Catch us if you can, says HRT; Richo joins for enduros
21/2/2002 13:31 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
To those V8 Supercar teams who had the audacity to declare they could derail the factory Holden juggernaut this season, the man in charge of the Holden Racing Team yesterday had a simple, wry message: catch us if you can.
Only subtle changes to the Holden Racing Team Commodores this year, but the team is still hungry for success
|
“So far there have been six teams and drivers who (have claimed) are all going to win the championship and Bathurst,” HRT Team Director John Crennan said at yesterday's season launch.
“No such wild claims from us today; just a commitment that we will continue to be a highly professional operation both technically and commercially.
“The key to success in motorsport is good people and I'm proud to say that none of our people have gone walkabout or been lured away to another team over the break.”
It was a low-key launch for the country’s premier race team, with a slightly modified livery design unveiled and a firm commitment to maintain the rage.
The big announcement was the signing of ageless marvel Jim Richards for the endurance events.
The 54-year-old will shoot for a Brock-like seventh Bathurst title, joining Mark Skaife, Jason Bright and returning endurance import, Tomas Mezera, for the two late-season marathons: the Queensland 500 and Bathurst V8 Supercar 1000.
The defending Bathurst winners have, not surprisingly, opted for experience over youth for their endurance campaign this season – a formula that worked spectacularly well last year when veterans Mezera and Tony Longhurst performed admirably in both events.
With Longhurst’s appointment to Briggs Motorsport full-time this year, Richards will reunite with his former Gibson Motorsport teammate, Skaife, a partnership that yielded two Bathurst victories in the early 90s.
“The Holden Racing Team has been the class act of V8 Supercars for the past five or six years so it is a great opportunity for me to drive for such a professional outfit," Richards said.
“Skaifey and I go back a long way, so as well as being great mates, we understand each other well, therefore the chances of improving on our respective records – particularly at Bathurst – are pretty good."
Mezera, 43, will again share the No. 2 VX Commodore with Jason Bright.
“Jason and I formed a good partnership last year and we had possibly the quickest and best set-up car at Bathurst. With a little luck and more time together, we have the potential to do quite well," said Mezera, who will drive for Imrie Motorsport in the preliminary rounds.
Mark Skaife is chasing a third successive Touring Car crown this year, a record-equalling fifth. He is an irresistible favourite with his experience and meticulous approach.
"I'm not one for goal-setting," he said. "I just try and make sure I'm as best prepared as possible to get on with it and to do the best I can each week.
"Last year was a great year but there were some rounds where we could have gone better, so I'll be trying to improve on that if I can."
His main challenge could come from his own teammate, who is just as capable and just as hungry for success after a disappointing finish to his 2001 campaign. Team orders don’t exist here.
"The key for me will be to hit the ground running to capitalise on what we learned in 2001 and try and be in contention from the word go,” Bright, third in last year's championship, said.
|
|
