Noske "dumped" from HRT enduro squad?
21/7/2000 23:07 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - The future of Mark Noske’s career in the V8 Supercar ranks is uncertain, after a tumultuous week that has seen him lose his HRT Bathurst mount.
Just days after again being confirmed as a member of the HRT endurance squad, Noske was told his services are no longer required at the Factory Holden operation. Reasons as to why are both many and varied.
In a statement released late this week, HRT have said Noske was “released” from his contracted Young Lions drive at the Mountain to fully concentrate on winning the GTP Nation’s Cup – the final round of which will now be held over the Bathurst weekend.
In the statement, HRT claim Prancing Horse Racing’s Mark Coffey (Noske’s Nation’s Cup team) had written to HRT team manager, Jeff Grech, asking if Noske could run in both the Nation’s Cup race and in the Young Lions car for the 1000km “main event.”
However, rather than allow Noske to run in both events, Grech wrote back stating Noske would be “released” from his Young Lion duties to concentrate fully on the Nation’s Cup “Grand Final.” HRT have refused to comment on the reasoning behind this.
“Given the year-long commitment Mark has made to winning the Nation’s Cup Championship – in which he is currently well placed - the Holden Racing Team felt it would be unfair to deny him, his Team and his sponsors, the opportunity to win the title,” the HRT statement said.
“Mr Grech therefore advised Mr. Coffey in writing that same day, that HRT would release Mark from his Holden Young Lions’ commitment to allow him to focus on his Championship aspirations, and HRT would seek the services of another endurance driver,” the team said.
Despite the difficulty of running in both events over the weekend, Noske, it seems, was quite prepared to commit to both races, but HRT had other ideas.
Grech and other members of the HRT operation spoke with Noske on Monday, where, HRT say, the meeting was concluded with a “clear understanding between the parties that the decision was in the best interests of Mark’s Championship aspirations.”
Noske told a different story to Motorsport News.
"I was completely stunned," Noske told the magazine.
"I had been offered a retainer and prize-money package and given continual promises over a 10 week period that my contract would be ‘ready to sign in a few days’," he said.
Noske has admitted his chances of driving with the Factory team in the future have been damaged significantly – now left out in the cold for this year’s endurance races.
The decision has left two plum empty seats in the team, one in the second HRT car for the Queensland 500, and the other alongside Todd Kelly in the HRT Young Lions Commodore for Bathurst.
While an announcement is not expected for at least a week, both Nathan Pretty and Gavin Monaghan – who both tested for a HRT enduro seat earlier in the year – are favourites to fill Noske’s shoes.
Noske is hoping to score another Queensland 500 and FAI 1000 seat in the coming weeks.
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