Prancing Horse goes Supercar racing
3/8/2001 21:31 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Production Car superteam, Prancing Horse Racing has launched its attack on the nation's premier motorsport series, V8 Supercars.
The rich Melbourne-based outfit today confirmed their arrival on the V8 Supercar scene by announcing an extensive testing regime and limited race program over the next few months, in preparation for a full assault on the 2002 Shell Championship Series.
"We've have had a lot of success in both the Nation's Cup and GT-Performance categories, and that experience was always part of our plan to build toward a V8 Supercar program," Prancing Horse CEO, James Murray-Parkes, said.
"Our entry into V8 Supercars is going to be very-low key this year, as we have a lot to learn with a new car, a new team and a new category, so our efforts will be concentrated on testing and development.
"We recognise that it's going to take a lot of time and effort to be competitive in V8 Supercars, which is why we are going to concentrate on testing and development initially.”
The team will make its much-anticipated V8 Supercar debut, baptising the newly-built Budweiser AU Falcon, at the final round of the Konica V8 Supercar Series at South Australia's Mallala Raceway next weekend.
From there, it's on to the VIP Petfoods Queensland 500 later this month, October's V8 1000 at Bathurst, and the Shell Series finale at Sandown Raceway.
Prancing Horse staff driver and former V8 Supercar young-gun, Mark Noske, 23, is the man in the hot seat. Pending his recovery from a broken arm sustained in a Canberra roll-over seven weeks ago, Noske will pilot the Bud Falcon throughout the initial program and, most likely, for the team’s 2002 campaign.
For the endurance events, former Stone Brothers pilot Craig Baird will share the driving duties.
"It's going to be fantastic to be back behind the wheel of a V8 again," Noske, a former Holden Young Lion, said.
"There's no question that competing in the GTP series over the last year or so has been great for keeping me race-sharp, but there's nothing quite like the thrill of getting behind the wheel of a Supercar.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenge and our test program this year is going to be a great help in getting me ready for the Shell V8 series next year."
Prancing Horse’s existing GT-Performance and Nation’s Cup programs will not be effected by the team’s V8 Supercar commitments.
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