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American NASCAR driver and road race specialist Boris Said wants a second chance at Mount Panorama in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in October.
Said, who will compete in this weekend’s Daytona 24 Hour in a BMW M6, made his V8 Supercars debut at the Phillip Island 500 in 2008 with Paul Morris Motorsport, finishing 19th with Matt Neal. The pair teamed up again in the Bathurst 1000 but failed to finish when Neal crashed the Commodore VE on lap 140.
Said did not compete in last year’s V8 Supercars enduros due to a date clash, and told Speedcafe.com.au that he has unfinished business at what he describes “the best track he’s ever driven on.”
“I had a blast doing it, it was just a blast, and I definitely want to do it again, for sure,” he said.
“Bathurst is just the best track I’ve ever driven on in the world.
“I’ve never driven on a track like that before. Winning the 24 Hour race at the Nurburgring is pretty cool, but that section of Bathurst going up and down across The Mountain is unbelievable. Couple that with the level of competition, it’s like NASCAR – it’s powerful, everyone is good. It’s a challenge.
“I had a great time with Paul Morris’ team. I feel I was just starting to get up to speed by the end of the weekend, and I think I did a good job for the first time in the car. I want to come back. I had a great time in Australia.
“To me, it’s the best track in the world, and one of the toughest races in the world. I’d love to have another shot at it.”
Said is currently speaking to a number of teams about a possible entry in the two-driver races, with motorsport identity Brett ‘Crusher’ Murray handling his Australian racing affairs.
Said feels that he can get more out of himself, if given another shot at the race.
“I took a conservative approach,” he said.
“I didn’t want to go there and just wreck the car, which would be pretty easy. You have to treat the place with a lot of respect. It was also the first time I’d driven a right-hand drive car, so that took some time to get used to, but I think I had a good handle on it by the end of the weekend.”
And V8 Supercars’ new-for-2010 rules that prohibit regular drivers pairing up in the same car does not faze Said. In fact, he thinks that it could play into his hands …
“I have a lot of experience in long-distance races, and I think that helps a lot.”
“I’m glad about the rule, because I think that opens it up to some guys like myself who might not normally get the chance.”
While Said looks at getting another shot in the V8 Supercar endurance races, he will compete in two races this weekend. In the Grand-Am Continental Challenge, he’ll race with Australian driver Owen Kelly, steering the #4 Blackforest Motorsports Dodge Challenger. The following day, Said will race in the prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona with Bill Auberlen, Joey Hand and Paul Dalla Lana in the new Turner Motorsport BMW M6.
Two weeks later, Said will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in the #26 car.
