Bathurst 1000: Hi-Tec Oils Racing preview

WEST AUSSIE PAIRING READY TO TAKE ON BATHURST

Hi-Tec Oils Racing pairing Mark McNally and Tony Ricciardello are ready to tackle Mount Panorama as final preparations are completed for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in Bathurst, New South Wales.

The duo is the first all-West Australian driver combination at Bathurst since Grant Johnson and Kerry Wade in 2003.

McNally is one of 13 drivers making his Bathurst 1000 debut this weekend, but does have previous experience in the development-level Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series around the 6.213-kilometre circuit.

Ricciardello, a six-time Australian Sports Sedan Champion, has four previous starts in the Bathurst 1000, as well as scoring second place in the Bathurst 12-Hour production car race earlier this year.

HI-TEC OILS RACING QUOTEBOARD

Mark McNally - #16 Hi-Tec Oils Holden Commodore:

"Bathurst is a lot different to any other event," said Mark McNally.

"It's just got such hype about it. Growing up as a kid you always want to come here and race at Bathurst.

"So to finally be making my first start in the main race here is great. My first endurance race was at Phillip Island and it was really good to get into that different mindset.

"We will go out there and stay out of trouble, keep it clean and try to bring the Hi-Tec Oils Commodore home with a good result.

"So if this style of (endurance) racing was enjoyable there I'm sure it will be here as well at Bathurst.

"When we went to Phillip Island it was really good to be partnered up with Tony. We both get on really well and we're both from WA, so it was nice to have the only all-West Aussie pairing.

"Phillip Island was probably a track that I had a bit more experience at but now we come to Bathurst, where Tony has more experience.

"So we've already done a few laps around here in the show car and Tony has a lot more experience around here than me. Although I have raced the Development Series at Bathurst Tony has already been able to help me with a few things about the track and you need to learn everything you can about this place because it can throw a few pretty interesting curve balls at you."

Tony Ricciardello - #16 Hi-Tec Oils Holden Commodore:

"I think we just need to keep fresh as drivers and run our own race out there," said Ricciardello.

"We will probably just keep to our own strategy and not worry too much about the front-runners at the start, as they will be doing their own thing.

"If we get the simple things right and play the strategy right we can get the Hi-Tec Oils Commodore a good result at the end of the race on Sunday."

KEY FACTS:

* Mark McNally is one of 13 drivers making his Bathurst 1000 debut this weekend along with James Thompson, Troy Bayliss, Daniel Gaunt, Ben Collins, Tim Slade, David Wall, David Sieders, Andrew Fisher, Damien Assaillit, Brad Lowe, Sam Walter and Taz Douglas.

* McNally and Ricciardello are the first all-West Aussie driver combination at the Bathurst 1000 since Kerry Wade and Grant Johnson teamed up in the Orrcon entry of Larkham Motorsport in 2003, finishing 18th at Mount Panorama

-credit: h-tor