Best of the best guaranteed at Bob Jane T-Marts 1000
5/9/2004 23:17 (Press Release) -
The October 7-10 dateline for this year’s Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst’s Mount Panorama will be a showcase of the top drivers from all major categories of Australian circuit racing.
With the bulk of teams having now completed their driver lists for Australia’s number one V8 Supercar endurance Event, it’s interesting to note the major campaigners from the Event support classes, Konica Minolta V8 Supercar Series, Australian Carrera Cup and Formula Ford will also suit up for the ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN.
This year’s recently completed V8 Supercar feeder series was closely fought out by Andrew Jones and Luke Youlden as the duo remained deadlocked on 945 points at the top of the table after the regulation five round series.
Twenty-four year-old Jones was awarded the Championship on the strength of two round wins, representing the ideal warm-up to his ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN campaign with Brad Jones Racing.
“It’s a feather in the cap for the entire Team BOC Racing team to be able to win races and ultimately the Series this year and that’ll ensure added confidence and a much better mental preparation this year towards the endurance rounds in the V8 Supercar Series,” said Jones.
“The last four guys to have won the Konica Minolta Series have gone on to shower themselves in glory and if I can follow their lead it’d be nice to snatch further success, especially during the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000.
“I have the experience from last year and the added bonus of learning a heap from Brad Jones and John Bowe at Brad Jones Racing.
“Once again I’ll team with former British Touring Car Champion John Cleland and hopefully our mix of driving experience and youthful eagerness can pull us through to a respectable finish at Bathurst.”
Youlden will also be looking forward to making his return to Mount Panorama after enjoying a most pleasing 12 months of racing, which included a double of podiums alongside Steve Ellery in the Super Cheap Auto Racing Falcon, during last year’s Betta Electrical Sandown 500 and the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000.
Other regular Konica Minolta drivers who’ll be out to claim the silverware during the ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN include overall third placegetter Mark Porter (Team Kiwi Racing), Owen Kelly (Shell Helix Racing), Matthew White (PWR Racing), Cameron McLean (Stone Brothers Racing) and Alan Gurr (Sirromet Wines).
Similarly, from the Australian Carrera Cup the top three drivers Alex Davison, Jim Richards and Fabian Coulthard will be shaping up to the 1000 kilometre Bathurst assignment.
Ironically Davison and seven times Bathurst winner Richards will both be competing under the banner of a strong four-car Castrol Perkins Racing assault, while Coulthard will drive alongside Jason Richards for Tasman Motorsport.
“This will be my first Bathurst V8 Supercar Event so it really is an exciting prospect, especially after recently securing a full time drive next season with Castrol Perkins Racing,” said Davison.
“I was lucky enough to compete at Mallala during the last round of the Konica Minolta Series and know it’s going to take a while to familiarise myself with the car.
“Everything is so massively different to what I’m use to in the Australian Carrera Cup.
“I’ve been able to do a couple of test days with Castrol Perkins Racing, but there’s no doubting that laps in a racing situation are of greater benefit.
“I’m sure once I’ve spent more time in the car during the Betta Electrical Sandown 500 and then hopefully another test day, I should feel pretty comfortable and will hopefully not be too far off the pace once we get to Bathurst.”
Twenty-four year old Matt Halliday, who is regarded as one of the best Porsche drivers in the Southern Hemisphere has competed in just one round of the Australian Carrera Cup and will suit up with the Larkham Orrcon Racing team at Mount Panorama.
For current third placed driver in the Australian Formula Ford Series Steve Owen, there’s the prospect of linking with the reigning Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 champions, K-Mart Racing’s Greg Murphy and Rick Kelly.
Owen is fresh from victory at the more recent round of the Formula Ford Series at Mallala and is tipped as one of the future stars of Australian motorsport.
Once again the Betta Electrical Sandown 500 on September 10-12 will serve as an ideal pre-cursor to the ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN on October 7-10.
Grandstand tickets for this year’s Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 can be purchased through Ticketmaster7.com or by calling 1300 136 122.
2004 BOB JANE T-MARTS 1000 TICKET PRICES
Category Advance Price
Bob Jane Stand - Adult $209.00
Bob Jane Stand/Paddock - Adult $239.00
Grandstand #8, #9 - Adult $175.00
Grandstand/Paddock - Adult $205.00
4 Day GA - Adult $92.00
4 Day GA/Paddock - Adult $122.00
4 Day GA - Concession $77.00
4 Day GA /Paddock - Concession $107.00
Weekend GA - Adult $79.00
Weekend GA/Paddock - Adult $109.00
Weekend GA - Concession $65.00
Weekend GA/Paddock - Conc $95.00
Sunday GA - Adult $58.00
Sunday GA/Paddock - Adult $88.00
Sunday GA - Concession $48.00
Sunday GA/Paddock - Concession $78.00
MT PANORAMA - BATHURST
Directions
Easily accessible from Sydney, Bathurst is approximately 3 hours by car or 4.5 hours by train.
Accommodation and Travel
Bathurst Visitors Centre (1800 68 1000) can arrange bookings including airfare and accommodation. Camping at Mt Panorama can be booked through the camping ground box office on (07) 5588 6888.
Accommodation in Bathurst is limited so patrons should book early!
Parking
A well planned traffic management and parking system in Bathurst means no traffic hassles. There is plenty of parking at the circuit.
Group Booking
Group bookings will be available at a 10% discount for 20 or more persons on nett ticket prices. Phone (02)9320 9055 or Fax(02)9283 2677
Disabled
Patrons requiring wheelchair access should contact the operations department of IMG on(07) 5588 6888 regarding access and parking.
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