Aus Utes: Series news 2010-03-05

Legendary V8 Ute Field locked in for 10th Anniversary Adelaide Appearance

Steven Bradbury, Paul Morris, Cameron McConville, Charlie O'Brien, Andrew Miedecke Tony Longhurst, Max Dumesny, Leanne Tander, Steve Owen, Luke Youlden and Robbie Madison are just a few of the names on the entry list for Round 1 of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series - protected by Armor All, during next weekends Clipsal 500 at Adelaide Parklands. (11-14th March.)

The legends will battle for outright honours in the "Ten Years of Legends" race, a celebration of a decade of door to door V8 Ute racing.

All previous V8 Ute Champions will be in attendance over the weekend including inaugural winner Rod Wilson, Marcus Zukanovic, Grant Johnson, Layton Crambrook and reigning champ Jack Elsegood. Back to back winners Warren Luff (2002/03) and Damien White (2004/05) will be viewing from the sideline with Luff as the driver standards advisor for the V8 Ute category and White in between his duties as Fujitsu V8 Supercar operations manager.

The V8 Ute Racing Series has accumulated 170 laps of Adelaide Parklands circuit over the years with Adelaide's Charlie "Handlebars" Kovacs celebrating his 10th appearance, Gary Baxter and Jack Elsegood racking up 9 appearances.

Baxter will be back to defend his Clipsal 500 title with other 2009 top three winners, Ryal Harris and Kim Jane all looking to claim a podium win again and take out the legends race. Harris will race with hillclimb legend Andrew Schultz and Kim Jane with V8 Supercar and Fujitsu Series winning Legend, Steve Owen.

"What a great celebration for the series 10th year – and the Legends race itself will be a cracker," explained category manager Craig Denyer. "To survive 10 years in this sport is an achievement in itself, however to celebrate our 10th year with such a competitive group of drivers shows just how popular the V8 Ute series has become. We're thankful to Jason Allen and the SA Motor Sport Board for the opportunity to showcase our 10 years at the track where it all started, and I know the fans won't be disappointed."

Newcomers to the Series for 2010 include former V8 Supercar driver David Sieders who will be driving at the Clipsal 500 with legendary FPV General Manager Rod Barrett. "Rocket" Rod raced in Australia and the UK during the 80's and 90's, winning the 1985 Tassie Street Race Championship before racing Group N, Sports Sedans and other categories in the UK. He was involved in a massive crash at Brands Hatch in 1991 which effectively ended his professional racing career, before being appointed General Manager of the internationally known Jim Russell Driving School. He returned to Australia as General Manager of FPR, before taking on the GM's role at Ford Performance Vehicles.

Ford F6 12HR driver Jeremy Gray will also join the Series and race with former V8 Ute winner and 2010 NASCA development Legend, George Miedecke. Miedecke will race head to head with his father Andrew, who will be driving with Jack Elsegood in the Coopers Ford.

19 year old Rhys McNally will take the reins from older brother Glenn in the West Coast Racings Holden VE and will have his sights set on the Racer Industries Rookie of the year, something Glenn won in 2008.

In a last minute signing, "Captain" Rob Jarvis has enlisted veteran sprint car champion Max Dumesny as his legend for the BVC Ford. Dumesny is a 3 time Australian Sprintcar Championship and 7 times Worlds Series Sprintcar Champion. Subject to licence clearance, he will test at Mallala next Wednesday.

The V8 Utes will kickstart their ten year celebrations when they hit the track on Thursday, 11th March with the below schedule to follow:

The "Ten Years of Legends" Race will be televised live on Network Seven in a 1 hour package, Sunday, 14th March.

-source: aus v8 utes