Ricciardo hopeful of IndyCar, Bathurst runs with McLaren
Daniel Ricciardo reckons there is a good chance of a Bathurst and IndyCar run in the near future, thanks to his switch to the McLaren Formula 1 team.
Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing Nissan, Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Team
Photo by: Castrol Racing
Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing Nissan, Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Team
Photo by: Dirk Klynsmith
Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing, Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Team
Photo by: Dirk Klynsmith
Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing Nissan, Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Team
Photo by: Castrol Racing
Rick Kelly, Kelly Racing Nissan, Daniel Ricciardo, Renault F1 Team
Photo by: Castrol Racing
The Australian joined the Woking-based team at the start of this year, as he bids to help the outfit get back to winning ways.
But beyond the F1 ambitions, McLaren’s involvement in IndyCar, plus CEO Zak Brown’s association with Supercars, has teed up a good chance of some running outside of grand prix cars.
Brown is part owner of the Walkinshaw Andretti United Supercars team and last year floated the idea of a Ricciardo/Lando Norris wildcard entry at Mount Panorama.
WAU has a history of fielding wildcard entries in the Bathurst 1000 and most famously fielded an extra Holden Commodore for IndyCar stars Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe in 2019.
In an interview with this month’s edition of GP Racing magazine, Ricciardo has made it clear that he is definitely up for a Supercars outing and an IndyCar run could also be on the cards.
Asked about a Bathurst outing, Ricciardo said: “I do have to ask Zak. I need to – even if I don’t do the race – I need to drive a Supercar around Bathurst.
“Whether it’s a private test, or the actual race, I do need to do it. And I think now I have a good opportunity with Zak as a friend and a boss.
"He’s keen to try and get us into the other open-wheelers in the States, the IndyCars. So there’s a lot to do.”
Ricciardo could in theory have two options to race at Bathurst, either in a touring car at the Bathurst 1000 or in a GT car at the 12 Hours event.
However, calendar clashes would likely force him to go for the GT route.
This year’s Bathurst 1000 takes place on the same weekend as October’s Japanese Grand Prix, while the Bathurst 12 Hours normally takes place in early February.
Asked about a run in the latter event, he said: “When I signed with him [Brown], over the early phase of last year, we had these conversations and it was thrown in there: ‘We should get you to do the 12 Hours of Bathurst.’ If he asked me and it worked logistically, I would say yes.
Ricciardo has also been promised a ride in Dale Earnhardt's 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCAR Cup car, which Zak Brown owns, if he scores a podium in 2021.
Felix Rosenqvist, Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet
Photo by: Barry Cantrell / Motorsport Images
Related video
Previous article
Domenicali rules out two-day F1 weekend idea
Next article
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
About this article
| Series | Supercars , Formula 1 , IndyCar |
| Drivers | Daniel Ricciardo |
| Author | Jonathan Noble |
The AlphaTauri improvements that mean Gasly’s form is no fluke
Pierre Gasly has driven superbly since demotion from Red Bull in 2019, but the team formerly known as Toro Rosso has come on strong too – building a car that can often challenge Ferrari and McLaren. Here Gasly reveals to ALEX KALINAUCKAS how AlphaTauri has given him the tools needed to rebuild his reputation
Why Bottas feels the time has come to be “more selfish”
We’ve seen five distinct versions of Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes as he’s tried to fulfil his own ambitions while being a consummate team player – two difficult, competing missions which have been challenging to reconcile. Speaking exclusively to Stuart Codling, Bottas explains his highs and lows… and why he still believes he can be world champion.
How long can Verstappen and Hamilton keep it clean?
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have been evenly matched so far in the 2021 Formula 1 title race. Neither has been afraid to get aggressive against each other on track, teeing up an enthralling contest as the year unwinds. But how long will their battle remain clean? Jonathan Noble ponders that exact point
How Brabham’s one-hit wonder was boxed into a corner
The Brabham BT46B raced once, won once, then vanished – or did it? STUART CODLING reveals the story of the car which was never actually banned…
The changes Barcelona needs to provide a modern-day F1 spectacle
Formula 1’s visits to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya over recent years have been met with familiar criticisms despite tweaks here and there to the track to improve racing. With the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix largely going the same way, proper solutions need to be followed to achieve F1’s wider targets
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Often described as Formula 1's laboratory, the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona gave the clearest demonstration yet of the pecking order in 2021. And it's the key discrepancies from that order which illuminate who is excelling, and who needs to hit the reset button.
How Red Bull's deja vu set Hamilton on the winning path in Spain
An aggressive first corner move from Max Verstappen appeared to have set the Red Bull driver on course for victory in the Spanish Grand Prix. But canny strategy from Mercedes - combined with the absence of Red Bull's number two from the lead group - allowed Lewis Hamilton to pull off a demoralising reversal
The Barcelona practice times that prove Red Bull has hidden pace
Lewis Hamilton led the way in Friday practice for the 2021 Spanish Grand Prix, but there was one major encouraging sign for Red Bull. However, making good on that gain will require Max Verstappen to avoid repeating a mistake that left him well down the FP2 order...
