V8 Ute racing has become a family experience with Round Six of the Yokohama V8 Utes Racing Series involving two family duos’s competing at Winton August 1st – 3rd.
Starting it all was Numurkah local, Shannan Sidebottom who began racing with his dad Ray in 2007 but is now out on his own and will be looking to regain some ground after an unlucky run with his Green Petroleum car in previous rounds.
“We are hoping that being on our home track we have an advantage to put the VE where it should be, especially after the weekends we have had the last three rounds,” Sidebottom said.
Another recent father/son combo is the Jarvis family from B.V.C Racing with long time ute campaigner Capt Rob Jarvis joined by his son Alan at QLD Raceway last week for his V8 Ute debut. Alan’s involvement was a great incentive for father Rob as he drove his best ever performance in over 5 years of competition.
Some duos find it hard to separate from each other. Peter Burnitt who inherited son in-law and team-mate Brad Patton both drive for Big Gun Racing and are ranked 27th and 28th consecutively. Both came together on track at Hidden Valley in Darwin recently, with son in law Brad taking out father in law Peter in big way. Both drivers gave each other plenty of room at the Qld Raceway round last weekend.
Another family expanding for the Winton round of the Yokohama V8 Ute Series is the Kovacs family from Adelaide. Charlie, who is well known for his handlebar moustache and has been in the series since it’s first ever round in 2001 will be joined by a new rival – his son, Charlie Kovacs Jr dubbed “Mini-bars”.
“There will be a little bit of a rivalry on the track. Junior has been trying to get into my seat for years, however has found his own and now he will be my opposition, which is great,” Kovacs Senior said.
Charlie Junior will be racing V8 Utes for the first time with Nandi Kiss Racing and after working at his Dad’s side for so long and driving in the Holden HQ Series, “Mini-bars” is eager to show off his skill behind the wheel.
“I am anxious and excited all at the same time. I have been involved since the beginning of the series and to finally get behind the wheel and settle the score between senior and junior is a great feeling. I am also really keen to gain some valuable experience,” said Junior Kovacs.
Round 6 of the Yokohama V8 Ute Series will take to the track at Winton next weekend and all drivers are still chasing current series leader, Ford driver, Layton Crambrook.
Crambrook is trailed closely by local Victorian, Kim Jane who has been on the podium for the past three rounds and has closed the gap to only 25 points.
This will be the first time the V8 Ute series has raced at Winton in over 5 years and the racing is expected to be very tight. V8 Ute fans will get to see three races of the weekend as a support to the V8 Supercar Championship series.
The Current Top Ten Series Standings are as follows:
Layton Crambrook Ford 435 pointsKim Jane Holden 410 pointsGrant Johnson Holden 385 pointsRyal Harris Holden 345 pointsGeorge Miedecke Ford 329 pointsGary Baxter Holden 316 pointsJack Elsegood Ford 310 pointsColin Corkery Ford 302 pointsStephen Robinson Ford 290 pointsGary McDonald Holden 290 points
Make sure you watch Channel Seven, Saturday, 6th September 1:30pm – 2:30pm to catch all the highlights from Round Five.
