FHOLDEN: Leahey sets sights on Supercar

Tim Leahey is set to skip the final round of the Australian Driver's Championship to concentrate on the forthcoming V8 Supercar blue ribbon events at Queensland Raceway and Bathurst.

Leahey recently was confirmed to drive with the Garry Rogers Motorsport Valvoline V8 Supercar team for the endurance races.

He will join forces with Greg Ritter aboard a Commodore alongside regular GRM stars Garth Tander and Jason Bargwanna.

After dominating with pole position and two race wins at Winton, Leahey's disappointing run of poor reliability in Formula Holden returned at the latest round of the series at Oran Park.

Leahey qualified 2nd and finished in that position in the opening race before engine problems finished his weekend in the second event.

"Winton was certainly the highpoint of a pretty bleak year, but the chance to drive with such a great team like Garry Rogers Motorsport at Queensland and Bathurst makes up for that," Leahey said.

"Simon Wills beat me off the line in the first race on the weekend and I was confident I could beat him in the final race before the engine went sour again.

"The team have worked very hard on improving the reliability, but things haven't really worked out.

"I could have done the final race at Mallala, but it will be run alongside a round of the V8 Lites championship and really wouldn't provide my sponsors with the exposure they deserve."

Having now been picked by one of the country's top V8 Supercar teams, Leahey is grateful for the support of his sponsors who backed his Formula Holden assault.

"I am disappointed we couldn't win more races, but if it wasn't for the backing of my sponsors, I would never have picked up the V8 Supercar drive with GRM," Leahey said.

"Kevin Murphy's team allowed be to show strong speed in Formula Holden, but our luck wasn't on our side.

"The chance to drive with GRM is a chance of a lifetime, and I have my Formula Holden sponsors to thank for that.

"I am really looking forward to driving the Valvoline Commodore and I am confident Greg Ritter and I can do a good job.

"It is not every day of the week you get an opportunity like this."