NOVOCASTRIAN Motorsport has secured extra commercial support for its trek north to Townsville, for this weekend’s third round of the 2012 Dunlop V8 Supercar Series.
Another local business, Mid North Coast Pipelines and Civil, has joined forces with the family-run team, while brothers Drew and Aaren Russell have also linked with a group of North Queensland businesses through the City of Townsville V8 Supercar program.
The initiative was started in 2010 by the Sieders Racing Team, with local businesses appearing on Colin Sieders’ Falcon in the second-tier V8 Supercar Series. However, with Sieders not taking part in the 2012 season, Novocastrian Motorsport will fly the flag this weekend.
Currently in a share of 10th in the Dunlop Series coming off ninth at Barbagallo Raceway in May, Drew Russell’s Falcon will feature prominent Mid North Coast Pipelines and Civil branding. Younger brother Aaren, currently 16th, will race with Corporate Cleaning Services backing.
Since the last round, both drivers received opportunities to test with leading V8 Supercar teams. Drew Russell sampled two of Brad Jones Racing’s VE Commodores at Winton, before being joined by Aaren for a test of Scott McLaughlin’s Stone Brothers Racing Dunlop Series Falcon at Queensland Raceway.
In 2010, both Russell brothers finished inside the Top 10 at Townsville, with Drew seventh and Aaren 10th, while Drew had the team’s best race finish last year with 11th in Race 2.
Dunlop Series rookie Michael Hector will continue in his Carrington Equipment Group and CEG Rentals-backed Falcon. Currently 20th in the standings, this weekend will be Hector’s first taste of the Townsville streets. Since Barbagallo, Hector contested a round of the separate Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series at Winton.
All three Novocastrian Motorsport Falcons will hit the track on Friday for a pair of practice sessions, followed by qualifying and the opening 14-lap race on Saturday. A second, 14-lap race and an 18-lap final on Sunday complete the weekend.
WAYNE RUSSELL – NOVOCASTRIAN MOTORSPORT
“It’s great to have Mid North Coast Pipelines and Civil on board for Drew’s car and to have both Drew and Aaren running as part of the City of Townsville V8 Supercar initiative. Hopefully they can be part of a strong weekend.
“Drew was really competitive at Barbagallo and Aaren was up there as well. We’ll be pushing to get into the Top 10 again, which would be a great achievement. We’ve been impressed with how Michael’s gone about learning this series, too, he hasn’t done a lot of miles in these cars, but he’s continuing to chip away at it.
“I was really pleased the boys got an opportunity to test with Main Game teams. I know they both enjoyed the laps they did and learnt a lot from it to take into Townsville; particularly Aaren, who’d only ever driven our cars before.”
MICHAEL BRYAN – TOWNSVILLE V8 SUPERCAR RACING COMMERCIAL MANAGER
“With Colin Sieders unavailable we weren’t actually going to run the campaign this year, however, we had a few enquiries about four to six weeks ago, and decided to look into it after all.
“We contacted the Novocastrian Motorsport Team, who were more than happy to help us out, and let us use the cars of Drew and Aaren Russell to run the campaign this year. Although the program was only put together a few weeks ago, it has been able to secure a few key supporters.
“It is great to have Tec-NQ and Advantage Signs back on board for the third year in a row. We also picked up new support from Monsoons Bar + Grill and Corporate Cleaning Services which has really helped get it running for a third time.
“Zinc FM have also been a great partner for three years, and have really got the word out for us again this year, giving away a hotlap with the team last week. The team also used what we’re doing and got the support of Mid North Coast Pipelines and Civil in the mix”.
Novocastrian Motorsport is proudly supported by Go Karts Go, Carrington Equipment Group, CEG Rentals, Century Batteries, Mid North Coast Pipelines and Civil, Promac Gearbox and Diff, Steve Koulis Smash Repairs, Koala Glass, Valvoline, Duncan Excavations, Hunter Kitchen King, Mocomm, McCluskey Insurance Brokers, Wurth, Griffiths Transport Newcastle, Burton Visual Signs and Environmental Land Contracting.
