Another of Kelly's gang joins Young Lion program
8/2/2001 18:24 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Another of Victoria’s enigmatic Kelly gang, 18-year-old Rick Kelly, has joined the Holden Racing Team’s modified Young Lion development program.
Rick Kelly follows in his brother Todd's footsteps in the HRT Young Lion program
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Kelly, younger brother of race-winning Young Lion graduate Todd, will contest this year’s Formula Holden Championship under the guidance of the giant V8 Supercar factory Holden operation. Premier Formula Holden outfit, Adelaide-based Birrana Racing, will prepare the car on Kelly’s behalf.
"It's a great opportunity for me,” Kelly said at HRT’s Melbourne launch on Tuesday.
"I really appreciate the support HRT has given both Todd and myself, as this is a very difficult career to try and get a start in. To have an organisation such as HRT behind you can be the difference between a career and just a dream," he said.
Kelly makes the step up from Formula Ford, where he almost snatched the title from Luke Youlden in his freshman year. The talented teen already has two Formula Holden podium finishes under his belt from last year’s Tasman Cup series.
HRT’s long-running V8 Supercar development program – which has produced stars such as Mark Noske, Steven Ellery and Jason Bargwanna – appears to be all but over. A Young Lion Commodore won't be entered in races this season.
As such, the future of the older of the Kelly brothers at the Mobil-Holden operation is unclear.
Todd’s name has been linked with a two-car HRT satellite team led by Gibson reject Greg Murphy. Murphy was a notable attendee at last Tuesday’s HRT launch, but was not speaking about the mooted K-Mart-supported, HRT-housed outfit.
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