It's my turn for a podium, says Weel
8/10/2004 22:09 (Press Release) -
Paul Weel has set himself a huge goal for the Bob Jane T-Marts Bathurst 1000 this week – to be standing on the podium at 6pm on Sunday. The PWR Racing star, paired with regular placegetter and championship contender Jason Bright, is viewing the race as his best opportunity yet to chalk up a maiden podium result, and says the pair in the #50 Holden Commodore should also not be discounted in victory calculations.
“We’re strong, we’re a chance, don’t worry about that,” Weel said. “We both have all the motivation we need – Brighty wants to stay in the championship mix and I want to crack my first podium.
“We’ve both been doing Bathurst long enough to know that everything has to be working on the day, but we’ve got a great car and an incredible bunch of people who really believe in what we’re doing, so look out!”
Weel’s best Bathurst result was 8th, with Greg Crick in 1999, and he has finished a round in podium position only once before, at the 2003 Clipsal 500, but only after another he was awarded third place due to a post-race penalty against another driver. He is yet to stand on a podium in V8 Supercars.
“I don’t think I’d call myself a glory-seeker,” he said. “It’s more a point of pride that after seven seasons in the main game, I think I’m experienced enough to be making that step up – no pun intended!”
The pair has put behind them the pain of last year’s Bathurst 1000, when an excellent run came to an abrupt end in a sickening collision with fellow Holden driver, Nathan Pretty.
“We’ve moved on,” said Bright, who won the 1998 Bathurst 1000. “It’s tempting to think about ‘what if’ but we’re just focusing on the job at hand.
“The equation is pretty simple for me to win the championship – I have to beat Marcos Ambrose, and everyone else, on the track. If that means winning Bathurst, then that’s what I have to do.
“Winning Bathurst is a goal in itself, but using it as a cornerstone to winning the championship would be the ultimate result for me.”
Meanwhile, the pairing of Matthew White and Marcus Marshall in the second PWR Racing Commodore will be looking for more of the same steady progress they made in the Sandown 500.
“It’ll be a lot more straightforward this time around,” White said this week. “Marcus and I have broken through the inevitable communication barriers you get when you work with a new team, and we have a good feel for the car.
“There’s no reason to think we won’t qualify inside the top 20 and finish in the top 10 if we can keep on the black stuff and away from the concrete. We’ve both had good runs here before so we’ll start the race expecting to finish it.
“Sandown wasn’t without its dramas – we had one in practice and another in the race – but we’re doing everything we can to iron those sorts of things out. Not over-revving the engine would be one critical thing, avoiding unnecessary panel damage would be another, and getting the pitstops spot-on is crucial.
“If we can put all the elements together, we’re going to have a good day.”
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