Russell Ingall has officially been nominated as the co-driver to Jack Perkins in the Holden Racing Team’s #22 Commodore for the Sandown 500.
The 51-year-old was drafted into the squad following the injury sustained to James Courtney at Sydney Motorsport Park a fortnight ago.
Perkins had been due to be Courtney’s co-driver, but has been elevated into the primary slot in place of Courtney.
All drivers are permitted in opening practice tomorrow before two dedicated sessions for the co-drivers.
Saturday also sees co-drivers and primary drivers split, with a 60km race held for each.
Like Perkins, Ingall competed full-time last year and stresses that there are ‘no egos’ in the team.
“We know each other really well and there’s no egos, we’re both not auditioning for drives,” said Ingall, who drove the car for the first time at the team’s Winton test last Thursday.
“We’re out there to do the best for the team and the #22 HRT car, that’s the most important thing.”
Perkins, who raced in Courtney’s place in Sydney, is confident that the entry can figure strongly this weekend despite the forced driver change.
“Everyone at HRT goes racing to win and that hasn’t changed even though James isn’t in the car,” he said.
“We’re pushing really hard to get the best results we can.
“Given the circumstances we’d probably take a top 10, but we’re there to win.
“Russell wants to win and has a few scores to settle and I’m out there to do the best job I can as well.”
Ingall’s position as co-driver will meanwhile see him square-off against old team-mate and rival Marcos Ambrose in the Saturday sprint.
The duo traded paint at last year’s Sydney 500, which marked the only time they have shared a track since Ingall’s title winning 2005 season.
While the spotlight will be on the Tasmanian upon his return, Ambrose says he’ll be happy to take a back seat to primary driver Pye.
“My role is quite clear at Sandown and all the endurance races,” he said.
“I will be supporting Scott in every way possible and as a driver pairing I think we are in good shape.
“We have the car set up close to the way we both like it, the compromises in the cockpit are not too bad, and I have watched every race closely this year and can see the progress that has been made.”
Sandown 500 line-up
No. | Entry | Primary Driver | Co-Driver | Car |
#1 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Jamie Whincup | Paul Dumbrell | Holden Commodore VF |
#2 | Holden Racing Team | Garth Tander | Warren Luff | Holden Commodore VF |
#3 | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | Tim Blanchard | Karl Reindler | Holden Commodore VF |
#4 | Erebus Motorsport | Ashley Walsh | Jack Le Brocq | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG W212 |
#5 | Prodrive Racing Australia | Mark Winterbottom | Steve Owen | Ford Falcon FG X |
#6 | Prodrive Racing Australia | Chaz Mostert | Cameron Waters | Ford Falcon FG X |
#7 | Nissan Motorsport | Todd Kelly | Alex Buncombe | Nissan Altima L33 |
#8 | Brad Jones Racing | Jason Bright | Andrew Jones | Holden Commodore VF |
#9 | Erebus Motorsport | Will Davison | Alex Davison | Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG W212 |
#14 | Brad Jones Racing | Fabian Coulthard | Luke Youlden | Holden Commodore VF |
#15 | Nissan Motorsport | Rick Kelly | David Russell | Nissan Altima L33 |
#17 | DJR Team Penske | Scott Pye | Marcos Ambrose | Ford Falcon FG X |
#18 | Charlie Schwerkolt Racing | Lee Holdsworth | Sebastien Bourdais | Holden Commodore VF |
#21 | Brad Jones Racing | Dale Wood | Macauley Jones | Holden Commodore VF |
#22 | Holden Racing Team | Jack Perkins | Russell Ingall | Holden Commodore VF |
#23 | Nissan Motorsport | Michael Caruso | Dean Fiore | Nissan Altima L33 |
#33 | Volvo Polestar Racing | Scott McLaughlin | Alexandre Premat | Volvo S60 |
#34 | Volvo Polestar Racing | David Wall | Chris Pither | Volvo S60 |
#47 | Walkinshaw Racing | Tim Slade | Tony D’Alberto | Holden Commodore VF |
#55 | Rod Nash Racing | David Reynolds | Dean Canto | Ford Falcon FG X |
#97 | Tekno Autosports | Shane van Gisbergen | Jonathon Webb | Holden Commodore VF |
#99 | Nissan Motorsport | James Moffat | Taz Douglas | Nissan Altima L33 |
#111 | Super Black Racing | Andre Heimgartner | Ant Pedersen | Ford Falcon FG X |
#222 | Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport | Nick Percat | Oliver Gavin | Holden Commodore VF |
#888 | Triple Eight Race Engineering | Craig Lowndes | Steven Richards | Holden Commodore VF |