Australian V8 Enduerance Racing

Rookie and World Champ Tackle The Island

Bundaberg Car

When the ‘Season of Endurance’ swings into action for the first event at Phillip Island this weekend, Bundaberg Red Racing’s David Reynolds will pull out all stops to make sure he and team-mate Andy Priaulx are up the front of the field come Sunday afternoon.

Fresh from a race win in the World Touring Car Championship at Oschersleben in Germany at the weekend, three-time world touring car champion Priaulx flies into Melbourne today ahead of the 500km event.

Priaulx hasn’t raced at the fast and flowing Phillip Island circuit before but has been a spectator and is looking forward to taking the wheel of a V8 Supercar again. “I have been to Phillip Island before, but only to watch. It is a tremendous circuit very fast and flowing - so it will be a baptism of fire with full commitment to the high speeds we will be achieving,” Priaulx said.

It’s been six years since Priaulx has been a part of the V8 Supercar circuit, he last drove a V8 with K-mart racing in 2003 and is hoping for better fortune this time around at Phillip Island and Bathurst with Reynolds.

“I thoroughly enjoy V8 Supercars and have been trying to get back to Australia for a few years,” Priaulx said.

“It is great to be given the opportunity again and it will be a big challenge to get back up to speed with little pre-race testing.

“My main aim is to score some good points for the team and bring the car home,” Priaulx said.

While the distance of the race might be a worry for some of the field’s co-drivers, it isn’t a massive issue for Priaulx. Having a tight training routine, including recently competing in a marathon means he isn’t worried about the long stints in the car, required in the category.

“I think the biggest thing I need to concentrate on will be the pit stops and driver changes, but race length won’t bother me” he said.

Priaulx’s team-mate, regular V8 Supercar racer, David Reynolds can’t wait to share the car with his accomplished co-driver.

“Having Andy in the team will be a real buzz for me,” Reynolds said.

“I can see how the world champion operates around the team and hopefully learn a few things by watching him interact with the engineering team, observing how he describes the car’s performance,” he said.

Reynolds’ first foray in the 500km Bathurst warm-up at Phillip Island last year, teaming with Paul Dumbrell in the Autobarn Commodore, wasn’t the best start to the season of endurance – an engine failure during Reynolds’ stint in the car put the pair out of the race.

He is hoping for a stronger finish this time round at a circuit that he is renowned for winning at in the Porsche Carrera Cup.

“Phillip Island is a track where I have had most of my success winning a lot of my races in the Carrera Cup,” Reynolds said.

“Paul (Dumbrell) and I were travelling really well in the race last year until the engine expired half way through.

“But I have a really good feeling about this weekend,” he said.

Reynolds will be reunited with his former Fujitsu Series Engineer John Di Berardino for the next two events who will be on board as his Data Engineer.

Regular Bundy Red Racing data engineer Rob Starr will be leading the crew on the Autobarn entry for the endurance rounds with Richard Hollway joining Dumbrell at Toll HRT.

After a series of recent test days Reynolds feels more prepared for the physical and mental challenge that lies ahead having completed hours of laps in the car at Winton.

“I am just going to focus on myself and my performance so we can achieve the best result,” Reynolds said.

Both drivers will be given equal time in the car with last year’s format carrying over this year. Saturday’s race schedule means Reynolds and Priaulx will both qualify and compete in a 14 lap race to determine their grid position for the big race on Sunday.

The cars can be seen on track from 12:40pm (AEST) on Friday afternoon.

Event Summary

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island, Sept 11-13

  • Friday
    • 12:40pm - 1:15pm Practice
    • 1:30pm - 2:20pm Practice
    • 3:00pm - 3:50pm Practice
  • Saturday
    • 9:10am - 9:40am Driver A practice
    • 9:55am - 10:25pm Driver B practice
    • 11:05am - 11:25am Driver A qual
    • 11:40am - 12:00pm Driver B qual
    • 2:35pm - 3:00pm Driver A race
    • 4:25pm - 5:00pm Driver B race
  • Sunday
    • 10:25am - 10:40am Warm Up
    • 1:35pm - 5:15pm Race 17, 113 laps

Circuit Details

  • Length: 3.45km
  • Direction: Anti-clockwise
  • Average speed: 174km/h
  • Maximum speed: 290km/h
  • Fastest point: Gardner straight
  • Slowest point: Honda corner (Turn 4)
  • 2008 winner: Garth Tander & Mark Skaife