2013 V8 Supercars Discussion

Jason Bright to race Ferrari in Le Mans 24 Hours

V8 Supercars star Jason Bright will make his debut in the famed Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race this year aboard a Ferrari 458.

The 40-year-old Australian has inked a deal to drive in the GTE Am class for American outfit 8Star Motorsports alongside Frenchman Stephane Sarrazin and team owner Enzo Potolicchio.

Sarrazin co-drove Bright’s Brad Jones Racing Holden in the 2011 and 2012 Armor All Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercars events, and played a key role in the deal.

Bright told Speedcafe.com that competing in the La Sarthe classic will be the realisation of a dream.

“For me, the biggest races in the world are the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans 24 Hours, Indy 500 and Daytona 500,” he said.

“To get over there and be able to do Le Mans is definitely very special and will be one of the highlights of my career.”

Bright came close to competing at Le Mans in 2006 with Aston Martin Racing, but a Sebring 12 Hour outing proved the extent of his campaign with the Prodrive-run team after a late V8 Supercars scheduling change brought about a date clash with Le Mans.

This year, the compulsory test day for Le Mans rookies and the race itself fall either side of the Darwin round of the V8 Supercars Championship.

8Star is a new name in endurance racing this season, with Venezuelan businessman-racer Potolicchio having set-up his own squad after winning the LMP2 class of both the Le Mans 24 Hours and World Endurance Championship with Starworks Motorsport in 2012.

The team enjoys a close partnership with leading Ferrari GT squad AF Corse, and is fielding cars in the American Grand-Am and IMSA Prototype Lites categories, in addition to its Ferrari WEC assault.

Bright will join the team for two days during the official WEC pre-season test at Paul Ricard, France, late next week, and says that more running prior to the pre-event test at Le Mans is possible, pending further date confirmations.

The former Bathurst winner added that he hopes this year’s Le Mans assault will not be a one-off.

“I enjoy endurance racing and the beauty of it is that once you’ve done Le Mans you don’t have to do the official test the next time,” he said.

“That’s always been the hard part about our (V8 Supercars) calendar. It usually clashes with one of them.”

The 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours is set to take place on June 22-23.

JONATHON WEBB SECURES FULL-TIME DARRELL LEA BACKING

Tekno Autosports driver Jonathon Webb will become the flag flyer for Darrell Lea chocolates in V8 Supercars for the rest of the season.
Having run in an interim Police livery displaying a road safety message at Sydney’s pre-season test and Adelaide’s Clipsal 500, Webb’s Commodore was ordained in Darrell Lea signage recently at Albert Park as a precursor to a longer term deal being confirmed.
Tony Quinn, owner of the well known confectionery brand, has given the go ahead for the company to become the new primary sponsor on Webb’s Commodore.

Quinn also owns the VIP Petfoods company that sponsors Tekno’s #97 Holden of Shane van Gisbergen, and had previously been planning a mid-season change to Darrel Lea branding on the Kiwi’s car.
“The plan was that Shane would start the year with VIP because of our equity in that company, then we would go to America (May’s Austin 400) and change to Darrell Lea because it is the number one selling licorice brand in America,” Quinn told Speedcafe.com

“It was a real problem to be honest because as it was, we would return from America and it would then need to be stickered as Darrell Lea Australia with new race suits, new garb, new everything.”
Quinn added that Van Gisbergen’s early success in VIP colours, which has included an impressive victory in the Clipsal 500, played its part in altering the plan.

“Because Shane has hit the ground in tremendous fashion the VIP boys are going, ‘hang on a minute, we’ve been at this for a while and we want to continue’,” he continued.
“Anyway, I have now given the go ahead to have Darrell Lea on Webb’s car for the rest of the year.
“That way we can keep them happy and keep the VIP boys happy. Also Darrell Lea has got some huge plans for new products this year.”

Quinn said there remains a small chance that both Tekno cars would run with the Darrell Lea branding at the US round at the Circuit Of The Americas venue.
“We might change to Darrell Lea just for there, but probably not,” he said.
“It depends on whether Shane does well at the next couple of rounds. But because everyone has got a VIP jacket and stuff we probably won’t (change the sponsors).
“If people see Darrell Lea on Shane’s car, it could possibly have a strange effect because people might say, ‘have VIP run out of money or are they in trouble?’.
“Not everyone knows its the same bank account.”

