ertz MINI Challenge – delivered by Pizza Capers races to the streets of Surfers Paradise next weekend for the penultimate round of the national series, the Armor All Gold Coast 600.
Sixteen MINI R56 Challenge cars will grid-up for what is expected to be one of the most hotly contested rounds of the season and with half the grid hailing from Sth East Queensland, local flavour is set to flair-up the field.
Mathematically Series leader Chris Alajajian has a slight chance of taking title honours at the Gold Coast event but will be under fierce pressure from title rival Paul Stokell and 2010 rookies Peter McNiven and Sean Carter who will be looking to apply maximum force to the Sydneysider.
Regular Kiwi driver Gavin Yortt is poised to move up the leader-board currently occupying fifth in the championship while local favourite Brendan Cook will bring his Brisbane-based MINI R56 back to familiar soil after spending his youth growing up right round the corner from the street circuit.
Boosting the Gold Coast-based brigade is Pizza Capers UberStar driver and V8 Supercar legend Glenn Seton who returns to the series for the third time this season. Now residing on the Gold Coast ‘Seto’ will feel right at home as he tackles the all new 2.96 kilometre beachside trac
Other ‘Goldy’ locals include Gold Coast MINI Garage Dealer Principal Beric Lynton and Box & Lock Storage owner Rob Knight who returns to the series for the second time this year as he continues to further his youthful motorsport career. Tom Pickett too, rejoins the series after a successful run in last year’s Surfers Paradise event in a MINI as the Gold Coaster will look to better his 2009 performance where he finished race 3 with a top-10 result.
Another owner driver combo for the streets of Surfers Paradise is DecoRug boss Bill Gremos who joins 2009 MINI Challenge champion Stokell in the two-car DecoRug Racing team. While he has been involved in the commercial side of MINI Challenge since its inception in 2008, Gremos has yet to get behind the wheel under full competition surroundings and will be rearing to go against the country's speediest MINI drivers.
Also making his MINI Challenge debut is V8 Ute convert Allan Jarvis who made a name for himself in Speedway racing before heading to the circuits of the V8 Supercar series.
Weather conditions in the south east of the state have been unusually torrential with a forecast suggesting rain is a strong possibility. Fortunately the Dunlop ‘wet’ tyre acts like a gecko to guardrail but with concrete walls stencilling the entire track, rain could mean tough work and maximum concentration for MINI Challenge competitors.
During the event both MINI Challenge and the Australian V8 Ute Racing Series will be housed at Mantra Sun City, located at the most southern entry-point of the track precinct, off Ocean Ave.
The underground car park of Mantra Sun City will host pit garages for both categories while the adjacent, Surfers Paradise Bvd, will sport a super display of MINI and V8 Ute models for fans to get up-close-and-personal with the production version of these chic racing machines.
Mantra Sun City creates a support category hub at the Armor All Gold Coast 600 event and a perfect opportunity for fans to literally touch the action with all areas, from both categories, open to the public. Various drivers will also be giving away posters at the official support category Autograph Signing Sessions to be held each day of the event around the hotel.
MINI Challenge Series Leader Chris Alajajian said:“Thongs "check", sunnies "check", shorts & tees "check", map of shortened circuit in correct direction "check"… I feel these are my only concerns for the weekend :) To get back on track though it will be a new layout for us all so let’s hope, on our out-lap, we remember a few corners have changed! I am in a strong position now to win the championship this year but to do this I must finish all races in a strong position, especially with guys like Paul [Stokell] and Glenn [Seton] on the grid. In saying that I’m still out there to win so it will definitely be a fun, entertaining weekend for all spectators and competitors, bring on the Armor All Gold Coast 600!”
Pizza Capers UberStar Driver Glenn Seton said:“It’s looking like another exciting MINI Challenge event ahead of us as we roll onto the streets of Surfers Paradise this weekend. I raced the MINI here last year which was a lot of fun and I think, with the new layout of the track, it will be even more suited to the MINIs racing style. Unlike the V8 categories the MINI R56 has the potential to pass around a lot more corners throughout the circuit and I think this will generate some exciting spectator action. Weather up here on the Gold Coast has be horrible of late but fingers crossed it will be dry racing this weekend for both fans and drivers alike!”
Hertz MINI Challenge – delivered by Pizza Capers is the most exciting, premium single-make series in the world. The seven round series runs as an official support category of the V8 Supercar Championship Series
