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Premat wary of Triple Eight enduro threat

Alex Premat says form Supercars squad DJR Team Penske will have its hands full keeping Triple Eight at bay across the long distance races.

Podium: second place Shane van Gisberge, Alexander Premat, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden

Podium: second place Shane van Gisberge, Alexander Premat, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden

Triple Eight Race Engineering

Jamie Whincup, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden, Shane van Gisbergen, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden
Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Ford
Podium: race winner Jamie Whincup, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden, second place Fabian Coulthard, Team Penske Ford, third place Shane van Gisbergen, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden
Scott McLaughlin and Alexandre Prémat
Podium: race winner Jamie Whincup, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden
 Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Ford
 Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Ford
 Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Ford
David Reynolds, Erebus Motorsport Holden, Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske Ford, Shane van Gisbergen, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden crash
Winners Shane van Gisbergen, Alexandre Prémat, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden
Enduro Cup arrival with Champions Garth Tander and Warren Luff with leading 2016 pairings Will Davison and Jonathon Webb, Shane van Gisbergen and Alex Premat, Nick Percat and Cameron McConville
Podium: second place Shane van Gisberge, Alexander Premat, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden
Shane van Gisberge, Alexander Premat, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden
Shane van Gisberge, Alexander Premat, Triple Eight Race Engineering Holden

The Frenchman joins the Penske team alongside points leader Scott McLaughlin for Sandown, Bathurst, and the Gold Coast this year, having made the difficult decision to refuse a contract extension at Triple Eight at the end of 2016.

While DJR Team Penske’s rapid evolution into a race-winning team has largely vindicated Premat’s bold move away from the Red Bull-backed squad, he’s not counting his chickens just yet.

In fact, Premat says he and McLaughlin will need to ‘watch out’ for the threat from the Red Bull Holden team.

“After [DJR Team Penske] was competitive in Adelaide at the beginning of the season, I thought the season is long, and they need to back it up,” Premat told Motorsport.com.

“And that’s what happened, with Scott and Fabian [Coulthard] taking more wins. That’s when I knew I’d made the right choice.

“But watch out for Red Bull Holden, they are still there. Jamie Whincup has come back into championship contention, and we know they are very strong at the enduros.”

Despite not being a Supercars full-timer, Premat brings a lot of experience to the Penske team – particularly given his recent experience in a Triple Eight Commodore.

Having now completed his first proper test in the Penske Ford, after being confined to passenger rides during his visit Down Under back in February, Premat says the difference is high-speed corners.

“It is ultimately quite similar, with a few small differences in details,” he added.

“At engine level and aero, it’s quite close. There are a few small differences, like that the Ford has a little bit more grip in the quick corners but a little more push than the Holden in the tight corners.

“Both the Ford and the Holden tend to repeat their behaviour at each corner, they are extremely consistent. That wasn’t the case with the Volvo, which changed its behaviour constantly.

“With the Ford and the Holden you can properly understand even the smallest changes in set-up.”

Bathurst ‘dream’ on the cards

While conceding that his role during the long-distance races will be centred on consistency rather than outright speed – particularly with McLaughlin leading the points – Premat admits that going so close to winning the 1000 alongside Shane van Gisbergen last year has him hungry for a Bathurst title.

“It’s not me that the team counts on to make a difference,” he said.

“I am here to be consistent and stay at the front, and more importantly to bring the car back in one piece and leave Scott in the best position possible.

“If we can execute that, we’ll do well in the Endurance Cup – and maybe even win it.

“Personally, after missing out on a Bathurst win by a tenth of a second last year, I dream of winning what is a magical event.”

No direct focus on Penske sportscar programme

Premat has made little secret of the fact that being US-based swayed his decision to leave Triple Eight and join DJR Team Penske for this year’s Supercars enduros.

However, he’s playing down the notion that he could try and work his way into the recently-confirmed IMSA programme that Penske will run from next year onwards.

“Of course it’s an exciting programme and I would be interested in being part of it,” he said.

“But, for now, I’m new to the team and we haven’t talked about it, which is normal.

“Having signed a multi-year Supercars contract, I’m totally focussed on the next three races, and I’ll be trying to do the best job possible.”

Interview by Emmanuel Rolland

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