Webb’s entry has not enjoyed a full-time naming rights backer since the loss of energy drink brand Mother at the end of the 2011 season.
Webb and van Gisbergen are running seventh and ninth respectively in the V8 Supercars Championship after the Clipsal 500 Adelaide earlier this month.

Owen joins Ford Performance Racing for enduros

Ford Performance Racing has completed its driver line-up for the Endurance Cup events with the acquisition of Steve Owen.

Owen, who missed out on a full-time drive after a split between title sponsor VIP Petfoods, license holder Paul Morris and Dick Johnson Racing following the 2012 season, will partner Will Davison in the #6 Pepsi Max entry at Sandown, Bathurst and Surfers Paradise.

He joins FPR on a two-year deal and will drive alongside regulars Steve Richards, who teams with Mark Winterbottom. Meanwhile, Dean Canto will remain with David Reynolds in the sister Bottle-O entry, while Chaz Mostert is tipped to join Alex Davison in the team's fourth entry.

"I am excited to have the opportunity to drive for FPR and to be alongside Will, who is always one of the favourites to win the race," Owen said.

"When he chased me so hard after I lost my full-time drive it showed he thinks I am integral part of him challenging for wins so it was a no-brainer to sign with the team.

"The ideal situation for me is to be driving a Ford so it doesn't get any better than to be doing that for FPR. I couldn't be happier."

Davison says he lobbied hard to partner with Owen, looking to build a strong partnership over the next two seasons.

"It was my number one preference for the enduros to have Steve driving with me as he is easily the pick of the drivers available," Davison said.

"I lobbied hard to get him on board so I am glad it has come off as we get along very well. He was at DJR and Walkinshaw when I was and he shared my car in co-driver sessions over the years and physically he fits in my seat and seat belts, so that's a bonus.

"Steve is extremely fast, easy to work with and has excelled at all of the circuits in the Endurance Cup so that all makes him the perfect choice."

Owen is set to make his FPR debut at the team's next test day at Winton, which is yet to be scheduled.

The Holden Racing Team has relaxed Trans-Tasman sporting rivalry by running special one-off ANZAC livery for the ITM 400 Auckland.
Both factory Commodores for Garth Tander and James Courtney will be emblazoned with a contemporary depiction of the ANZAC Rising Sun and silhouettes of Australian and New Zealand soldiers walking side-by-side on the battlefields.
HRT has been given the go-ahead to run the tribute jointly by the Returned and Services League of Australia and the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RSA).
The unique tribute will raise the profile of the RSL’s ANZAC Appeal which runs up to ANZAC Day, April 25, and the RSA’s Poppy Day Appeal scheduled for next Friday (April 19).
Both former V8 Supercars champions Tander (2007) and Courtney (2010) feel a deep sense of pride by running the ANZAC battle gear as the series makes its return to the upgraded south Auckland circuit for the first time since 2007.
“Honoured and proud is the best description of how I feel about being able to pay tribute to the Spirit of ANZAC and to the brave men and women that have served our two countries,” Tander said.



“ANZAC Day is no longer just about the original soldiers who landed at Gallipoli in 1915, nor is it just a public holiday.
“The Spirit of ANZAC is a reflection of our life’s values – courage, compassion, camaraderie and commitment, and being there to help a mate.
“I’m proud we have the opportunity to help nurture its meaning for future generations, and remember the sacrifices made so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.”
Sydney-born Gold Coast-based racer Courtney will don a custom painted helmet to commemorate the HRT tribute to the ANZACS.
“I’m proud that the Holden Racing Team is in a position where we can acknowledge and respect such a special day in Australia and New Zealand’s history,” Courtney said.
“Our tribute not only commemorates those in the original Gallipoli campaign, but every person that has served our countries ever since – including those still serving today.
“The RSL in Australia and New Zealand’s RSA have done incredible work for generations helping veterans and their families when they need it.
“It is important we continue to recognise these organisations and support their fund raising appeals so they can continue to provide such valuable support.”
Holden Motorsport manager Simon McNamara said the ANZAC spirit represents an unbreakable bond between Australia and New Zealand.