| 22 | 3 | Cameron McConville | Lansvale Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 43 | + 5 laps | 25 |
| Ret | 43 | Paul Weel | Paul Weel Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 47 | Retired | 16 |
| Ret | 6 | Steven Richards | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 43 | Retired | 8 |
| Ret | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 40 | Retired | 2 |
| Ret | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | Holden Commodore (VX) | 15 | Accident damage | 4 |
| Ret | 34 | Garth Tander | Garry Rogers Motorsport | Holden Commodore (VX) | 14 | Retired | 21 |
| Ret | 18 | Paul Radisich | Dick Johnson Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 8 | Retired | 6 |
| Ret | 5 | Glenn Seton | Glenn Seton Racing | Ford Falcon (AU) | 8 | Spun off | 17 |
| Source(s): ||||||||

## Championship Standings

| Pos. | No | Driver | Team | Pts |
| 1 | 1 | Mark Skaife | Holden Racing Team | 3478 |
| 2 | 8 | Russell Ingall | Perkins Engineering | 2875 |
| 3 | 2 | Jason Bright | Holden Racing Team | 2819 |
| 4 | 51 | Greg Murphy | Kmart Racing Team | 2724 |
| 5 | 17 | Steven Johnson | Dick Johnson Racing | 2532 |