The Auto One V8 Ute Racing Seriesprotected by ARMOR ALL will return to Townsville after a one year absence to compete at the Sucrogen Townsville 400 for Round 4 of the Series, 35 July.
Townsville local, Graham Deadward Edwards will return to the Series making his third appearance at his local track. He debuted in the V8 Utes in Townsville in 2010 and raced at home again in 2011. He has competed in 4 other V8 Ute rounds including 2011 Clipsal 500, 2011 Sandown 500 and the 2011 ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600, and is looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a Ute again.
Im excited to be back after so many months, I cant wait to get back out especially teaming up with Sieders Racing, who are having such a successful season and I have some local support from Trackson Earthworks and Excavation.
I love racing in front of a home-crowd, it gives me added pressure, which is always good. Even though Ill be driving a Ford this time, Im just happy to be in the seat after so long, said Edwards.
Gary MacDonald will re-join the Series for the first time since Bathurst last year. This will be MacDonalds second time competing at the Townsville Street Circuit; he also competed there in 2010.
Current ENZED Drivers Championship leader and reigning Champ, Ryal The Kid Harris, is eager to grab his first Townsville podium. The Queenslander has won two races and the 2011 ARMOR ALL Pole Award, but is yet to stand on the podium at the event.
Last time I was there, I put it on pole and won the first race and then had mechanical failure, so I guess you could say I have a bit of unfinished business in Townsville, said Harris.
Almost half the field (15 drivers) will be driving in Townsville for the first time including Queenslander Wayne Wakefield. The former Marcus Ambrose teammate and Bathurst 1000 Pole sitter is looking forward to the challenge.
Im really looking forward to it, the track looks good, Ive seen some V8 Supercar stuff on TV and the track looks interesting with some fast corners as well as slow. Unfortunately the new qualifying format caught me out In Darwin, and then I managed two broken Rims in the races, one I did myself and the other when I was caught up with Danny (Buzadzic), said Wakefield.
Buzadzics V8 Ute was written off in the incident in Darwin along with #41 driven by Spud Wood, with the two cars withdrawing this round due to rebuilds.
The V8 Utes will continue in the new qualifying format for this round. The new format, similar to the qualifying system used in Formula 1, features a 30 minute session broken up into 3 individual segments. Qualifying 1 will include all 32 V8 Utes and after 10 minutes, the top 20 fastest drivers will continue into Qualifying 2, for a shorter 7 minute session. The top 10 drivers from this session will then start Qualifying 3, a short 5 minute session allowing for a 1 or 2 lap shootout. The fastest lap times will then determine the top ten grid for the start of Race 1, with the balance of the grid filled as they drop off in lap time from each segment.
Harris is leading the ENZED Drivers Championship by 30 points ahead of rival David Sieders (368 points), West Aussie Rhys McNally is third on 359 points and Nathan Pretty in fourth on 335 points.
The V8 Utes will kick off their Townsville campaign Friday 5th July with two practice sessions. See below full schedule for the weekend. Friday, 5th July 8am Practice 1Friday, 5th July 11:10am Practice 2Saturday, 6th July 7:50am QualifyingSaturday, 6th July 1:50pm Race 1Sunday, 7th July 8:45am Race 2Sunday, 7th July 12:10am Race 3
Race 1 will be televised live on Network Seven (check local guides).
