Momentum swing to K-Mart cousins
27/2/2002 11:10 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
The Holden Racing Team can expect an attack of the clones this year, as their K-Mart Racing cousins battle for TWR supremacy – and the championship.
K-Mart Racing's aggressive new look prominently features the team's helmeted mascot, "KuRT"
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That's the message from team boss Rob Crawford, who insists after a spectacular finale to last season, which saw K-Mart racers Greg Murphy and Todd Kelly each claim impressive round victories, the momentum is with his team ahead of the 2002 series.
"In the second half of 2001 we scored more points than any other team," Crawford said.
"With new and refreshed cars, the same staff who are reinvigorated after well-deserved holidays and hungry drivers, there is no reason to expect anything less than more race wins and, potentially, the V8 Supercar championship.
"Last year was a building year for K-mart Racing, while 2002 presents us with new challenges, challenges that have us looking towards winning more races and setting our goals on winning the championship."
Crawford and the K-Mart outfit, run out of a workshop adjacent to the Holden Racing Team in Melbourne, set the agenda for the year ahead at a sponsor function in Melbourne on Monday, while unveiling the team's fresh war paint.
It's a tough new look, according to Murphy, who said he's never been more excited about an upcoming season as the one beginning in Adelaide next month.
"Last year K-mart Racing developed into not only one of the fastest, but one of the finest teams in V8 Supercar racing," he said.
The mercurial Kiwi finished fourth in last year's championship, a remarkable feat considering he was unemployed just weeks out from the opening race of the season after Fred Gibson's backdoor deal with Ford and Craig Lowndes.
He rebounded to loom large in HRT's mirrors throughout the season, and now has the championship in his sights.
"I know I can't wait!" he said.
Just as eager is teammate Kelly. The 22-year-old was a genuine star of 2001, finishing the season on the highest tier of the dais at a rain-soaked Sandown Raceway. And he's hungry for more success.
"The job won't be any easier, in fact it will be tougher," he said, "but I'm confident that we have the staff, support and resources that will allow K-mart Racing to achieve even greater results this year."
The new-look K-Mart Commodores hit the Albert Park track tomorrow, along with the rest of the V8 Supercar fleet, in qualifying for the weekend's three non-championship Grand Prix support races.
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