Seton returns for pre-Bathurst shakedown
3/11/2000 20:15 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - Ford-Tickford racer Glenn Seton has returned to driving duties to shakedown the team’s newest weapon ahead of next month’s FAI 1000.
Seton made his return to the drivers seat for a pre-Bathurst testing session at Phillip Island Raceway yesterday, the venue that played host to Seton’s horrific testing shunt a short six weeks ago.
A concussed Seton was air-lifted to a Melbourne hospital with severe bruising and cracked ribs following the high-speed crash, and kept him out of the car at the Sandown Shell Series round, and for the Indy support races.
Debuting FTR’s brand-new Bathurst-prepared AU Falcon, Seton says the “best ever” car performed well at the Island circuit.
"It’s a brand new car and we haven’t had any problems with it at all. It’s definitely the best car FTR has produced so far," Seton exclaimed.
"We designed this car for Bathurst and it’s worked out very well. Phillip Island is the closest track we have to Bathurst and it’s really working well around there so I can’t wait to hit the track at Bathurst with it," he said.
Endurance import, former 500cc World Motorcycle Champion Wayne Gardner, also tested with the team at Phillip Island yesterday.
"Wayne did a great job and made quite a few changes to the car to see what it all does, Seton explained. “The car responded well and so did he so it’s all looking good for Bathurst."
Gardner will team with Rally ace Neal Bates in FTR’s second Bathurst challenger. Seton will share the lead car with the team-departing Neil Crompton.
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