V8 Ute Drivers Successful On and Off the Track

Phillip Livingstone has just been appointed by the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) as Race Director and Investigating and Prosecuting Officer (IPO) to the Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series for 2009.

Livingstone has been involved as a Clark and Sector Marshal around Australia and was one of the few chosen in the CAMS International contingent for training in Singapore and Bahrain.

A Canberra man, Livingstone no longer has a home track and is use to travelling interstate to conduct his motorsport work and is very excited to come on board with the Utes.

"I'm very much looking forward to being involved in the Utes. I have watched them from their development stage where they were a bit rough and ready and have seen the driver skills and standards increase over the past two years," he said.

Livingstone is the successor to Paul Taylor who has been offered a role with the Fujitsu Series (development series to the V8 Supercars) however he will still have dealings with the V8 Utes as the CAMS Technical Manager.

Taylor was instrumental in developing new driving standards for the Series and V8 Utes category manager SPHERIX spokesman Craig Denyer is happy for him in his new role.

"Having a Driving Standards Advisor such as Warren Luff together with a race director/IPO such as Paul really cleaned up the driving standard's and made the judicial system much more efficient, effective and transparent while still respecting the rights of the competitor," explained Denyer.

"Paul really enjoyed the Utes and was valued throughout the Series by all. We wish him every success in his new role in the Fujitsu Series and glad that we have been part of his progression as a race director. I am sure Phil will be equally as effective in the role'" Denyer stated.

Livingstone will step up to the plate March 19 - 22 at the first round of the Utes at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.