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Aus Utes: Series news 2010-02-19

Three time Bathurst winner to join V8 Utes Legends Race Three time Bathurst winner Tony Longhurst will drive with 2007 V8 Ute Champion Grant Johnson in a Holden VE SS Commodore in the "Ten Years of Legends Race" at Round 1 of the 2010 Yokohama V8 ...

Three time Bathurst winner to join V8 Utes Legends Race

Three time Bathurst winner Tony Longhurst will drive with 2007 V8 Ute Champion Grant Johnson in a Holden VE SS Commodore in the "Ten Years of Legends Race" at Round 1 of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series – protected by Armor All, Clipsal 500, Adelaide, 11 – 14 March.

Longhurst won his first Bathurst 1000 in 1998 with Tomas Mezera in a Ford Sierra and again in 2001 with Mark Skaife driving for the Holden Racing Team. He is one of only three drivers in the V8 Supercar era to win Bathurst in both a Ford and a Holden (the others Craig Lowndes and Steven Richards.)

He was also an Australian Water Skiing Speed Record holder in the late 70's.

After retirement from V8 Supercars, Longhurst claimed his third Bathurst win in the 2009 Bathurst 12 Hour with Damien White and Rod Salmon in a Mitsubishi Evo X.

"We'll make sure he's up to speed and hopefully he's faster than me. We are confident he will do really well and hopefully we'll come away with a round win. That's the plan," said Grant Johnson.

Longhurst is one of four well known V8 Supercar drivers to join the race including Paul Morris, Steve Owen and Cameron McConville. Morris and Longhurst raced side by side for years in the Diet Coke BMW Super Touring Team headed by the late Frank Gardner. Longhurst won the Championship in 1994. He and team mate Morris were involved in one of the most televised incidents in motorsport after an on track altercation almost turned into a 10 round prizefight at Winton Raceway during a Super Touring round.

Other legends include:
Rick Bates - Rally Legend
Leanne Tander - Female motorsport and F3 legend
Andrew Miedecke - Touring Car and Open Wheeler legend
Rod Wilson - Inaugural V8 Ute 2001 winner
Marcus Zukanovic - Former V8 Ute champion
Steven Bradbury - Olympic Gold Medallist Legend
Robbie Maddison - Stunt Riding Legend
James Brock - Son of a Legend/Team Brock won the V8 Ute Series in 2004 with Damien White.
Chris Pither - NZ HQ Champion and currently leading New Zealand V8 Ute Series
Matt Lockwood - Reigning New Zealand V8 Ute Champion.
Chris Smerdon - Original V8 Ute series driver/ 2009 V8 Touring Car Challenge Legend.

The "Ten Years of Legends Race", is a two driver format and a celebration of the V8 Utes tenth year. Each driver will have 1 practice, 1 qualifying and 1 race with the final race a two driver format with mid race driver change. The Race will be televised in a 1 hour live package on Network Seven, Sunday, 14 March.

The V8 Utes had their inaugural race at the Clipsal 500 in 2001 and have competed at the Adelaide street race every year since.

-source: utes

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