AUs Utes: Series news 2010-04-08

V8 Ute Champion's Future on Hold

2007 V8 Ute Champion Grant "Grunta" Johnson is yet to secure a full partnership for his 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All season, which makes his immediate challenge for another series title in doubt.

Johnson has been in the Series since 2005 and in 2007 took out the overall title. He has been one of the V8 Utes most consistent frontrunners finishing on the podium every year since joining the series. In 2008 Johnson claimed third overall and moved up a spot in 2009 taking out the runner up position only 25 points shy of champion Jack Elsegood.

The Western Australian also dabbles in the occasional Endurance race including the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour, the Malaysian and Dubai 24 Hour events, and can boast 50 V8 Ute career podiums, 22 race wins and 10 pole positions. Last year he celebrated his100th race start in a V8 Ute however is short on funding for the remainder of the 2010 series.

"It will be hard to do any more rounds. As a racecar driver you always believe you will get the money from somewhere, however end up spending your own money that we don't really have."

"We are hoping to be at Winton and we are getting the car prepped. Hopefully by the time it comes around the car will have a full livery on it," said Johnson.

Johnson has been supported by fellow driver Greg Willis' Grove Fruit Juice Company for the past 3 years; however Willis had to pull out of the partnership in 2010 leaving the West Aussie to search for new affiliations.

"Greg is still part of Hi-Tech Motorsport and I regard him as a friend. Grove has had to invest in new juicing plants, and if business continues to grow I hope they will be able to help out again however in the short term they just can't commit. They were very happy with how I've helped grow the business over the years and I'm also happy with how they have helped me to take a series win."

"I'm working on a few things at the moment so hopefully I will hear something promising by the end of the week," said Johnson.

The next round of the V8 Utes will take place at Winton Raceway 14 - 16 May with Race 1 televised LIVE on Network Seven, Saturday, 15th May.

Seven of the V8 Ute drivers will head to Hamilton New Zealand Next week to take part in the V8 Ute Trans Tasman Challenge.

-source: aus utes