Brock 'n roll: Bathurst King returns to the throne
15/8/2002 1:09 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Here ‘ye, here ‘ye. The King is returning to his throne. Brock is back.
Nine-time Bathurst winner Peter Brock (right) will partner Kiwi Craig Baird for his Mount Panorama comeback
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First it was the King of rock and roll, the long-dead Elvis Presley, now it’s the King of the Mountain, nine-time Bathurst winner Peter Brock, his V8 Supercar career long expired, cashing in on a famous comeback.
Brock, Australian motorsport’s most celebrated driver, will make a final appearance on his field of dreams in October, contesting the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst.
Many will question his motives. The decision is unashamedly based on providing much needed revenue and exposure for his fledgling Team Brock operation – a similar financial and public relations bonanza race organisers can now expect from the famous 05 racing number again gracing the V8 racing stage.
Indeed, Brock revealed governing body AVESCO and Bathurst promoters IMG were both behind an initial proposal put to him earlier this year.
Brock, who last raced a V8 Supercar five years ago at the 1997 Bathurst 1000, isn’t deterred by the critics. He has nothing to prove or lose.
He’s older and grayer, a grandfather in sporting terms, and probably slower. He can’t win the race, nor does he realistically expect to.
He talked of the “commercial realities” of the exercise at yesterday’s press conference in Melbourne, racing to “consolidate the team's future into 2003 and beyond.”
“That’s what’s important,” he said.
But there’s more to it than that. At 57, it will be one the greatest adventures in his life, he said, and “we certainly won’t be there just to make up the numbers."
“I must admit that the possibility of a return to Mount Panorama has been on my mind for some months now as a result of a competitive effort in the Targa Tasmania Monaro last April.
“This will be a full-on competitive outing and we’re looking for a top ten finish. If we can stay in touch with the frontrunners anything can happen.”
Brock said he has been keeping fit in the gym, training for up to 90 minutes a day. And his race skills remain sharp, secretly testing with his team in preparation for the race.
He’ll drive with Kiwi Craig Baird, aboard a striking all-black Commodore, a one-off livery design garnering the sponsors whose chequebooks lured him from retirement.
Multi-national mobile phone giant Motorola are the major backers, together with ArmorAll and Auto Art. Holden, Mobil and Bridgestone continue their long association with Brock.
Few opportunities exist in Australian sport to be associated with an icon of Brock’s statue, a point made clear by Motorola boss Alan Nicklos.
“It’s our first foray into V8 Supercar sponsorship,” Mr Nicklos said, “and we’re looking forward to an ongoing mutually rewarding relationship with Team Brock.”
What’s more, the race will mark 30 years since Brock took his first Bathurst victory in 1972.
He did it in a Torana XU-1 that day, a solo 500-mile marathon effort around Bathurst’s then perilous 6.1km stretch.
Times have changed.
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