Nulon Oil's David Sieders will be heading to Bathurst next weekend (7-10th October) for Round 6 of the Yokohama V8 Ute Series - protected by Armor All next weekend (7-10th October) knowing that his prospects of a debut Championship title are becoming as tough as the infamous Mount Panorama circuit.
Sieders, who lead the Championship after the first round in Adelaide, now sits in fourth position by 33 points (479 points) from stable-mate Andrew “Fishtail” Fisher (512), 91 points behind second placed Jack “The Hustler” Elsgood (570), and 120 points away from the lead of Grant “Grunta” Johnson (599).
“We’ll be going to Bathurst with one simple game plan...take pole position, and win three races,” said Sieders, “there’s still quite a few points on offer for the rest of the season, but I have to get as many as possible if I want to get back to the top of the standings”.
“In saying that, getting back up there is going to be tough from this point... even if I can take out all the remaining pole positions and nine race wins, with the maximum 447 points on offer, I’d still need Grant and Jack to finish outside the Top 5 for the rest of the year”.
“There’s a reason they’re at the top of the standings, finished one and two last year and hold two of the last three [V8 Ute] Championships between them, and that’s because they are consistently finishing at the front of the field.”
And whilst the 26-year-old, from Londonderry in Western Sydney, has his eyes firmly fixed forward, Sieders is also very much aware of the looming challenges from fifth positioned Gary “Macca” McDonald and his teammate Chris “Crispy” Pither in sixth.
“We dropped behind 'Macca' after a poor round in Darwin, but managed to get it back after a new engine and a good round at Townsville,” said Sieders, “but a stupid mistake cost me 19 points at Phillip Island and that’s shortened the gap again”.
“Garry won the Bathurst round last year, and Chris is coming off the back of his New Zealand V8 Ute Championship win, so they’re a couple more reasons to get to the front and maximise points.”
Competing in the V8 Supercar Championship ‘Main Game’ at Mount Panorama for the first time only 12 months ago, Sieders will return to the track for his debut mountain race in a V8 Ute, leading the 2010 Rookie of the Year standings by 68 points over Jeremy “Shades of” Gray.
“Having the opportunity to start in the Bathurst 1000 with the Wildcard last year was sensational,” said Sieders, “it was definitely disheartening to retire so early with engine dramas, but I’m looking forward to getting back on track there and proving a thing or two”.
“I’ve raced Supercars at Bathurst for the past few years, so it’ll definitely be a big change,” said Sieders, “in terms of sheer speed, the utes are a little slower, but they are also a lot lighter in the rear, so I wouldn’t be surprised to live up to my V8 Utes' nickname and get a little sideways across the top of the mountain.”
Sieders will also carry some new support from the Bathurst round, including Winmallee-based tool and workshop equipment specialists Tool-Aus, as well as an increased presence from I.T. and security products retailer In Front Technologies.
“I really want to show our new partners just what we can do, and get the back on top of the podium like we did for Nulon in Adelaide.”
The V8 Utes hit the track on Thursday, 7th October for two practice sessions, with Qualifying at 9am on Friday, two races on Saturday (9:25am and 2:55pm) and Race 3 opening the racing on Sunday at 7:25am - Races 2 & 3 to be broadcast live by the Seven Network (check local guides).
“We know we’ve got a great package, with great car speed, and it’s now or never to get myself back on track towards that number one spot.”
