V8 Ute drivers Jake and Rhys McNally are keen to take to their home track for Round 3 of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All, 4 -6 May at Barbagallo Raceway, Perth.
This will be the second year in a row the brothers have raced against each other in V8 Utes, Rhys started in the Series in 2010 and younger brother Jake joined the Series last year and is the third brother to do so.
Older brother Glenn took out the V8 Ute Rookie of the Year title in 2008 and Brother Mark drove in the V8 Supercar Development Series. Rhys has the job of mentoring his younger brother Jake as his brothers did for him.
“I’m trying to work with him, he’s still new to the Ute scene, his racing in the past has only been in open wheelers and the Ute is different to drive, also the way the guys race is very different. We’ll keep working with him and hopefully soon he’ll be banging doors with me,” said Rhys.
Rhys is currently 6th in the Series and in good contention for the title with only 48 points separating him from Series Leader, Nathan Pretty. McNally is keen to stay up the front of the pack but is having no presumptions about a home-track advantage.
“It’s an Interesting track, its short and pretty narrow, I don’t think you really have a home-track advantage as you usually do, it isn’t overly technical. We need to make sure we qualify well as it’s a hard track to pass,” explained McNally.
Rhys won his first V8 Ute Race last year at the final round in Sydney and would like to replicate that in front of a home-crowd.
“It’s always great to come home and race in front of a local crowd; I’m really looking forward to it. We’ve had a great start to the year and we just have to keep the momentum going, consistent points and staying up the sharp end of the field. We’d really like to push for a top three finish at the end of the year and a race win at home would be nice,” he said.
Jake came into the Series fresh out of open wheelers and is improving every round. Currently in 19th overall, the young-gun is eager to be racing next to his brother soon.
“It’s always the aim, I’m hoping to get to the mid-field point and it would be great to do it for the first time at my home track,” said Jake.Although racing a V8 Ute is very different to racing a Formula Ford, the 20 year old prefers the close racing and is excited to drive in front of a home-crowd.
“I’m definitely excited, all of my sponsors are going to be there and it will be great to race in front of them all at the same time.”
“I haven’t been around the track since last year’s V8 Ute Round but I’ve done a lot of laps in a Formula Ford, which didn’t turn out to be very beneficial as the two cars are completely different to drive. Both cars have positives, whatever I’m racing I enjoy it but I do prefer racing the Utes as its more aggressive,” said Jake.
The Brothers will take to the track. Rhys in his #26 Stratco Racing Holden and Jake in his JSW Holden on Friday, 4 May for two practice sessions.
See below full schedule for the V8 Utes at the Trading Post Perth Challenge. Friday, 4 May Practice 1 8:55amFriday, 4 May Practice 2 2:00pmSaturday, 5 May Qualifying 9:40amSaturday, 5 May Race 1 1:15pmSunday, 6 May Race 2 8:50amSunday, 7 May Race 3 3:50pm
Race 1 will be televised live as on Network Seven on Saturday, 5 May in the Raceday Xtra broadcast.
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.
