V8 Utes driver Grant Johnson has secured new backing for next weekend’s meeting at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway.
Johnson’s Holden V8 Ute will carry support from Corestaff and Holiday Inn for the northern round.
Currently second in the title, one point behind Chris Pither, Johnson says he is hopeful of continuing his strong form at the Darwin track.
“The last couple of years I put the car on pole and without even doing a practice session,” he said.
“It says something about the track, it suits my driving style. To prepare I go through in car vision from previous years to just remind myself of braking points and just go out and do it.
“I’m confident that if we get a good run in Darwin we will be leading the championship at the end. I mean we are probably where we are in the championship because of the bad qualifying we had at the Clipsal event where I just couldn’t get a clear run.”
In other V8 Utes news, Yanis Derums returns to the V8 Utes field for the first time this year. Derums stepped out of full-time driving this year and leases his car out to Williams Race Tech, which is currently driven by Graham Edwards.
Derums will drive Charlie ‘Handlebars’ Kovacs’ Holden for the round, who will miss only his second V8 Utes round since he started in the series in 2001. Other drivers joining the series for the round include Auto One Wildcard Tim Blanchard and West Australian Rick Gill who will make his first appearance in Darwin in a V8 Ute.
As reported by Speedcafe.com last week, the V8 Utes will contest four races over the weekend instead of its regular three. CLICK HERE for earlier story.
