JONES JUMPS AT MINI CHALLENGE CHANCE

There will be a new face but an old alliance in the ranks of the MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers, this weekend.

Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series driver Robbie Jones joins forces with old ally Peter Doulman at Round 5 of the MINI Challenge Series at the forthcoming L&H 500 event at Philip Island.

The relationship started back in 2003 when the pair drove together in Robbie’s car at the Bathurst 1000. As a result of that initial partnership both teams and families have become and remained good friends.

“Robbie is the right fit for our team at the moment and has slotted straight in. He hasn’t done much racing over the past 18 months but at a recent test day he showed us he hasn’t lost it by delivering very respectable times on old tyres not far off Neil’s (McFadyen) pole time.” Doulman said.

Jones too was happy.

“My last race was at the Bathurst 12 Hour in February in a Holden HSV. Between that and my V8 Supercar the MINI is a totally different beast. All three demand a different mindset and discipline, but the MINI just blows me away with its braking performance. You can go in that much deeper than you would normally dare.  With that in mind, and the fact that you can go 3 or 4 abreast into a corner in these things I am looking forward to some really exciting racing. I am also extremely proud to be offered the job to drive with the M3 outfit in the car that has that big fat Number One on it!”

The 2008 Championship winning car will receive a new paint livery in that of the “Re-Car” colour scheme thanks to Robbie’s company Cartrek Sign & Design.

Jones adds a real wild card flavour to the fifth round of the 2009 MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers.

He will also be the second “Robbie” making his MINI Challenge debut with globally celebrated Motorcycle stunt rider Robbie Maddison also saddling up in the Pizza Capers UBER Star car.