Bates signed to Team McLean
7/6/2001 19:27 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Neal Bates will return to V8 Supercar racing aboard Cameron McLean’s Greenfield Mowers Falcon, McLean’s Paragon Motorsport outfit announced today.
Three-time Australian Rally Champion, Bates will return to the bitumen to compete for Queensland 500 and Bathurst 1000 honours alongside McLean.
“I have enormous respect for Cameron's abilities,” Neal said, “especially the results he achieved in 1999 with an EL Falcon. His recent results have been very strong with lap times close to the leaders.”
“I have always got along well with Cameron dating back to his Super Touring days and the people at Paragon are terrific, but make no mistake – they are deadly serious.”
Bates started from pole position at last year’s Bathurst classic, after his Ford-Tickford Racing co-driver Wayne Gardner won Saturday’s Top Ten Shootout. Their car and campaign expired early in the race, but the experience failed to dampen Bates’ enthusiasm for the sport’s biggest race.
"There's nothing that hasn't already been said about Mount Panorama: it’s definitely the best circuit in the nation and I love it,” he said. “This is the race to win and anything can happen during those six hours.”
Paragon chief Jamey Blaikie said from Canberra today that signing Bates was a significant coup; “he’s fast, consistent and has an incredibly strong circuit racing record.
“This is more great news for our team and its growth. Neal is one of the most accomplished all-round race drivers in Australia today. Overall, he has to be one of the best packages.
“Having Neal join us will ensure we are genuinely in contention for top results and a podium position is on our shopping list.”
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