Bundaberg Racing’s Fabian Coulthard says he must learn from his championship winning Walkinshaw Racing stable-mates James Courtney and Garth Tander if he is to progress up the grid this season.
Coulthard, whose car will feature Bundaberg slogan ‘Huzzah’ on its flanks this weekend in Abu Dhabi due to alcohol advertising restrictions, finished just 23rd in last year’s championship standings.
The Kiwi has begun his second year at the Clayton squad with three test days – one at Eastern Creek and two at Winton – and believes his working relationship with the Toll Holden Racing Team drivers will prove crucial to his results.
“As a group we were able to make great progress which will certainly give us the tools to achieve better results,” said Coulthard of the test days.
“It’s great that James has come on board with fresh ideas and we have been able to put those into practice and make improvements.
“Last year was a year of excuses and now we have to get that out of our system.
“We completed the two day test at Winton as a broader group and things are working well.”
“I get along well with both James and Garth and to take that next step to get Bundaberg Racing further up the grid I need to lean on those guys in order to learn from them.
“It is time for us as a group to get the results.”
While the Bundaberg team has downsized from two to one car this season, the former Paul Morris Motorsport and Paul Cruickshank Racing driver sees continuity within his own engineering group to be an important factor.
“It is definitely going to be a lot easier this time round having been at the team for a year and having that time under my belt,” he said..
“I have been able to build a bit of continuity with my engineering group and I understand the team a lot better.”
For more on Bundaberg Racing’s 2011 season, CLICK HERE to see comments from Walkinshaw Racing CEO Craig Wilson
