Dave “Sideways” Sieders will be looking for a dominating performance at his home track to finish off the 2013 Auto One V8 Ute Series – protected by Armor All on the streets of Homebush Olympic Park this weekend, 6th – 8th December.
The 29 year-old from Londonderry in Sydney’s West remains a long-shot for the overall title, however, he admits that he is more focussed on having his Mine Site Fencing Australia FG V8 Ute spearheading a multiple front-running assault by the family-run operation.
“With so many friends and family able to come out and support you, I think most racers would agree that your home track is where you want to really perform your best, apart from Bathurst of course,” said Sieders.
“We’ve won the round here and had one of our Utes on the podium for three of the past four years, but this year we’re really pushing to get more than one on there,” said Sieders, “our cars have been fast and most of them have been inside the Top 10 at the last few rounds, so we’ll just have to see what we can do.”
Having won the Homebush round in 2011 and coming third last year, Sieders is aiming to add to his three poles and three race wins this season, currently holding an equal number of pole positions with Nathan Pretty, and with both Pretty and Harris already having five race wins each this year.
“Of course a clean sweep would be an ideal result, but mostly because it would mean I’d have the most poles and race wins for the season, which would be a nice feather in the cap,” said Sieders, “Homebush is track where we’ve seen it is possible to move through the field and we have to make sure we do”.
This week Sieders was able jump into the driver’s seat of his newly built Ford FG V8 Ute, and was impressed with its performance out of the truck.
“We took the new weapon for a few laps around Eastern Creek, and it’s probably the fastest Ute we’ve had around there,” said Sieders, “we have a few things to do before Friday’s Practice, but I’m pretty happy with how it’s feeling”.
Currently fourth on the Enzed Drivers Leaderboard, and 76 points behind Series Leader Ryal Harris (with 140 points available), Sieders is clearly frustrated at the doubling of a points penalty for an ‘unsafe re-entry’ at the Gold Coast, having been only 6 points out of the top spot prior to the penalty.
“We certainly disagree on principle, but we’ll respect their decision and move on, try to finish off the year really strong, and start working towards next year.”
The V8 Ute Series will hit the track for the last round of 2013 on Friday 6th December 2013 for 2 practice sessions, at 10:30am and 5:10pm, with Qualifying at 9:30am on Saturday and races one and two at 1:30 and 5:35pm, before the final race of the year on Sunday at 10:50am.
“Saturday is going to be a really big day, but we’re going to be going as hard as we can and not hold anything back, not for the last round of the year, and definitely not in front of a home crowd.”
