Accomplished Porsche driver Dan Gaunt has voiced his disappointment at being forced to miss the high profile Rennsport meeting at Sydney Motorsport Park from May 25-26.
Gaunt was scheduled to share the Carrera Cup car with Stephen Grove at the unique Pro-Am meeting that includes twin 60-minute races.
The Kiwi was forced to withdraw from what is set to become one of the most significant Porsche motor racing events in Australia this weekend by answering an SOS from his V8 SuperTourer team in New Zealand.
Gaunt is now required to handle the #31 Tasman Motorsports Group Falcon at the Pukekohe Park round of the V8ST Championship after Andrew Waite broke his wrist in a low-key Honda Cup meeting at that track last weekend.
Waite, who is Gaunt’s co-driver in the Kiwi series, was to be rewarded with his first solo drive of the Tasman car.
“I guess it was a little unfortunate for Andrew to break his wrist,” Gaunt told Speedcafe.com
“He was doing that Pukekohe race to learn the revised track.”
For Gaunt the situation poses a conundrum as he is third in points in the V8ST and still in with a shout at the sprint title however he holds tremendous passion for the landmark Porsche meeting.
“I would have loved to have raced in the Rennsport event. I love the Porsches. It is what I cut my teeth in over the last few years,” Gaunt told Speedcafe.com
“Stephen Grove is an awesome dude and it would have been a good event to have compete in.
“I’m pretty disappointed that I’m not going to be there.”
The Rennsport event, that will see the largest congregation of racing Porsches in one place in Australia which total more than 240 for all categories, was confirmed on the calendar well ahead of the V8ST’s announcing its 2013 schedule.
“I can’t work out why they all can’t get together and make these things work.
“There are a few guys in the same boat. Bairdo and a few others.
“It would be nice to do them all.
“Porsche never do anything by halves let me tell you. It will be a good event and they will spend the money in the right areas and put on a good show for everyone.
“I tried to get them (V8ST) to change it when they announced the calendar because Porsche were first. You can’t chop and change your dates with Sydney because I know how hard it is to get on the track.”
Carrera Cup superstar Craig Baird is forgoing his drive in the V8ST Falcon for the Rennsport meeting and is close to confirming who his co-driver will be for what will be round three of the Australian Carrera Cup series.
Grove, who is the only driver currently competing in both the Carrera Cup and the GT3 Cup, is yet to make any announcement on who will replace Gaunt.
