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Jack Perkins will team up with Russell Ingall in the Supercheap Auto Commodore VE in the Armor All Gold Coast 600 next weekend.
The pairing will be a reunification of sorts, as Perkins’ father Larry and Ingall were team-mates for eight years, sharing two Bathurst 1000 victories.
This year marks the 15th year since Ingall and Perkins won their first Bathurst together, coming from a lap down to score a memorable victory.
Perkins Jr replaces team owner Paul Morris, who will focus his energies on running his team.
Ingall, a former Gold Coaster event winner, said he is excited to be to teaming up with the son of the man who kick-started his standout V8 Supercar career with their thrilling Bathurst win.
“I owe a lot to Larry; he was the one who gave me my real start in V8 Supercars after I came back from Europe, so I’m excited to be able to have the Perkins/Ingall combo on the car for the Gold Coast,” said Ingall.
“I’ve known Jack since he was this pesky little kid running around Larry’s workshop, so I never thought that one day we’d be sharing a drive in a V8 Supercar.
“But he has done a terrific job with the limited racing opportunities he’s had to date and I’m hoping I can give his career a similar kick along as the one that his dad gave me.
“The Supercheap Auto Commodore is a car capable of winning the Armor All Gold Coast 600, so like I did with Larry, Jack will be able to show just how talented he is.”
Perkins works as a signwriter at the Gold Coast-based Paul Morris Motorsports, home of Supercheap Auto Racing. He drove a Supercheap Auto-backed Commodore in the Fujitsu V8 Series at Queensland Raceway earlier this year, taking a race win.
He is equally as enthusiastic about his opportunity with Ingall.
“As with any kid, you always dream of someday going to work with your Dad and my dream was to race together with LP,” said Perkins.
“Unfortunately that didn’t happen, but I grew up watching Dad and Russell race and I’ve got fantastic memories of them winning Bathurst together.
“The opportunity to race alongside Russell in the Supercheap Auto Commodore at such a significant event as the Armor All Gold Coast 600 is a pretty cool alternative – I’m very happy.”
At Phillip Island in September, Perkins debuted a ‘retro’ helmet design, dedicated to his father’s famous green and gold colour scheme. Jack will continue to use that helmet design on the streets of Surfers Paradise.
Practice for the Armor All Gold Coast 600 kicks off on Friday, 22 October.
