AUS Utes: Series pre-race news

Paul Morris offers all Bathurst prize money to Charity

Supercheap Auto Racing V8 Supercar owner Paul Morris will donate all his Bathurst prize money to charity if he takes out the Hungry Jack's Triple Crown at Mt Panorama this weekend.

Morris has offered to hand over all prize money to the Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series - protected by Armor All's official charity Make-A-Wish® Foundation if he can complete a triple crown of wins at Bathurst this weekend racing in three different categories. Restaurant chain Hungry Jacks will triple the amount if he is successful.

In addition to co-driving with Russell Ingall in Australia's great race, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 on Sunday, Morris will contest championship rounds of both the fujitsu V8 Supercars and V8 Ute categories.

He will drive Scott Jennings' #67 Samboy Holden SS Ute in the sixth round of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series- protected by Armor All, and the #67 LOVE Machine Holden Commodore in the fifth round of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

Morris will claim the Hungry Jack's Triple Crown by winning all three categories.

"Winning in three different categories on the same weekend has never been done at Bathurst before, but if we can achieve that then a lot of money goes to a great cause," Morris said.

"Bathurst is one of the world's great race tracks and winning on the mountain is the greatest challenge in Australian motorsport.

"I've won races there before and I've been on the podium in the 1000, so it's possible.

"I'll certainly be trying - if I can, the Make-A-Wish® Foundation will think all their wishes have come true."

Morris is a four-time Australian Super Touring Car Champion and has won races in every category he has contested in Australia, including Aussie Legends, Fujitsu V8s, V8 Supercar Championship Series and even on dirt in his Sprintcar.

The 42 year old has an excellent record at Mount Panorama having stood on the podium alongside Mark Skaife after finishing third in the 1999 great race, and he has twice won the Bathurst 12 Hour race (2007, 10).

He also won the Super Touring Bathurst 500, contested by 2-litre Super Touring Cars, and was first across the line with partner Craig Baird in the 1997 Bathurst 1000, but the pair were later excluded due to Baird having exceeded the maximum amount of driving time.

Morris has a bit of experience in the V8 Utes having raced with Jennings in the V8 Ute Series earlier in the year in the "Ten Years of Legends Event" at Clipsal 500 in Adelaide and he also raced in 2002 at Queensland Raceway for a one off appearance.

The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 event begins with practice for all categories tomorrow, (Thursday, 7 October). The V8 Utes have three seven (7) lap races for the weekend, the last Sunday morning before the great race, the Fujitsu Series two 14 lap contests, the second Saturday afternoon.

Race 3 of the 2010 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series - protected by Armor All will be televised LIVE on Sunday, 10th October at 7:25am on Network Seven and across the globe to over 39 countries right before the 2010 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, Race 18 in the 2010 V8 Supercar Championship Series, which starts at 10.30am and after 161 laps around Mt Panorama finishes at approximately 5.30pm.

Make-A-Wish Australia is the official charity of Australian V8 Ute Racing who will endeavour to assist the foundation with their mission, which is to "To grant the Wishes of Children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope strength and joy."

-source: aus v8 utes