Noske To Race In WA
8/6/2004 23:25 (Press Release) -
WPS Racing’s Mark Noske has earned a start in the Perth round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series this week. Noske, who made his season debut in WPS Racing’s Car 48 in the last round of the series in Darwin, is to compete in Car 14 at Barbagallo Raceway this weekend.
The move follows a round of negotiations between WPS Racing management and series officials after the withdrawal of another driver.
Noske will compete for WPS Racing and any points he earns in the round will be credited to his championship tally.
The Perth round, at Barbagallo Raceway, is restricted to the top 32 drivers in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.
Noske, who made his season debut in the fourth round in Darwin late last month following WPS Racing team owner Craig Gore’s purchase of a second license, is sitting in 33rd position on the order of entry.
The withdrawal of one driver allowed him to be considered for the start. WPS management and championship officials then negotiated the terms and conditions of his entry.
WPS Racing team manager Keith Evers said he had been alerted to the possible inclusion of Noske after the last round in Darwin.
“We were then able to satisfy the conditions of entry,” said Evers.
Noske left the entry issues to team management and has been preparing for the Perth round on the assumption he would be competing.
“Now that we have the issue of a second franchise out of the way I’m focusing on the remainder of the year,” said Noske.
“I’m now competing in Perth and from there on I should be able to qualify for all other rounds.”
Noske said he was looking forward to Perth, where last year he posted a top 10 performance in qualifying.
“I’ve done quite well in Perth previously so it is a track that keen to return to, particularly given my position this year” said Noske.
“I missed the first three rounds while the team’s second franchise was sorted out and now I’m just keen to get out there and race and see how high I can finish in the championship.
“I’m in a position where I feel the pressure is right off me and I’ve got nothing to lose as I’m not racing for the championship.
“That allows me to just get out there and battle for position and have a lunge here and there to see how strongly I can compete.”
He is one of two drivers, the other being David Besnard, in the WPS Racing Ford team.
WPS Racing is owned by businessman Craig Gore and is sponsored by financial services business Wright Patton Shakespeare, one of a range of companies operated by Gore.
It is the newest team in the V8 Supercar Championship Series, having been formed in February this year just weeks ahead of the opening round.
Wright Patton Shakespeare is also the sponsor of the WPS Safety Cars that control the tracks for each round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series and the Konica Minolta V8 Supercar Series.
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