V8 Supercars heading for a Perth triple-shot
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
Rick Kelly sits second in the V8 Supercars Championship
The V8 Supercars are back in action this weekend after a stunning round just two weeks ago in New Zealand – the teams having made the long trek to Perth for the return of a shorter, three race format.
The distances between the two venues couldn’t be more stark – across the Tasman to Hamilton and now thousands of kilometres to the Western most city in Australia.
The V8 Supercars haven’t visited Perth in over 12 months, so are receiving unprecedented levels of interest from race fans and the media alike.
The format this weekend will allow fans three opportunities to see the V8 Supercars race on the tight 2.42 kilometre circuit – which always produces spectacular racing.
It takes the format back to 2008 where Castrol-supported Orrcon Steel FPR driver, Mark Winterbottom took out all three races. Winterbottom currently sits fourth after an uncharacteristic DNF in NZ.
Adding another element will be the incorporation of both hard and soft Dunlop rubber.
Friday and Saturday, teams will be on the harder compound tyre, whilst Sunday – every driver will have just soft tyres at their disposal. Looking back to the most recent event at Hamilton – a purely soft tyre round, the softer rubber continually dishes up classic V8 Supercars racing.
The Championship couldn’t be tighter – with five drivers having won the six races so far.
Castrol’s Rick Kelly is one of the drivers looking to continue early season momentum in the West. Sitting second in the Championship and taking the Kelly Racing Team’s first team win in New Zealand has boosted the confidence of the whole Jack Daniel’s Racing supported operation. This was assisted by brother, Todd’s exceptional results in NZ also.
Will Davison is the other Castrol racer sitting in the Championship top 10. Davison on-board the Trading Post FPR Falcon has been taking the fight towards the front and has been unlucky not to visit the podium as yet.
Greg Murphy will be unveiling a striking new Pepsi Max Crew livery in WA, whilst Paul Morris Motorsport’s Russell Ingall in the Supercheap Auto Commodore and Steve Owen in the VIP Petfoods Commodore seemed to turn a corner with pace in NZ and will be hoping for more in the West.
Coverage will be on the Seven Network throughout the weekend, with Replays on SPEED TV Australia.
