Super Black Racing will have its Ford Performance Racing Falcon on display at Sandown this weekend ahead of a wildcard appearance in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
Rising Kiwi stars Andre Heimgartner and Ant Pedersen are set to race the Ford at Bathurst in what is hoped will be a precursor to a full-time Super Black entry in the championship next season.
FPR is preparing the wildcard for Bathurst, which will utilise the squad’s spare car, last raced by Chaz Mostert at Albert Park.
Heimgartner and Pedersen have already undertaken seat fittings at FPR’s Melbourne factory and are scheduled to get behind the wheel of the car at a single pre-Bathurst test at Winton on September 23rd.
The Falcon will be joined by the recently painted Super Black transporter at Sandown, as well as team heavies including owner Tony Lentino and head of operations Greg Hahn.
The squad recently held a launch event for prospective partners in New Zealand, where its young drivers enthused of the opportunities ahead.
“For Andre and I it’s a real honour to go to Bathurst and represent the Kiwi brand under Super Black in V8 Supercars,” said Pedersen.
“It’s never easy in this game but, for us, we race in the New Zealand SuperTourer series and I’ve won races against Shane (van Gisbergen), Scott (McLaughlin) and Greg (Murphy), so it puts it in perspective.
“If you give yourself the right opportunity with the right equipment and resources and a good team around you, you can have a crack at it.
“We have a great opportunity with this team and the resources of FPR. They’ve won Bathurst, so that speaks for itself in terms of what they can help us with.”
Added Heimgartner: “It’s come very quick, Bathurst is just around the corner so next thing you know I’ll be sitting on the grid.
“I don’t have any real expectations. I expect to finish and I think that will be a battle in itself.
“Me and Ant just have to go out there try to finish and the result will just be there hopefully.
“It’s encouraging to have last year’s Bathurst winners running our car, but in saying that a lot of it is in the drivers.
“Me and Ant have to do our bit, but it is nice to know that we’re going to have a good car.”
Pedersen and Heimgartner both currently compete full-time in the Dunlop Series, driving an Eggleston Motorsport Holden and MW Motorsport Ford respectively.
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