Steve Owen will take over the driving duties in the #6 Pepsi Max Ford for the Coates Hire Sydney 500, Prodrive Racing Australia has announced.
Owen will replace Cameron Waters for the final championship round in December, who in turn stood in for the injured Chaz Mostert at the Gold Coast 600, ITM 500 Auckland and this weekend at Phillip Island.
A regular co-driver with Prodrive Racing Australia for the past three endurance seasons, Owen won this year’s Sandown 500 alongside Mark Winterbottom and finished second at the Bathurst 1000 earlier in the year.
The change allows Waters to focus on the Dunlop Series championship finale, with Prodrive hoping to secure both the V8 Supercar Championship and the Dunlop Series.
A two-time winner of the Dunlop Series championship himself, Owen is confident he can help the team retain its championship lead.
“It’s great to be able to help out the team at the Sydney 500,” said Owen.
“I know the cars and I know the team well which always helps. I worked with the guys on the other side of the garage in the endurance races, so working with Adam (De Borre) and the car six crew will be a little bit different but also a great experience.
“The track is a tricky one, you’ve really got to keep the car clean there because the walls aren’t forgiving but I’ll give it my best go and hopefully get these guys the team’s championship.”
After winning 10 of 14 races so far this season, Waters holds a 149-point advantage over Paul Dumbrell ahead of the final Dunlop Series event in Sydney.
“We always wanted to give Cam the best chance possible at taking home his first Dunlop Series Championship and with Steve already being affiliated with the blue cars it was a good fit,” said Prodrive team principal Tim Edwards.
“He has been with the team for a little while now and he knows the cars and how the team operates so it just made sense really.
“He did a fantastic job at Sandown and Bathurst and even at the Gold Coast alongside Frosty. He did exactly what we needed him to do which was keep the car clean so we know we can be consistent and competitive at Homebush as well.”
