Bowe is boss at PHR, with V8 drive pending
5/12/2001 15:16 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
John Bowe will take up a managerial position at Prancing Horse Racing next season, with the possibility he’ll resurrect his V8 Supercar career with the rich Melbourne-based operation.
The former CAR Racing driver has been appointed PHR’s Director of Motorsport, a multi-faceted role which will see him oversee the racing program while continuing to compete in the sport.
A Prancing Horse V8 Supercar campaign, with Bowe at the helm, appears to be back on the agenda, though the team has refused to comment on any such deal.
According to a team statement, PHR and Bowe will “jointly detail their V8 Supercar plans for the 2002 season shortly.”
47-year-old Bowe said the managerial role would allow him to extend his career in the sport.
"As far as my career goes, I’m not ready to stop driving yet because I am still competitive, as I proved at Bathurst a few weeks ago, but I am realistic enough to know that I don’t have a lot of seasons left at the top level,” he said.
"What I have always planned to do is get involved in the management side because I love the business and I think I have an enormous amount of experience and expertise to offer.
"I’m a racer and I want to be actively involved in the business at all levels and on a daily basis, so the Prancing Horse Racing opportunity was too good to pass up."
While details of his role are sketchy, Bowe will, according to the statement, act as a “mentor and trainer” for the team’s driving squad, and play “an active role in the development of both the cars and the team.”
"My role with Prancing Horse is ideal because I will be involved in every area of the business, and it will give me the opportunity to help the team drivers develop their talents, which is an aspect of the business I have always enjoyed,” Bowe said.
At this stage, his 2002 racing program will see him campaign a “works” car in the Nation’s Cup class only.
The Tasmanian will be based at the team’s new showroom/workshop facility, currently under construction in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond.
"I have enjoyed driving the Ferrari and Mustang this year for Prancing Horse, they have some very good people there, I like the way they go racing, and I’m looking forward to working more closely with them,” Bowe said.
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