2010 V8 Ute Series' Rookie of the Year, David Sieders, will be heading back to The Mountain early this year to open his calendar of racing with the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour Race, 4 - 6 February 2011.
Sieders, who took out the Ute Round with two race wins at the Mount Panorama Circuit last year, will be joining Paul Freestone and Hayden Pullen to steer a Chevrolet Corvette Z06, whilst older brother, Luke Sieders, has been contracted for the Race Management of the weekend.
"The team originally had a third driver lined up for the event, however, he couldn't compete due to contractual obligations elsewhere," said David Sieders, "I am wrapped to get the call up, and the opportunity to compete in such an awesome race with such great people".
"I've got a pretty good record in production cars at Bathurst; Round wins in a lotus and a very good win in the Ute last year... I'm hoping that I can do a good job for Paul and the team, with the goal of standing on top of the podium again." After his debut race in the Bathurst 1000 V8 Supercars event was cut short due to engine failure in 2009, David Sieders is keen to get stuck into his first Bathurst 12 Hour Race.
"Hopefully I can get a really good run at the 12 Hour and it will help back my future plans of getting an Enduro Co-Drive in the V8 Supercar Championship." Having headed up his own team's entry of the first racing FG Series Ford Falcon XR8 Ute last year, Sieders Racing's Team Owner, Luke Sieders, will assume the role of Team Manager for the Freestone Racing entry for the weekend, in only his third Bathurst 12 Hour.
"Last year was a real baptism of fire," said Luke Sieders, "we were effectively the guinea pigs for the FG Ute, before it becomes the official Ford for the V8 Utes, and what an event for its first race". "As expected, there were a few issues to overcome in the lead up and early part of the weekend, but after we repaired a busted sump after 20 laps in the race, the car ran flawlessly, and we finished second in our class."
Holding the distinction being the first official entry for the event (confirmed in September 2010), the Freestone Racing Corvette will compete in Class C (for cars in Australian GT - GT Production class) where it will be matched against a Nissan GTR R35, two Lotus Exige S and a BMW M3. The iconic American muscle car is the only one of its make in the race, and Team Owner, Paul Freestone, is confident that that could just provide the edge needed to not only win its class in the 12 Hour, but see it there at the end to pick off the outright cars, and challenge for a solid overall finish.
"It's a long race and our car can do consistent 2m19s or 2m20s laps all day," said Paul Freestone, "It's a great package and I'm surprised more people haven't got into the cars because they are perfect for this kind of event."
"We can run the car reliably at 5,500 RPM all day and not give away anything in performance. Then, if we are in with a shot within sight of the flag and need to press on we can start taking it to 6,500 RPM without any problems." Practice for the Bathurst 12 Hour race will commence on Friday 4th February 2011, at 8:35am, with qualifying on Saturday, and the 12 Hour Race kicking off on Sunday (6th February) at 6:15am.
