|
 |
|
|
|
|
Former V8 Ute Champ Secures V8 Supercar Drive
V8 Ute stalwart Chris Pither has secured a full-time drive with Brad Jones Racing in the 2013 V8 Supercar Development Series, and will step out of V8 Ute Racing following a long and successful career. In 6 years of competition, Pither scored a V8 Ute Trans-Tasman win at Hamilton NZ, and three V8 Ute Titles (2 x New Zealand, 1 x Australia,) making him the only driver in V8 Ute history to achieve this.
|
|
|
“I’ll definitely miss it. I did a lot of great things and made a lot of good friends in both the Australian and New Zealand Ute categories, they will remain part of my family for a long time. My NZ backer and mentor Ash Cairns suggested I move to Australia to further my career when I was only 18, so I packed up and lived with V8 Ute Category Manager Craig Denyer and his family on the Gold Coast,” Pither said.
Pither raced initially for the Kanga Loaders Team in V8 Utes, (winning the Gold Cast round) and then the Fujitsu Series. An introduction to Darren Park from Ice Break Racing saw Pither take over seat from Layton Crambrook early in 2010, then go on to win the 2011 V8 Ute Series.
Mindful of how hard getting a break in the sport is, Chris set up the Chris Pither/Ice Break Scholarship in 2012, and offered three young drivers (Jesse Dixon, Tom Williamson, Andy Waite), the chance to race in his series winning Holden in the Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All.
“2012 was a great year. I obviously only did 2 Ute rounds myself, and having 3 guys in the Ute over the course of the year was great. We decided at the start to give guys with no money but talent a run. It was a highlight of mine to see Jesse Dixon go on to win the Shannon’s Supercar Showdown Bathurst 1000 drive as a result of the scholarship programme. Everyone that drove did a great job, hopefully we helped them as well,” said Pither.
Ice Break Racing, also a long-time supporter of the Australian V8 Ute Series, will be assisting Pither in the next level of his career, backing him in the former Fabian Coulthard Commodore VE. The Ice Break Racing VE Ute was sold this week, and will be driven by 2012 driver Gerard McLeod this year.
This will be Pither’s third run in the Development Series, and he believes with great support (Ice Break Racing), a good team (Brad Jones Racing (BJR)) and a competitive car (Fabian Coulthard Commodore VE), he has the combination to have a successful season.
“I’ve only done the entire championship once before with Kanga Loaders in 2006 and selective rounds in 2007 with Paul Morris Motorsport. I think I’m probably more prepared than I ever have been, and doing a few years in the Utes has made me a better package as a driver. I’m really rapt that Ice Break and our other partners have been willing and excited to step into the Supercar Development Series and I’m confident with BJR running the car, we’ve got a really exciting package,” he explained.
Pither drove in the V8 Supercar Enduro’s in 2012 last year alongside David Wall, where he claimed 14th in the Bathurst 1000. He is yet to practice in his 2013 car; however it will have a similar package to what he drove at Bathurst in 2012.
Category Manager Craig Denyer will be sad to see Pither and Ice Break Racing step out of the Series but wishes them every success.
“I’ve known Chris since he was a young teenager, he is part of our family in many ways and it’s great to see him moving into a competitive V8 Supercar program, thanks to Darren Park. Ice Break Racing has done a lot for the Series since their involvement in 2010 and while we are sorry to see them move on, it again proves that the Australian V8 Ute Series is a great feeder category for V8 Supercars, both commercially and for driver development. When you look at the number of former V8 Ute racers now in the DVS or V8 Supercar Championship, it’s a great story for the category,” said Denyer.
Like many drivers before him, Pither saw the V8 Utes as a great stepping stone towards a career in V8 Supercars.
“It’s definitely a great stepping stone. I competed in a season and a half and it got me back into the Australian motorsport scene and built my profile again. Australian V8 Ute Racing has definitely been a big part of the process into V8 Supercars; obviously the close hard racing teaches you how to pick your moments and be smart on the track. I think the past couple of seasons have made me a smarter driver and that’s important,” said Pither.
Pither joins three other former V8 Ute Champions in moving into V8 Supercars including: two- time champions Warren Luff and Damien White, and 2006 Champion Marcus Zukanovic.
Other V8 Ute drivers to step up to V8 Supercars include: George Miedecke, Grant Denyer, James Moffat, Nandi Kiss, Gary MacDonald, Luke Youlden and Dean Canto.
Pither will be at the opening round of both the V8 Supercar and the 2013 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All Season at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide Thursday, 28th February – Sunday, 3rd March.
PaddockTalk Perspective
|
|
|
| |
|
