Crimsafe Endurance Countdown #11: Red Bull Racing Australia.

The first episode of the 2013 Crimsafe Endurance Countdown takes a look at the Dick Johnson Racing Fords of Chaz Mostert/Dale Wood and Tim Blanchard/Ashley Walsh

DJR’s revival has arguably been the story of the season to date, with the famous squad rising from its latest and most dire cash crisis pre-season to winning Race 24 of the championship at Queensland Raceway.

A key player in the resurgence has been 21-year-old rookie Chaz Mostert, who joined the team along with an increase in technical support from Ford Performance Racing in April.

Mostert is now in the somewhat unusual position of leading the team into his first attempt at the V8 Supercars endurance races.

The second episode of the 2013 Crimsafe Endurance Countdown focusses on the Holdens of Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport.

Scott Pye has been in the headlines for some monumental shunts this year and a fire at Winton recently. He is looking to turn his stocks around at the long distance races with veteran Paul Morris.

On the other side of the garage Dean Fiore will be joined by fast Kiwi Matt Halliday at Sandown, Bathurst and the Gold Coast.

The third episode of the 2013 Crimsafe Endurance Countdown takes a look at Tekno Autosports.

Shane van Gisbergen’s switch from Ford to Holden grabbed early season headlines especially on the back of a race win in Adelaide. He will be paired with Dutch flyer Jeroen Bleekemolen who has raced sportscars at Bathurst.

Jonathon Webb will have experienced German Marc Lieb as co-driver at Sandown, Bathurst and the Gold Coast.

Being based in Europe means both co-drivers will only get their first taste of a 2013-spec Car Of The Future platform during Friday practice at the Wilson Security Sandown 500.

Episode four of the 2013 Crimsafe Endurance Countdown profiles Nissan Motorsport.

Back in the race for the first time in 21 years, the Nissan squad has been on the improve in 2013 including a 1-2 finish for James Moffat and Michael Caruso in the Norton Hornets at the recent round at Winton.

The Nissan line-up includes Bathurst winners Rick and Todd Kelly in the Jack Daniel’s entries, with Karl Reindler and David Russell sharing the driving duties. While Taz Douglas and Daniel Gaunt will jump aboard the yellow entries.

The fifth episode of the 2013 Crimsafe Endurance Countdown concentrates on Fujitsu Racing GRM.

Hot young gun Scott McLaughlin will be joined by our analyst Jack Perkins, while experienced endurance race campaigner Greg Ritter will be with French driver Alex Premat.

Garry Rogers is celebrating 50 years in racing and are always a threat in the long distance races.

A special episode on today’s Crimsafe Endurance Countdown – a look at 40 years of 1000km racing at Mount Panorama.

Prior to 1973 the ‘Great Race’ was run over 500 miles, then a change to 1000km brought new challenges to the teams and drivers.

1973 also the marked the debut of one of this country’s great drivers – Dick Johnson. That year the man who would go onto become a Ford hero teamed with Bob Forbes in a Holden Torana GTR XU-1 to finish fifth on debut.

Over the years Johnson has experienced the highs and lows, including ‘The Rock’ in 1980, victory in ’81 then a trip into the trees in 1983. Two more race wins in 1989 and ’94 with John Bowe well and truly marked his place as a Mount Panorama legend.

The three-time Bathurst winner shares his memories of 1973, plus the evolution of what is now the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Episode eight of the 2013 Crimsafe Endurance Countdown looks at Erebus Motorsport V8.

Just under 12 months ago (19 September 2012) it was announced that Stone Brothers Racing would go onto become Erebus Motorsport V8. The ambitious project would see in just 109 days three AMG E63 V8 Supercars designed and built for roll-out for the launch on Valentine’s Day in February.

Since the season got underway the team has gone through its fair amount of growing pains, but has scored top-10 race results for Tim Slade and German import Maro Engel.

The enduros are a different game compared to the sprint events and the crew from Erebus believe that they can figure in races that require strategy and teamwork. Lee Holdsworth will have Craig Baird for the second-straight year in the IRWIN Racing entry, likewise Andrew Thompson will suit-up with Tim Slade in the Heavy Haulage Australia #47. The big interest is the SP Tools E63 with Steve Johnson moving over from his family’s team at Dick Johnson Racing to partner Engel.

The ninth episode of the 2013 Crimsafe Endurance Countdown profiles Ford Performance Racing.

The factory Ford squad will have four cars at Sandown, Bathurst and the Gold Coast including the Pepsi Max Crew FPR Falcons of Will Davison who will team with Steve Owen, and Mark Winterbottom who will once again join with our analyst Steven Richards. The Jeld-wen FPR Ford of Alex Davison will have fast Kiwi John McIntyre, while David Reynolds and Dean Canto will be looking at going one place better than their second place last year at Bathurst  in The Bottle-O FPR Ford.

Speed has never been an issue for FPR, and indeed closing the deal at Sandown and the Gold Coast; Bathurst has been a different story. Pole positions have come their way, but ultimately winning the race has eluded them.

The 10th episode of the 2013 Crimsafe Endurance Countdown profiles Walkinshaw Racing.

The two lead cars from the Holden Racing Team carry plenty of potential with 2011 Bathurst winners Garth Tander and Nick Percat back again, while James Courtney will have Kiwi Bathurst hero Greg Murphy sharing the driving duties.

The Walkinshaw stable will also have the Supercheap Auto Racing entry of evergreen Russell Ingall with IndyCar and sportscar racer Ryan Briscoe, while Tony D’Alberto, who is starting to hit form at the right time