V8 Ute driver Gary Carson will trial the new Ford FG ute at Round 5 of the 2011 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series - protected by Armor All, at Mount Panorama, 6 - 9 October.
Carson is the first driver to test the new model in a Series event; however is not the first to drive the FG around Bathurst. The car was originally entered in the 2010 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour with Sieders Racing, driven by Andrew Fisher, Ben Dunn and Jack Elsegood.
"This has not been an overnight decision (introducing the FG to the Series) said V8 Ute category manager Craig Denyer of SPHERIX.
"It has been a long process, primarily delayed by the run out of the 260 and 290 kw 5.4 litre engines, and the move to the new quad cam Coyote 5 litre as the base V8 engine for Ford. There was little point moving to the FG earlier, given that we knew there was a more suitable engine on the way, and initial dyno testing of the engine has re-affirmed our decision was the right one. Subject to CAMS approval, the FG will debut at Bathurst with the new engine package as part of our development of the ute over the next 4 rounds, prior to introduction next year."
The Ford FG is currently with category engine builder Cragsted, and the category is hoping to test the Ute at Queensland Raceway on the 26th of August and all Ford drivers will be invited to have a drive.
Go! Channel backed, Carson however will be the lucky driver to take it around Bathurst and he's looking forward to it.
"It will be good to get back into a Ford after driving the Holden in Townsville; I'm also looking forward to driving the FG. It's been a long time coming and our aim is to bring it home in one piece," he said.
The New South Welshman, who wrote his car off at Round 3 in Darwin, thought it would be a perfect time to try the new model.
"We didn't see much point building a brand new BF and the category were talking about introducing it at Bathurst anyway, so it seemed the logical way to go."
Holden is currently leading the ENZED Drivers Championship with Chris Pither in front on 497 points followed closely by West Aussie Grant Johnson on 493points and Ford drivers Ryal Harris and David Sieders in third and fourth on 468 and 460 points. With four rounds remaining the championship is still in hot contention.
The 2011 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series - protected by Armor All features 32 Ford and Holden production based V8 racing utes - covering 8 championship rounds, and 26 races through five states of Australia. The series is televised nationally on the SEVEN Network, through Fox Sports, TV3 New Zealand, Motors TV Europe and over 40 countries worldwide.
See below remaining 2011 Calendar.
Round Event Venue Date 5 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 Mount Panorama, NSW 6 - 9 Oct 6 Armor All Gold Coast 600 Surfers Paradise, QLD 21 - 23 Oct 7 Norton 360 Sandown Challenge Sandown Raceway, VIC 18 - 20 Nov 8 Sydney Telstra 500 Olympic Park, Sydney, NSW 2 - 4 Dec
Make-A-Wish® Australia is the official charity of Australian V8 Ute Racing who will endeavour to assist the foundation with their mission, which is to "To grant the Wishes of Children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope strength and joy."
