Utes racer cleared for Bathurst return

Teenager Mason Barbera has received the all clear to make his V8 Ute Racing Series return at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

The 17-year-old Queenslander was sidelined from the last two races of the championship at Sandown after being involved in a heavy shunt that saw him transferred to hospital with suspected broken ribs.

While he avoided any serious injury, Barbera, who was released from hospital less than 24 hours after the accident, was forced to postpone his Kumho V8 debut at the Phillip Island Shannons Nationals earlier this month on medical grounds.

However, Barbera is now ready for a return to competitive racing at Mount Panorama next week, where he will become the youngest Ute driver to race at the 6.2km circuit.

The Bundaberg racer completed a test in a brand new Peters Motorsport Holden at Queensland Raceway today.

“I feel excellent, ready to go, no pain or anything,” said Barbera.

“I’m really happy the car it was awesome, really quick and it was great being in a new car.

“We matched times from old car, if not better.

“We are ready to rumble for Bathurst and happy all round.”

The V8 Utes field will welcome back Aaron Borg with the Sydney driver filling in for Andrew Fisher in the Jesus Racing Ford.

Fisher has elected to focus on his Touring Car Masters commitments which has created the vacant seat for Borg, who made his debut in the category at Darwin last year.

The event will be Borg’s debut at Mount Panorama.

“I’m really excited to get back into it, especially being Bathurst its’ somewhere you always want to race at so that will be awesome,” said Borg.

“Andrew has been a massive help, we have already looked over data together and will be looking over video, having Andrew’s knowledge is second to none.

“He’s done plenty of laps around Bathurst so it will be very helpful debriefing throughout the weekend.”

Meanwhile, Australian production car driver Danny Stutterd will make his debut in the series, while Townsville’s Graham Edwards and New Zealand’s Peter Ward are primed to make their Utes return.