Musical chairs has HRT on verge of rethink
20/9/2001 21:47 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
An embarrassment of riches has forced the Holden Racing Team to delay its announcement on Bathurst driving pairings until after a test session next week.
Shell Series leaders Mark Skaife and Jason Bright were pencilled in to pilot the team’s lead car at Mt. Panorama, but the performance of the ‘supporting cast’ at the Queensland 500 prompted Tuesday’s anticipated announcement on the squad make-up to be deferred until next week.
The team now appears on the verge of splitting their dynamic duo; hedging their bets to secure an elusive Bathurst crown.
Veteran Tony Longhurst spent much of Tuesday’s test session in Skaife’s No. 1 rocketship, while his Queensland 500 partner Tomas Mezera clocked a number of laps in Bright’s car.
But the team refused to confirm the pairings, saying drivers will again be rotated at next week’s test before a final decision is made.
"We played around with the drivers and we tried a few things to see which driver's style suits which other driver's,” HRT’s Media Manager, Paul Weissel, told Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper.
"We're trying to get a consensus, so that the drivers will be satisfied with the car set-up. We want the people who end up in the cars together to be happy with the set-up."
Sharing the Phillip Island circuit on Tuesday was sister team, K-Mart Racing.
Recently crowned Formula Holden champion, 18-year-old Rick Kelly, was given plenty of time in the car in preparation for his Bathurst debut.
Kelly will partner Nathan Pretty in the race, while Greg Murphy and Rick’s brother Todd Kelly will share the lead mount.
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