Mark Winterbottom may have captured the 2004 Konica title with relative ease, but it was a vastly different story at the category's 25-lap non-championship Bathurst jaunt. The Stone Brothers Racing pilot again took a win, but only after a penultimate lap hiccup by championship runner-up Matt White opened the door for the newly-crowned champ.

The pair battled series new boy and early race leader Warren Luff throughout, in the year's hardest fought race. The top-placed Commodore driver in the mini-enduro was Kiwi Mark Porter in fourth. Porter was also the six round championship's highest-finishing Holden.

SBR's protégé won the final four Konica races of 2003, having posted a clean sweep at the final points-scoring round at Mallala. SBR are yet to confirm their 2004 plans for 'Frosty', although it's doubtful he'll suit up for Konica duty come the Wakefield Park season opener on 22 February.

Wazza's Next Frontier

Warren Luff has loomed as a hot favourite for the 2004 Konica title after his impressive late-season series debut. Luff was hoping to confirm his plans in November, after impressing Dick Johnson Racing's Konica and Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 squads at Bathurst. The 27-year-old ran as high as fourth in the famous #17 Falcon with Steven Johnson, before electrical gremlins delayed the pair's run en route to 13th.

"Doing the full Konica Series is the next logical step for me - the next frontier, if you like," the Sydneysider said. "I'm hoping to do it, but it's a case of finding the budget ..."

Luff is hoping to continue with DJR in Konica in 2004, having finished third in the 25-lap non championship Bathurst race. "We led it for a fair distance, and at least I can say that my first Konica podium was at Bathurst," Luff enthused. His first Konica drive was at Mallala where he finished the day fourth overall.

Meanwhile, Luff looks likely to set a new record - the most number of Mount Panorama laps completed in one year. In additional to Konica and 1000 laps, 'Wazza' will compete in three categories at this month's Bathurst 24 hour meeting. Luff will race in the twice-round-the-clock enduro, the 2-hour Showroom Showdown, and the V8 BRute races!

Also, V8X reckons Wazza's website, www.warrenluff.com, is possibly the best driver site we've seen.

'Kids' Star in 1000

Luke Youlden was the best performed Konica Series graduate in the 2003 Bob-a-Job 1000, scoring a fantastic podium result. Youlden, who partnered Steve Ellery to third, was one of 19 Konica competitors in the 1000.

The flood of Konica Kids was a perfect example of feeder series' reputation as an ideal Great Race training ground. Each year the visiting Europeans struggle for pace, while Konica drivers can call on a year's experience driving the fearsome V8 beasts. Andrew Jones was the next best Konica regular, ninth for OzEmail Racing.

Happy Konica Men

The latest Holden Commodore TV ad features 1980s rock band The Sunny Boys' song 'Happy Man'. We're betting that Sydney Commodore pedallers Jamie Miller and Ron Searle were humming the 'Happy Man' tune all week after coming home an impressive 15th outright in the

Bob Jane T-Marts 1000.

The JM Motorsport VX was the top finishing Konica car in the 2003 Great Race, a feat that would have once netted the pair the 'top privateers' honours. Unfortunately, the top privateer award long ago bit the dust, at least on an official basis.

"This is a happy day," Miller said after the Great Race. "We've successfully accomplished every goal set in our quest." It was the second successive year the pair had finished 15th, again keeping their noses clean, and avoiding the carnage. The car finished without a scratch - something few other cars could boast.

Beikoff's Mixed Bag

There was shock news leading up to Bathurst, with SBR announcing it would run two Falcons and a Commodore on the Mountain! No, not Stone Brothers Racing, but Shane Beikoff Racing. Beikoff's 20-member Queensland team was in the unique position of running both Fords and Holdens.

Unfortunately, only two cars made the start after the team owner's EL Falcon hit the Griffin's Bend wall on Friday. Best placed of the 'other' SBR cars was Stephen Voight's Falcon in 12th , with Phil Foster three places further back. It was the last official V8 Supercar meeting for all three cars, with ELs and VSs ineligible for Konica duty in 2004. Beikoff plans to run an AU Falcon in 2004.

Dropping Off The Perch Despite the official Bathurst program listing an impressive 32-car Konica entry at Bathurst, only 22 vehicles came under the starter's orders. A number of regular entrants failed to front, citing business commitments or a desire to reserve their resources for 2004. Stephen Voight drove to 12th on Saturday. Of those that fronted, four cars packed up after striking mechanical woes in practice. One such competitor was long-time touring car battler Garry Willmington who, oddly, was making his Konica Series debut. Willmington, whose best result was 9th in the 1981 James Hardie 1000, last raced a V8 Supercar three years ago. Sadly V8X spotted the veteran's EL Falcon on a trailer in the paddock during the 25 lap race, the victim of what a crew member described as a "front end" problem. These days Willmington is better known in racing circles as a circuit manager, which explains his EL Falcon's sponsor - Wakefield Park No Speed Limits!

Final Konica Series Points Mark Winterbottom 922* Matthew White 864 Mark Porter 780 Brett Peters 718 Luke Youlden 688 Dale Brede 680 Owen Kelly 680 Peter Gazzard 658 Craig Bastian 626 Kevin Mundy 612 *Points after dropping worst round