Wills walks, fall guy from blame game with Briggs
14/8/2002 14:24 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Simon Wills has quit Briggs Motorsport, effective immediately, taking the fall for a miserable rookie season in the V8 Supercar series.
Wills walked from the team on Friday, an apparent mutual decision between the New Zealand-born racer and team principal John Briggs.
But a very public blame game sealed Wills’ fate, with the pair unable to agree on who was responsible for the Caterpillar-sponsored Falcon’s poor showing.
Imrie Motorsport’s Konica Series standout, Steve Owen will replace Wills in the CAT Falcon at Winton this weekend.
In a brief statement released yesterday, Briggs said Wills’ father Keiran – the major benefactor of his son’s drive with the team – was planning to establish his own team and Wills elected to make the move now rather than at season’s end.
But in a not-so-subtle attack on Wills’ performance this year, Briggs said his results were disappointing, “given the way the cars are now set up.”
"We've been looking for a way to break through into the front of the field and are confident now that the cars have the potential,” he said.
Wills was more frank in speaking to Auto Action magazine.
“My father and I are resigned to the fact we can’t agree with his [Briggs] reasons for the lack of results,” he said.
25-year-old Wills, the 2001 Konica Series champion and twice Formula Holden title winner, currently sits 25th in the V8 Supercar championship, recording a best round result of 15th at Oran Park.
Wills was a mid-season replacement for John Bowe, who also left the team in acrimonious circumstances last year.
Wills' future is uncertain. Rumours persist that he and his father will form a V8 Supercar partnership with the Adelaide-based Birrana Racing outfit, plans yet to be confirmed.
It is understood Wills will join Stone Brothers Racing for a one-off Queensland 500 drive, replacing late scratching Wayne Gardner, though team boss Ross Stone told Conrod.com.au he is yet to speak to the Kiwi.
Owen is expected to remain with Briggs beyond this weekend, at least until the endurance races where he will partner Dale Brede in the CAT Falcon.
27-year-old Owen, a former Formula Ford front-runner, finished fifth in this year's Konica Series.
"This is my chance to put all the training, development and experience to the test in a car that's really ready to run," Owen said.
Briggs has denied reports he is planning to cut his fleet of Falcons to two, insisting plans remain to expand to a four-car operation next season.
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