Ute Drivers impress at V8 Supercar test

V8 Ute Drivers impress at V8 Supercar test

2009 V8 Ute Series Champion Jack Elsegood and Racer Industries Rookie of the Year winner Paul Williams each took a test drive in one of Paul Morris's Supercheap Auto Supercars lasy Thursday, 17th December at Queensland Raceway.

The two were awarded the test drives by Racer Industries' Ryan McLeod who believes the V8 Utes are a good feeder platform to V8 Supercars and is happy to support the drivers looking for career progression.

"As part of our association with the V8 Utes, we are happy to arrange the test as it is a great tool in helping shape a V8 Supercar career," explained McLeod.

"It gives the drivers an opportunity to test in a V8 Supercar so if at some point they get called up for a another session they have had some experience."

It was Elsegood's second time in a Supercar; however he still enjoyed the experience immensely "It's always good to get a drive in a Supercar, I haven't been in one for a longtime and I really enjoyed myself out there," said Eslegood.

For the Perth Rookie, however it was a first time experience and something he will never forget "It was a lot of fun. They are a lot easier to drive than the Utes. It's a lot more like a racecar, everything is built for faster driving," said Williams.

Each driver had 4 track sessions, covering at least 20 laps each with feedback from Paul Morris and the Supercheap crew as part of the evaluation process.

"Both drivers were very competent and impressed the team in their first hit out behind the wheel," McLeod said. "They did a number of runs and their feedback was spot on."

The Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series – Protected by Armor All will be back on the track in March 2010 for the first round of their tenth year. The year will kick off with the "Ten Years of Legends" race at the Clipsal 500, and will earmark the beginning of the next battle for the Racer Industries Supercar test drives for the Series winner and the Rookie of the Year award.

-credit: utes