ENZED Drivers Championship Leader Ryal “The Kid” Harris is looking for his third Bathurst win in a row, when he takes to the track for Round 6 of the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by ARMOR ALL at Mount Panorama, 9- 13 October. Kim “The Assassin” Jane will celebrate 250 race starts, inaugural driver Noel Edge will reach 150, and Warren Millet will celebrate his 50th Round start.
Harris is building up an outstanding Bathurst reputation, with the most race wins of any V8 Ute driver (6 in total), and is looking to make it 9 and claim his third Bathurst Podium in a row.
“To stand on the Bathurst podium is always an amazing feeling, to do it three times would be even better. All the guys from Tapout Energy will be there watching so bring it on!” said Harris.
“The Assassin” is no stranger to celebrating milestones, but is really excited about 250 making him the third highest (and equal with Charlie Kovacs) in the current Series, behind Veteran “Chuckie” Baxter, who is yet to miss a round in his 11 years of racing.
“It’s always nice to tick another race off the list and to do it at Bathurst is fantastic. I love racing there, let’s hope we can have a cracker weekend to top off the celebrations. Last time I celebrated 150 races at Sandown I won the round, so a repeat would be nice,” said Jane who already has two Bathurst podiums under his belt (2008 (2nd), 2009 (2nd).
Edge or “Sledge” as he is known around the paddock, was one of the original 9 drivers who began in the Series in 2001 although he leased his car out for 6 years he remained a shareholder until re-joining the field in 2009. He is looking forward to ticking off this achievement at his 6th Bathurst appearance.
“Milestones & notoriety are things that I deliberately shy away from, my focus remains on trying to unlock the secrets of speed from these cars & become half competitive (been trying that one for a long time & still yet to achieve). Having said this, 150 is a significant number & what better place to acknowledge your contribution, than the Mountain. This is the place that inspires drivers to keep going!” said Edge.
Millet, owner of Wake Up – a Sydney backpacker hotel, returned to the Series last Round at Sandown, he was eager to take a year off after racing since 2007, but couldn’t stay away. Millet has only missed two other rounds in his years’ of V8 Ute racing, due to a Brain Tumour operation by the famous Sydney surgeon Charlie Teo, and is surprised it’s been 50 rounds.
“Yeah it’s great to be back. I love racing at Bathurst so looking forward to hitting the track. I didn’t realise I’d done so many rounds, maybe I should have quit,” he said with a laugh, “nah I enjoy it too much,” he said. “I have been far more competitive since I had part of my brain removed, a trick I suspect many other competitors were on to much earlier than I was,” he quipped.
Two other drivers who will reach a milestone of their own are Rookie’s Adam Marjoram and Matthew Nolan. The two have dreamed of racing at Bathurst and only saw the track for the first time this year. Marjoram visited it just this week for the first time and is pumped.
“I’m so excited to race there, I’ve watched it on TV for so many years and to actually be racing there is a dream come-true,” said Marjoram.
