Garth Tander says that he’ll consider the prospect of a $2 million in his bank, if he wins this weekend’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
The Toll Holden Racing Team driver is the only driver in the running for the ‘Mother Grand Slam’ cash prize after he won the Clipsal 500 in March.
Tander needs to win this weekend’s Great Race, plus the Armor All Gold Coast 600 and the Sydney Telstra 500 to secure the prize money.
Competing in a special anniversary livery this weekend celebrating HRT’s 20th anniversary, Tander says that there’s no use getting too excited about his chances for the cash just yet.
“If we have a successful weekend this weekend, then we’re half way towards $2 million, and then it would start to become more real,” he said.
“There’s still a lot of tough races ahead of us before we even think about that sort of money.
“Bathurst in isolation is the one you want to win – you don’t need $2 million motivation to come to Bathurst and win that.
“Like I said, if we have a successful weekend at Bathurst, we’ll start thinking about it, but that is not our motivation – it’s getting a good result here.”
V8 Supercars Australia Chairman Tony Cochrane said the Mother Grand Slam wasn’t meant to be easy, but winnable all the same.
“It’s a lot of money, but a great concept,” he said.
“Quite frankly we’d love Garth and HRT to win it but he’s got a massive job in front of him. Having said that there are very few drivers of the calibre and cool head of Garth, that’s why he’s such a Champion.”
Three practice sessions will be held at Mount Panorama for the V8 Supercars Championship Series today at 10.15am, 12.30pm and 2.40pm AEST.
