The 2012 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected by Armor All will make a return to the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide for the 13th year in a row.
16 Fords and 16 Holdens will line the streets of Adelaide to take part in the event, which is where the series originally launched in 2001.
Ford raised their batting average this year when Kris Walton took out the round; he was the second rookie to do so. David Sieders won the round on debut in 2010, and claimed the 2011 title as well. The Blue Oval have now won six Clipsal titles, compared to Holden who lead with seven. The last Holden driver to win the round at Clipsal was local driver Gary Chuckie Baxter who took out the round in 2009.
The Clipsal 500 has been a historic round for the V8 Utes; in 2010 the series also celebrated the tenth year with a celebrity event. A Ten Years of Legends feature race included V8 Supercar drivers Cameron McConville, Paul Morris, Steve Owen, Tony Longhurst, world record setting stunt riding extraordinaire Robbie Madison and Steven BradburyAustralias first ever Winter Olympic Gold Medallist.
The event saw the likes of Cameron McConville return to the Series for a full-time drive now in his second year with Bundaberg Racing. Other drivers include Touring Car Legend Charlie OBrien, who went on to win the final round in Sydney in 2010, and New Zealand V8 Ute Legend Chris Crispy Pither who stepped into the Ice Break Racing Holden VE and took out the 2011 Series title.
Ryal The Kid Harris is currently leading the ENZED Drivers Championship ahead of Sieders. The two had a hard-fought battle this year at Clipsal with Harris claiming second. They are both looking to return to Adelaide in 2013 along with locals, Gary Baxter, Noel Edge and Craig Dontas.
Baxter has only missed one Clipsal 500 event and is the longest standing driver in the V8 Ute Series.
Im really looking forward to racing at my home-track again next year. Nothing can surpass it. Winning in front of a home-crowd in 2009 was one of the biggest highlights of my V8 Ute career and Id love to do the same next year, said Baxter.
Craig raced alongside his twin brother Troy Dontas this year, Craig in a Holden and Troy in a Ford. Hes hoping his brother can join him again next year.
It was great racing against Troy this year. Hopefully he can have another go next year, it gives me someone out there that I really want to beat, he said with a grin. Its a great track with a great atmosphere and I cant wait to race in front of a home-crowd again, said Dontas.
Veteran Adelaide Ute driver Noel Edge also loves the incentive of a home crowd to raise the bar. Edge has been a regular in the series for many years, and debuted his new FG Ford at the recent Bathurst round. Edge and is wife Keryn are the smallest team in pit lane, and turn up every round working together as driver and team manager.
Yes we do it all ourselves, I am the lead driver, tyre man, chief mechanic and race engineer! Keryn works the radio headset while I am on track to keep me informed of whats happening during the race, Edge explained. We love the Clipsal 500 as an event, it is one of the best motorsport events in the country and its a great feeling to be racing in front of the home crowd.
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.
