Sieders Racing will be boosted this year with 2012 Dunlop V8 Supercars driver Elliot Barbour joining the team for the Auto One V8 Ute Seriesprotected by Armor All.

Barbour, a Guide Dogs Victoria Ambassador, credits the competitiveness and marketability of the V8 Ute Series with enticing him to make the change, and hopes to be racing with the front runners after finding his feet in the championship.

I see the V8 Utes as one of the most competitive and best all-round series in Australia, said Barbour, watching the series, I saw it as my next challenge, and a great platform to help me with my goal in racing V8 Supercars

.I am realistic in knowing just how hard this series is, said Barbour, but I do want to be challenging for race podiums after the first couple of rounds, and I would like to secure a round podium before the season is out.

Having prepared five Championship Top Five cars in the past three seasons, with three consecutive series podiums, as well as recording the most pole positions and fastest laps (including seven lap records) in two years, for Barbour there was only one team to talk to in making the change to V8 Utes.

The Sieders Racing Team are proven winners, said Barbour, all of their cars have great pace and they are always at the pointy end of the field.I met with Luke Sieders and found we shared very similar motivations for why we race, said Barbour, I am racing to make a career out of the this sport, so for me to achieve my goal I need to be at the front and so Sieders Racing were an obvious choice to help me get there.The confirmation of Barbour now locks away four entries for Sieders Racing, joining regulars Ben Dunn, Andrew Fisher and two-time V8 Ute Series Runner-Up Dave Sieders, with the 22 year old Melbournite aiming to join Fisher and Sieders in taking out the coveted Ashley Cooper Memorial Rookie of the Year honours.

I am hoping that with a few test days and the technical support offered through Sieders Racing, as well as teaming up with some of the quickest drivers in the series, will help me to go out and win the Rookie of the Year...thats definitely a major goal for this year.Already forging a successful and varied racing career, including 16 podiums from 19 races in the 2009 Porsche 944 Challenge and debut pole in the 2010 Formula Ford season, Barbours first test in a V8 Ute at Sydney Motorsport Park this past weekend has him even keener for the opening round.

After the first session, I was pleasantly surprised how drivable the Ute was...as long as you keep in mind the fact that it is a Ute on R-spec tyres, said Barbour, I think they are a great concept and really fun, and I now see why the racing isnt ever boring.The Auto One V8 Ute Series kicks off on the Adelaide street circuit in support to the Clipsal 500 from 28th February3rd March.I cant wait to get back to racing, and I think the change to the Utes will be a really exciting challenge this year...lets see what we can do.