2009 Bathurst V8 Ute round winner Gary MacDonald and young-gun Sean Carter will make a return to the V8 Ute field for Round 5 of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected by Armor All, at Mount Panorama, 47 October.
MacDonald has been in and out of the Series over the past 12 years; however was one of the original nine drivers that raced at the Series launch in 2001. He has also raced at the mountain in the 2004/2005 V8 Supercar Development Series, a number of times in the Bathurst 12 and 24 hour Enduro events, and is eager to get behind the wheel again.
Im really excited, I havent been to Bathurst for a few years, I only did Sydney last year as a one off, due to the birth of our new baby boy.
Im hoping to do at least one test, hopefully two. Sieders Racing is preparing the Ute, but I think Ill be a bit rusty going up against the championship contenders. Ive done enough in the past to know you really have to hang it out there at Bathurst, you just have to give it all and man-up, lets hope lightning strikes, he said with a grin.
The Sydneysider hasnt been in a V8 Ute since the final round at Homebush last year, where he placed 12th overall in his Interior Logistics backed Holden, and will steer a new FG Ford for the first time.
Ill be debuting the new FG and Im pretty pumped to get behind the wheel of that. I raced a Ford BF last year at Homebush and wasnt that happy with it, but this should be different this time around, said MacDonald.
This is also Carters first time back since Sydney last year, but with less experience than MacDonald he has already clocked up a test day with Williams Race Tech.
Im really looking forward to being back in a Ute again. I had a test day at Winton recently and I felt a lot more comfortable in the car with the new DMS suspension package and our lap times showed it, said Carter.
Carter, who debuted in the Series in 2011, only had the chance to compete in four Rounds overall and this will be his first time racing at Bathurst in a V8 Ute.
Ive never really had a chance to settle into the series but I think I showed glimpses of what Im capable of at Sandown last year with an 8th place for the round, so Im really hoping for a consistent run where I can build some confidence and produce the results that I know Im capable of.
Im really looking forward to driving at Bathurst. Ive raced there before in the Porsche 944 challenge series but driving in one of the most popular series in Australia in front of the Bathurst fans will be awesome.
He will be backed by Sucker Punch Energy Drinks and is looking hopeful for a full-time comeback in 2013.
Weve just secured a long term sponsorship with Sucker Punch Energy Drinks, who are about to launch in Australia, which will see me competing in 2, possibly 3 of the remaining V8 Ute rounds in 2012 as part of the build up to the 2013 season.
The 2012 Series consists of 32 V8 Utes 16 Fords and 16 Holdens who battle it out through 26 races over eight rounds raced throughout Australia covering six states and one territory and is televised nationally through-out Australia on Network Seven and 7 Mate and internationally through Motors TV Europe, TV3 New Zealand and SPEED online in the USA.
