Honda puts young guns to the test
13/8/2000 18:17 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - Some of Australasia’s best young talent on four wheels – including a number of the V8 Supercars’ brightest young prospects – will be put to the test in the ultimate parity-controlled competition at this year’s Gold Coast CART event.
Ten drivers – including Marcos Ambrose, Simon Wills, Leanne Ferrier, Scott Dixon, David Besnard, and V8 Supercar regulars Paul Weel and Steven Johnson – will showcase their talents on the Coast in the Honda Young Gun challenge during the Indy weekend.
Each will line-up on the grid in identical, specially-prepared Honda Integra Type R racers for the chance of a lifetime – a test session with Champ car giants Dorricot Racing.
The cream of Australia and New Zealand’s under-25 motorsport talent – as selected by Honda Indy 300 Chairman John Cowley, News Ltd. Motoring Editor Paul Gover and Honda Australia Managing Director Neal Robertson – will race in two sprint races in front of a massive crowd and even bigger live national television audience.
Honda Indy 300 General Manager, Geoff Jones, believes the “Young Gun” category will provide the perfect opportunity for emerging talent to show their wares.
"The selection committee has helped attract some talented drivers to the event, with a guarantee of being noticed by the national and international media," Jones said.
"There is little doubt it will raise public awareness of the competitors," he said.
Honda Australia’s Neal Robertson agrees, saying the prize on offer will be of great incentive to those involved.
"Nothing would please us more than to see one of these young drivers seated behind the wheel of a Champ Car or F1 car, especially one powered by Honda," Robertson said.
"We hope our cars will be fed into production racing, providing other young hopefuls with a kick-start to their career," he said.
The Honda road-born, race bred machines will race similar to the Production Car classes, with only minor modifications being made. The advantage being, with all cars identical to one another, the best man (or women) really will win on the day.
Ford Racing’s Paul Weel (K & J Thermal Products Racing) and Steven Johnson (Shell Helix Racing) will also start on the V8 grid throughout the Indy weekend – the last time the Supercars will play support to the Gold Coast meeting.
The Honda Indy 300 will be held on the streets of Surfers Paradise from October 12-15.
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