V8 Utes Centenary Celebration for Gold Coast 600 Appearance

Round 7 of the 2013 Auto one V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by ARMOR ALL will kick off the 100th Round of the Series, which began back in 2001 in Adelaide with only 9 Utes. It now has a 32 strong field at every round and some of the best race action to be seen.V8 Supercar Development Series and former NASCAR driver George Miedecke will re-join the grid this weekend at the ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600, 25th – 27th October.

Miedecke will replace two-time Bathurst winner Tony Longhurst in The Boat Works Holden. Longhurst retired from motorsport two weeks ago after Race 3 at the Bathurst 1000. The former water ski champion took over the Gold Coast Company earlier this year and has decided to focus on his work commitments and his water sport.

“I’ve had a lot of fun in the Utes. I thought I’d let George drive it, he’d do a lot better job than me and give the company good publicity,” said Longhurst.

Miedecke started his racing career in the V8 Ute Series and stood on the Gold Coast podium back in 2007, alongside two-time champion Grant Johnson and former NRL pin-up boy Jack Elsegood. Miedecke also filled in last year when he was called in to drive the Auto One Wildcard Ute, and finished just outside the podium. The New South Welshman is looking forward to getting back to his roots.

“I think it’s always good to go back to the Utes and the Gold Coast is a great round to do it. It’s a shame that Tony is stepping out of the car but it’s a great opportunity for me. Hopefully, I can do The Boat Works proud. I’ve always gone well on the Gold Coast, although it will be tough with only one practice session, it will make it hard to adapt to a different race ute compared to a V8 Supercar in just 20 minutes. Williams Race Tech do a great job with the Ute,  I know it will be fast, I just need to see if I can drive it that fast,” said Miedecke.

Miedecke will join the top 6 drivers who are all battling for the ENZED Drivers Championship, and points are everything coming into the penultimate Round. The Championship was given a shake-up at Bathurst when New South Welshman David Sieders took the lead only 3 points ahead of Gold Coaster Ryal Harris. Harris will have some fierce competition with Sieders, Harris won the round in a clean-sweep in 2011, and Sieders last year, (Sieders also holds the lap record, breaking Harris’ in 2012).

“I’m really looking forward to this round, I love it, and it’s my local, so I have a lot of support here. I’m just hoping the car gets sorted. We had a lot of issues at Bathurst and were shaking or heads as to the problem, so if we get that sorted we should do really well,” said Harris.

Nine other locals will be vying for a spot on the podium. Young-gun Jesse Dixon (2012 Shannons Supercar Showdown winner and Bathurst 1000 competitor) was only millimetres away from the podium at Bathurst, until he was caught up in an incident in Race 3. Brisbane based Ryan Hansford had a dream come-true standing on the Bathurst podium last round in celebration of his late father’s (Gregg Hansford) 20th anniversary Bathurst 1000 win. Go Karting Gold Coast owner Cam Wilson won Race 2 last year on his debut and will be looking for another great result on his home-track.

Other Gold Coasters to take to the track next weekend include father and son in-law Peter Burnitt and Rohan Barry.

Brisbane based Wayne Wakefield, Matthew Nolan and Kris Walton will be joined by newcomers Steve Wilson and Layton Barker. Barker from Tasmania, is making his second appearance in the Series, he drove at Bathurst last year. Former AFL start Troy Wilson will also return to the V8 Utes, having his first round at Bathurst last weekend.

The V8 Utes will once again be housed at the Mantra Sun City (Cnr Ocean Avenue & Gold Coast Highway) and will hit the track for their one and only practice session on Friday, 25th October.

See below full racing schedule for the weekend: Friday, 25th October          Practice       8:20amFriday, 25th October          Qualifying      1pmSaturday, 26th October     Race 1        12:55pmSunday, 27th October        Race 2         8:15amSunday, 27th October        Race 3       12:10pm

Race 1 and Race 3 will be televised LIVE on Network Seven be sure to check your local guides.


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