Stokell Wins Dynamik Enduro Seat
4/7/2004 11:52 (Press Release) -
Bathurst experience tipped the balance in favour of touring car champion Paul Stokell for Team Dynamik’s remaining enduro seat for 2004. Stokell, 34, will line up for his fifth Bathurst stint with regular Roadships #44 driver Simon Wills, while regular Roadships #45 driver Dale Brede and test driver Neil McFadyen take the other Team Dynamik entry into the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 endurance events.
Current GT Nations Cup series leader Stokell has tackled Australia’s classic motorsport event – the Bathurst 1000 – four times already, his best placing a sturdy 12th in 2003 with Anthony Tratt in a Ford.
The former Tasmanian kart champion races a Lamborghini Diablo in the Nations Cup but was thrilled at the opportunity to co-drive the VY Commodore Roadships #44 later this year.
“It’s one of the better teams that I have driven with at Bathurst,” he said, “and it will be my first time around there in a Commodore. In testing the car felt strong in all areas, especially powerful in a straight line.”
Last Monday Stokell, Wills, Brede and McFadyen all had stints in cars #44 and #45 during a test day at Mallala Raceway, north of Adelaide.
Team Dynamik’s Race Director, Oscar Fiorinotto, was impressed with Stokell’s professional approach. “His speed was very fast and consistent – and he was easy on the car,” he said.
Team Director Kieran Wills said Stokell’s experience was a major reason for his recruitment. “I was actually surprised and lucky to get such a good driver at this late stage,” he said.
Stokell’s ‘lucky footwear’ may have also caught the Team Dynamik boss’s attention. “He wears one red boot and one black boot – that appealed to the Irish in me,” Wills joked.
Even that Stokell superstition has a winning feel – he started wearing an oversized black boot on his left foot after a pit lane accident at Sandown, and went on to win the race. The odd boots stayed, and the winning habits continued.
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