Albury based Tom Williamson will be the third recipient of the Chris Pither Scholarship Awardpowered by Ice Break, and will take the reins of Ice Break Racings Holden VE at Round 5 of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected by Armor All, at Mount Panorama 4 - 7 October.
Williamson follows Jesse The Jedi Dixon and New Zealand V8 Ute Champion, Andrew Waite into the seat of the Ice Break Holden, and having been involved with the team all year he is looking forward to the opportunity.
Although its the toughest track to make my V8 Ute race debut, Im really looking forward to it and cant wait to get up there, said Williamson.
Chris Pither, reigning V8 Ute Champion and twice winner of the New Zealand V8 Ute Series, provides the scholarship to up and coming drivers as an opportunity to race for a professional team in the 2012 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected by Armor All. Having used his success in the V8 Ute series as a stepping stone himself, Pither will be driving at Bathurst alongside David Wall in the Wilson Security Holden V8 Supercar, and feels it is a great opportunity for up and coming drivers.
Id like to pass on the opportunity that I had. I think Tom will do a great job at Bathurst and Ill be there to assist with any questions he might have, said Pither.
At 23 years old, Williamson is a skilled & dedicated young man with a burning desire and a genuine ability to reach the top of Australian Motorsport. He finished 4th in the 2011 national Formula Ford championship. His previous experience includes placing 6th in the 2010 National Series with Barone Racing Junior Development Racing (including a 3rd place at Phillip Island on debut in 2009), 4th in the Rotax World Karting Championships in 2007, and multiple Australian and State Championship Go Kart titles.
In previous rounds of the V8 Ute Series, the Scholarship recipients have done well, Dixon finishing 12th in Tasmania and 10th overall in Perth, while Waite claimed 5th overall for the round in Darwin. As a result of Dixons V8 Ute performances, he is now one of the five finalists in the Shannons Supercar Showdown, with the chance of winning a V8 Supercar drive in this years Bathurst 1000, alongside TV weatherman Grant Denyer. (Denyer will steer, whilst Dixon will work the pedals!)
Im not expecting to go out and win anything. Im here for experience and to get the car home safely, its my first time around the track so Ill be learning with every lap I do. Im really looking forward to it, said Williamson.
Williamson will hit the track for his debut on Thursday, 4th October for his first practice session and then on Friday for practice session two and Qualifying.
The full V8 Ute Racing Schedule is as follows:Saturday, 5th October Race 1 9:50amSaturday, 5th October Race 2 3:05pm (Televised LIVE on Network Seven.)Sunday, 6th October Race 3 8am (Televised LIVE on Network Seven).
This year Bathurst will celebrate 50 years of the Great Race and will be rolling out a show beyond all expectations. Sporting fans from around the world will be expected to flock to Mount Panorama for a massive line-up of on and off track entertainment as we pay tribute to the magical history behind Australia's most renowned sporting events.
The 2012 Series consists of 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.
