UTE: Bathurst October race date set at Mount Panorama

V8 BRute Muster On The Grid For Bathurst

BATHURST fans will see an exciting new V8 Ford and Holden battle when Australia's latest racing series, the V8 BRute Muster, tackles Mount Panorama for the first time in October.

Up to 20 Ford Falcon XR8 and Holden Commodore SS utes are expected to compete in three non-championship races at the 4-7 October event.

The third race will be televised Australia-wide on Network Ten just before the start of the annual Bathurst 1000 classic on Sunday morning.

V8 BRute Muster competitors have welcomed the deal to run at Bathurst concluded between PROCAR Australia and Great Race organisers International Management Group - and promise fans a thrilling spectacle.

"Everywhere the V8 BRutes have raced the crowds have been hanging off the fences cheering and I reckon you can guarantee that at Bathurst," said Holden driver Gary MacDonald, who currently leads the six-round V8 BRute Muster national series.

"The V8 BRutes have more horsepower than handling and they'll be pretty exciting to drive across the top of the Mountain. I can't wait to get there!"

MacDonald is looking forward to returning to Bathurst after competing there in 1992 in a 12-hour production car race, in which a Holden V8 ute made a celebrated one-off appearance.

The 5.0 litre VG Commodore ute was driven by Allan Grice, Brad Jones and John Spencer and attracted plenty of attention despite finishing mid-field.

While the 1992 ute had only 165 kW of power, the 2001 Falcon and Commodore V8 BRutes will have around 220 kW on tap and are expected to reach 240 kmh on the long Conrod Straight.

PROCAR Australia Chief Executive Ross Palmer said the invitation to race at Bathurst followed the V8 BRute Muster's April debut in Adelaide at the Clipsal 500, another IMG event.

"Bathurst will be a motorsport treat for everyone, but particularly for many people from the bush. Where they come from the ute's almost a cultural icon, so to see the latest Ford and Holden utes on the toughest track in Australia will be a huge attraction," Mr Palmer said.

Brisbane-based PROCAR Australia owns and organises the V8 BRute Muster series and supplies the race vehicles built to a strict "control" specification to ensure performance parity between the two makes.

Mr Palmer said a limited number of entries were still available to compete in the V8 BRute Muster series and at Bathurst.

-Procar