Jack Le Brocq will have a new engineer for this weekend’s ITM Auckland SuperSprint with Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 winner Geoff Slater recalled to Tekno Autosports.
Slater engineered the Queensland squad to Bathurst 1000 success when Will Davison and team owner Jonathon Webb took out Supercars’ showpiece event in 2016.
The renowned engineer left the squad at the end of that season and has worked for a number of organisations including Triple Eight, but has most recently found a home at Kostecki Brothers Racing’s Super2 squad.
However, this weekend he has returned to the main game at Pukekohe to fill in for Tekno’s regular engineer Campbell Little, who is overseeing a McLaren GT test overseas.
Slater’s recall will see him tackle ZB Commodore machinery for the first time.
He is however familiar with Le Brocq having worked alongside the Supercars rookie during a wildcard outing last year.
“Campbell was called overseas for a test with McLaren so (team principal) Adrian (Burgess) and Campbell have asked me to fill in for the weekend,” Slater told Speedcafe.com.
“It is always good to be back in the main game and have a crack at it.
“The challenge will be the ZB Commodore as I have never played with one of those before, I will have to get up to speed with that and all the different characteristics that it presents.
“I have a couple of practice sessions to work it out.
“I’ve worked with Jack before, I did a wildcard with him last year, so it will be good to rekindle that relationship and we will see how we will go.
“I think the ZB will suit this place but I don’t think Jack has driven here before. Getting him and the car and the circuit together will be the biggest challenge for me.”
On top of the engineer change, Le Brocq faces the added challenge of making his debut at Pukekohe this weekend, but is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to drive the track.
“I’ve known Geoff for a while so I’m looking forward to it,” Le Brocq told Speedcafe.com.
“It is going to be interesting as it is a place I haven’t been to before so I’m looking forward to the challenge as it is fast and bumpy.
“I think the place will throw a bit of weather at us so hopefully we roll out the truck quick.”
The ITM Auckland SuperSprint begins on Friday with opening practice scheduled for 1115 local time.
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