Stone Brothers Racing is the latest V8 Supercars team to confirm its line-up of international co-drivers for October’s Armor All Gold Coast 600.
French IndyCar star Simon Pagenaud, versatile Dutchman Jeroen Bleekemolen and Australian sportscar and GT driver David Brabham will partner Lee Holdsworth, Shane van Gisbergen and Tim Slade respectively for the third running of the event under its international co-driver format.
The line-ups ensure that Pagenaud and Holdsworth will drive together on the Gold Coast for the second year in succession having scored a third place in Sunday’s race last year for Fujitsu Racing GRM.
For Brabham, it will be his first Surfers Paradise start since 2010. The 46-year-old was ineligible for the event last year as he had competed with SBR in the preceding Phillip Island and Bathurst endurance races.
Meanwhile, Bleekemolen will be making his V8 Supercars debut after scheduling conflicts scuppered SBR’s plans to sign him as a late replacement for Scott Dixon last year.
According to SBR co-owner Ross Stone, the collective racing experience of the three co-drivers will be a positive for his Queensland based Ford squad.
“All three international drivers will bring a wealth of driving experience to the team and in the past both David and Simon have placed in the top five in this event,” said Stone of the line-up.
“Our co-drivers all want to perform as well as they can to get the best results for our cars, and I’m confident they have the skills which are required for them to finish strongly.”
CLICK HERE for more with Simon Pagenaud and Lee Holdsworth
CLICK HERE for more with Joroen Bleekemolen and Shane van Gisbergen
CLICK HERE for more with David Brabham and Tim Slade
