Kristian Lindbom is racing against time to return to the Dunlop Series at Bathurst as he eyes a co-driver role in the 2014 Pirtek Enduro Cup.
The 24-year-old starred in the early rounds of the second-tier class this year driving Evans Motorsport’s ex-FPR Ford, but found himself on the sidelines prior to Winton due to a lack of funds.
With experience of the Mount Panorama venue seen as vital to securing a drive in next year’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, Lindbom has put together a last-minute deal to prepare Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport’s ex-Walkinshaw Racing Holden for the October 10-13 meeting.
Previously raced by Lindbom in the opening round of the 2012 Dunlop Series, the car has sat idle in recent times, with the team planning a restoration to its 2007 V8 Supercars Championship winning glory before moving it on.
The car was delivered to Les Small’s Melbourne workshop on Tuesday evening, where the legendary race car preparer assessed the chances of Lindbom making it to Bathurst.
“It’s going to be run really, really tight to have everything done and in the truck by Tuesday, but we’re going to give it a big go,” Lindbom told Speedcafe.com.
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“It needs a bit of work to repair to the diff housing and we need to source a few things like a gearbox and rear wing.
“After that it’ll be panels on, windscreen in and give it a basic set-up before we put it in the truck..
“The car isn’t going to be a race winner, but we need to get up there and do laps because experience at Bathurst is the first thing that the main series teams look for when selecting co-drivers.”
An appearance at Bathurst will also help Lindbom towards the Mike Kable Rookie of the Year Award, for which he is currently the leading contender.
A string of fellow first-year drivers such as Gary Jacobson, Nick McBride and Casey Stoner are contending with Lindbom for the $15,000 prize, which is voted on by selected media.
“The Mike Kable Award is something I’ve had an eye on during the year because a lot of great guys have won it in the past,” he said, with the honour roll including the likes of Marcos Ambrose, Rick Kelly, Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney.
“To be racing against someone like Casey Stoner with the might of Red Bull and Triple Eight behind him for top rookie is quite a big thing.”
Lindbom hopes that a competitive showing at Bathurst will help secure a deal to compete in the Dunlop Series season finale at Homebush in December.
In the meantime, his Bathurst preparation has received a boost from an unlikely source, with Lindbom one of several drivers currently testing the soon-to-be-released Mount Panorama layout for motorsport simulation company iRacing.
“It’s funny I feel that I know every bump around the place now and I haven’t even been there yet,” he said.
“(Longtime friend and 2011 Bathurst winner) Nick Percat and I have simulators set-up right next to each other so we’ve been testing that out and overlaying data between the two of us, which is very useful.”
Lindbom sits 13th in the Dunlop Series standings after losing six places due to his absence from Winton.
