Deserted on 'Island is fine by Ritter
8/4/2002 15:15 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Greg Ritter says he’s thrilled to be flying solo this weekend, as the Dick Johnson Racing wildcard prepares for his ‘sprint’ race debut at Phillip Island Raceway.
The 29-year-old was earmarked as a future star by Johnson following his impressive performances for the team in the endurance events and has been put to work this year as a test pilot and full-time workshop gopher.
But as promised, he’s been given his chance to shine this weekend in a third Shell Helix Falcon, the first of many scheduled cameo appearances this year, alongside series campaigners Paul Radisich and Steven Johnson.
"I am really looking forward to Phillip Island and the chance to race a Shell Helix Falcon on my own, rather than sharing a car as a co-driver," Ritter said.
He will first have to negotiate pre-qualifying, joining Radisich in Friday’s 13-car cull.
"The cars and the team are fantastic, so I am confident of getting through pre-qualifying, and then we can go racing seriously,” Ritter said.
Johnson, too, is confident all three of his chargers will be on the grid come Sunday.
"We have no doubt that Paul will qualify easily and Greg has shown plenty of pace, so I would expect to see all three of our guys out there on the weekend," he said.
Radisich’s Falcon has been completely overhauled for Phillip Island after a horror smash during practice for the opening round of the championship in Adelaide. While it was mechanical gremlins that eventually saw Radisich walk away from Adelaide point-less, Johnson said the rebuild was a necessity.
"Although the car was repaired in an all-nighter in Adelaide, as soon as we got back to Brisbane we stripped the car again, ironed out a few extra bugs and rebuilt it again," he said.
"In V8 Supercar competition you just can't afford for things not to be 100 percent right."
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