It has been four years since the V8 Supercars last visited the western Sydney circuit and Jack Daniel’s Racing duo, Todd and Rick Kelly have fond memories of the Eastern Creek track, now named Sydney Motorsport Park.
Todd’s V8 Supercar debut was here, at the opening round of the 1999 championship driving the Holden Young Lions Car. Over the years Todd has enjoyed several strong performances and in 2007 he scored both a pole position and race win.
Rick made his first V8 Supercar appearance at Eastern Creek in 2002, (his sixth championship start) and won his first solo V8 Supercar race here, after qualifying 17th and driving through torrential rain to victory in 2004. Then in 2008, the last time the V8 supercars raced at the Creek, Rick finished the day in 3rd place.
In the Championship standings Todd lies 13th on 983 points with Rick 16th on 943 points.
Rick Kelly – “This track holds a lot of great memories for me as I achieved my first solo win here. It’s a track with slow, medium and high-speed corners so it has a really good mix and a lot of loading on the tyres. Due to the many surface changes it is a little difficult to set up for and as we have less track time in practice than usual, the pressure is on the drivers to quickly find a strong baseline set up.”
Todd Kelly – “I started my V8 Supercar career here and always enjoy racing at this track. The last couple of rounds have been tough for us, but I am confident we can bounce back and have a solid run here. With less track time than we are used to, getting a good set up early will be a key to success this weekend”.
Sydney Motorsport Park
Circuit Length: 3.93-kilometres
Circuit Direction: Anti-Clockwise
Opened: 1990
It is the former home of the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix and A1 GP Series
Current V8 Supercars Driving Standards Observer Tomas Mezera, won the first touring car race held at the circuit a 500km event with Larry Perkins in 1990
This weekend’s event is a pair of races – the first time a two-race format has been used at the circuit by the V8 Supercars Championship since 2005.
Saturday’s race will be 140kms (36 laps) and Sunday’s race 220-kilometre (56 lap). Both races require the use of soft and hard tyres.
This is the first time soft compound tyres have been raced on at this venue.
Sunday’s race will be the longest V8SC race there since 2004, when Rick Kelly won a wet 67-lapper – his first solo race win.
Eleven of the 28 drivers in this year’s field have never actually raced a V8 Supercar at Sydney Motorsport Park, but most of them have experience there in other categories.
Since the V8 Supercars tested here in 2011 the circuit has been modified with the removal of the right-left approach into turn six, making it a straight run up to the now left-handed corner, turning it into a prime passing opportunity.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The times below are Australian Eastern Standard Time
Saturday, August 25:
Practice 1: 10am – 10.30am
Practice 2: 11.20am – 11.50am
Qualifying: 2.05pm – 2.25pm
Race 18: 4.05pm – 5.15pm (36 laps/140km)
Sunday, August 26:
Practice 3: 10.35am – 11.05am
Qualifying: 12.25pm – 12.55pm
Race 19: 3.35pm – 5.15pm (56 laps/220km)
TELEVISION SCHEDULE
Times subject to amendment, please check local guides:
Seven Network & 7Mate
Saturday, August 25
12pm – 3.30pm Qualifying, Shootout & Race 18 (Perth) 7Mate
1.30pm – 5pm Qualifying, Shootout & Race 18 (Adelaide) 7Mate
2pm – 5.30pm Qualifying, Shootout & Race 18 (Sydney, Brisbane) Ch 7
2pm – 5.30pm Qualifying, Shootout & Race 16 (Melbourne) 7Mate
Sunday, August 26:
12pm – 3.30pm Qualifying & Race 19 (Perth) 7Mate
1.30pm – 5.00pm Qualifying & Race 19 (Adelaide) 7Mate
2pm – 5.30pm Qualifying & Race 19 (Sydney, Brisbane) Ch 7
2pm – 5.30pm Qualifying & Race 19 (Melbourne) 7Mate
