Grant Denyer is making moves to return to motor racing in the next round of the MINI Challenge at Phillip Island.
The Seven Network’s Sunrise weatherman has taken a backseat from racing this year, concentrating on his busy television commitments. However, the 32-year-old is looking at returning to the MINI Challenge category for a one-off appearance.
Denyer is currently deciding if he can squeeze the drive into his broadcast schedule, as he is also a chance of being a pit lane reporter for Seven’s coverage of the V8 Supercars endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.
If Denyer does drive at Phillip Island, it will be in the #50 Pizza Capers UberStar (celebrity) entry.
Denyer’s father Craig Denyer told Speedcafe.com.au that his son is keen to get back behind the wheel of a race car.
“He hasn’t confirmed it, but he is very interested in doing it,” said Denyer Sr.
“It all depends on his commitments at Seven. I understand that he might do pit lane reporting stuff there, so it’s a matter of working it around that and his other responsibilities.
“He really needed the year off this year because of his big TV commitments. We agreed that he’d pick and choose to do a couple of events when time allowed it.
“He’s missing his motorsport, and if the possibility presents him again next year, he’s likely to return to mainstream competition.”
This will not be the first time that Denyer has competed in MINI Challenge. He contested the first half of the 2008 MINI Challenge Series and led it convincingly until he broke his back in a freak monster truck incident.
He came back to racing last year, finishing fourth in the Fujitsu V8 Series.
Meanwhile, at the fourth round of the Hertz MINI Challenge round at Townsville last weekend, Chris Alajajian won his third round of the season, opening up his points lead.
Coming home second was DecoRug Racing’s Paul Stokell who keeps his championship hopes well alive, while 2010 debutant Beric Lynton complemented his Race 2 victory with a third place finish in the final race, taking the final spot on the podium.
UberStar driver Glenn Seton narrowly missed out on a podium spot for the weekend finishing fourth overall for the round. Supercharge Batteries entry Peter McNiven showed consistent pace to come home fifth thanks to an impressive second in Race 1.
One person who was not smiling was MINI Challenge debutant Daniel Pappas, who took a heavy impact in the final race after he was clipped from behind by Brisbane-based driver Chris Wootton.
