Hayley "Swanny" Swanson will be the fourth female to drive a V8 Ute in its 12 year history when she takes the wheel for Round 2 of the 2012 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series -protected by Armor All at Symmons Plains, Tasmania 30 March - 1 April.
Swanson will join a list of female drivers including; Danielle Agiro who raced in the V8 Ute Series in 2003, Leanne Tander who teamed up with Thirsty Camels Craig Dontas for the 2010 "Ten Years of Legends Race" in Adelaide and Lauren Gray who stepped behind the wheel of the Brock Race Engineering Holden at Phillip Island in 2010.
Williams Race Tech will run Swanson and her Bay Point Developments backed Holden VE, which was driven by Charlie Kovacs Jnr at Round 1.
"The opportunity to race a V8 Ute in the Tasmanian round of the national series is just fantastic, and this opportunity arose only recently. There has been some furious peddling in the background and the plan is to finish this round well. I know that with this team we can do it and I hope that a good round here will help me secure some sponsors that will let me compete for the rest of the year," said Swanson.
The part-time model has only been racing since 2009 and fell in love with the sport when she drove her dad's WRX at a local track. Swanson was first seen in a national series when she stepped into the Aussie Racing Car Series where she placed 24th in 2011 and is ready to try her hand at a V8 Ute.
"What red-blooded race head would not die for the opportunity to race one of these cars? The ute is fundamentally Australian and the following these cars get is phenomenal. On top of that, you add the Holden versus Ford thing and you have a recipe for intense action and excitement. I want a piece of that action and can't wait to hit the track," said Swanson.
Swanson is a busy lady, studying a bachelor of business Law in Melbourne and in 2011 was one of three female drivers who took part in Channel Seven's Reality TV Show, Shannon's Super Car Showdown, which was hosted by former V8 Ute driver Grant Denyer and V8 Supercar drivers The Kelly Brothers.
The last time Swanson was on a V8 Ute grid she was working as a Monster Energy promotional girl standing next Nathan Pretty's Holden VE, this time around she is also aiming once again to be next to Pretty on the grid but this time in her own Holden VE.
"Well if by some chance I was to beat Nathan I would CELEBRATE!!! And I know that Nathan would celebrate with me. He's that kind of guy; easy going and a great racer. However somehow, I don't think I'll be bothering him too much during the race," explained Swanson.
Swanson will hit the track in her Bay Point Developments backed Holden for Practice on Friday, 29th March. Director of Bay Points Developments Colin Bradley is hoping to enter the series at the Hidden Valley round and is using this round to launch into a full assault on the series with Williams Race Tech.
Symmons Plains:
Friday, 29th March Practice 1 9:40amFriday, 29th March Practice 2 11:20amFriday, 29th March Qualifying 3:10pmSaturday, 30th March Race 1 11:30amSaturday, 30th March Race 2 2:35pmSunday, 1st April Race 3 11:00amSunday, 1st April Race 4 2:05pm
The 2012 Series consists of 25 races over eight rounds raced throughout Australia covering six states and one territory and is televised nationally through-out Australia on Network Seven and 7 Mate and internationally through Motors TV Europe, TV3 New Zealand and SPEED online in the USA.
To get up to date with the 2012 V8 Ute Season tune in to Network Seven Saturday, 24th March at 12:30pm to catch all of the action from Round 1.
