Rally Champ Simon Evans To Hit Winton Tarmac

Two-time Australian Rally Champion Simon Evans will trade gravel and his four-wheel drive Mitsubishi Lancer for Winton Motor Raceway and a V8 Commodore this weekend in Round Five of the Shannons Nationals.

The rallying star is a late co-driver signing to the Commodore Cup Endurance Challenge, one of six categories competing in the Shannons Nationals’ first visit to the North-Eastern Victorian circuit.

Evans will line-up alongside fellow Melbourne driver Jeff Watters in a strong 23-car field, a connection dating back to Evans’ early days of rallying.

“I’ve known Jeff for a while,” Evans said.

“Back when I was building my own rally cars in the mid-1990s, Jeff used to do a lot of the engineering work on them.

“When he got in touch and asked if I’d be interested in driving, I jumped at the chance.”

This weekend’s races will continue Evans’ foray into circuit racing.

The 2006 and 2007 Australian Rally Champion has competed in a number of events, including the 2008 Nurburgring 24 Hour and this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour in production cars.

Commodore Cup cars are largely production-based and dominated by the VS model Holden, with 4.2litre V8 engines, four-speed gearboxes and grooved racing tyres.

“Racing a Commodore on a circuit will definitely be something different,” Evans, who leads the 2009 ARC standings, said.

“Going from my four-wheel-drive rally car to a rear-wheeled V8 will be a challenge, but they look like a lot of fun.

“I’m always looking for different challenges from motorsport, being able to drive a range of cars in different environments and enjoy the experiences.

Evans will get his first taste of a Commodore Cup car tomorrow, Friday, at Winton, in pre-event practice.

“I’m looking forward to the weekend,” Evans said.

“I’ve done about 10 laps of Winton before, testing a tarmac rally car, so I’ve got a little bit of experience on the circuit.

“Driving a Commodore Cup car is an unknown but I can’t wait to get out there and stuck into it.”

A credentialed group of circuit racing aces will join Evans as co-drivers this weekend, including V8 Supercar regulars Steve Owen and Shane Price.

The pack of closely-matched Commodores will tackle a pair of 45-minute races, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, with two drivers per car and pitstops.

The Commodore Cup Endurance Challenge will be joined by the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship, Aussie Racing Cars, Shannons V8 Touring Cars, Kumho Saloon Cars and the final round of the Formula Vee National Series at Winton this weekend.

On-track activity starts at 8:30am on Saturday, with racing from 2:30pm, before a full day of racing on Sunday.

Tickets are great value at $20 on Saturday, $35 on Sunday or $45 for the weekend, with kids under 14 and pit paddock access free.

For more information about the 2009 Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships, visit www.thenationals.com.au.
 

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