Johnson recycles, Harris the beneficiary
4/9/2000 18:47 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - V8 Lites campaigner Craig Harris will upgrade his racing machine to an ex-DJR AU Falcon before November’s FAI 1000 at Bathurst.
The #17 car will be replaced by DJR, with the orginal AU sold to Harris.
Pic: Mark Alan Jones
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Harris will take delivery of the No. 17 Shell Helix Racing Falcon in the coming weeks, after striking a deal with the Johnson operation to take possession of the car after this week’s OzEmail 500.
The Carsales.com.au Racing team will develop the Falcon over the off-season before racing it in next year’s Konica V8 Lites Championship.
"We sat down and worked out what it would cost us to build and develop a new car which would be competitive and realised we didn't need to reinvent the wheel," Craig Harris explained.
"It was imperative that we give Carsales.com.au the best chance in a current-shape Ford at Bathurst and my long association with Dick (Johnson) made (number) 17 a logical choice," he said.
Harris and his Chief Engineer Ian Woodward will work closely with the Gold Coast-based DJR outfit over the next few weeks to ensure the car is in peak condition come Bathurst.
"Woody (Ian Woodward) is spending time at the DJR workshop so that when it comes to crunch time at Bathurst we'll be completely au fait with the characteristics of the car," Harris said.
"I admire and respect Dick's ability to produce a top product. The team has a strong history of producing reliable cars and that's half the battle at Bathurst," he said.
Dick Johnson – who will race the Falcon for the final time in Shell colours with son Steven Johnson at the OzEmail 500 – sees the deal as a form of “recycling,” and is pleased to aid in the development of a maturing team such as Harris’.
"DJR is pleased to be able to assist some of the smaller teams by passing on its hard-earned technology, and at the same time this enables us to renew our own fleet and advance our development program each time," Johnson said.
Harris said, "The most important thing the new AU gives us is not just a competitive car at Bathurst, but also a vital head start for the 2001 V8 Lites season."
Harris has sold his 2000 EL Falcon to Craig Bastian.
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