COLIN Sieders hopes to be back in a V8 Supercar for the next round of the Fujitsu V8 Series at Bathurst after last week’s news that an operation will cost him his chance to race in the ‘Championship Series’ endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.
Sieders will go into surgery next week to have the hernia in his lower abdomen repaired and hopes to be fit enough to contest the Fujitsu V8 round at the famous Mount Panorama circuit.
If Colin had made the start of the two races (L&H 500, Phillip Island and Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000), he would have become the first person to contest a Main Series V8 Supercar race with a disability. That feat will have to be reserved for next season …
It was confirmed last week that Sieders will be replaced by competent V8 Utes Series driver Andrew Fisher. Fisher will partner Colin’s brother David is the Jesus, All about Life-sponsored Ford Falcon BF.
Sieders and Fisher will get their first taste of the Triple Eight Race Engineering Falcon that they will use in the two enduros at Queensland Raceway this Wednesday in preparation for the twin-driver events.
COLIN SIEDERS QUOTEBOOK:
Sieders on his operation:“I’ve got a hernia in my lower abdomen on the left hand side above my groin,” he said.“After the Queensland Raceway round, I knew I had a little hernia, but I didn’t know quite how big it was, nor did the doctor.“When I went back to my doctor on Tuesday, he discovered it was the size of a male’s fist when it pops out, which is a pretty dangerous situation. It’s around my bowel area, so it can cut the blood supply from your diaphragm. I’m getting that fixed on Monday week.“At this stage, I won’t be going to Phillip Island to watch. It all depends on how the operation goes and how many days I have to stay in hospital.”
Sieders on his Bathurst aspirations:“My aim is to race at Bathurst in the Fujitsu V8 Series races, subject to how my body heals after the operation. I’ll go back to the doctor on the Monday before Bathurst to get the final yes or no.“It’s very disappointing for many reasons. The main goal was to enter the two endurance races, we’re still fulfilling that as a team, so I’m still pretty pleased. Our goal has always been to do it as a team.“Bathurst is still going to be a big event for us. Even though I won’t be driving in the Main Game, our whole team will be there, we’ll have our own garage in pitlane, and to have David making his Bathurst debut is a pretty deal. “It’s a 50/50 chance whether I’ll be racing there or not. I’ll just have to get over the operation and see how I am. The last time I had an operation, I recovered pretty quick – I actually have an operation once a year it seems! I’m used to it now. But I hope this is the last of it for a while.”
