Spurle completes test for Bathurst 24

Gold Coast woman racer completes successful UK test for Mosler team.

GOLD Coast-based driver Heather Spurle has received a glowing report after a test in England of the 300 kmh Mosler coupe she will race in next month's international Bathurst 24-Hour event.

Spurle, 43, drove more than 100 laps of the Donington Park grand prix circuit last Friday under the eye of car owner Martin Short, lead driver of the Rollcentre Racing team, which will bring the Mosler to Australia for the 21-23 November event.

"Heather did really well, particularly for someone who had just stepped off a 25-hour flight," Short said.

"From the moment she pulled away in the pitlane we could see she was very confident and competent.

"She completed over 100 laps of Donington, with a very crowded track full of spotty testosterone-fuelled single-seater drivers who were throwing themselves off the track and into the scenery at great rate.

"The traffic made things very difficult, but she made no mistakes and set competent times in the car and, most importantly, stood up to it all physically very well.

"For somebody coming out of such a serious illness, she put in an amazing performance and by the time we get out to Australia she will be stronger, fitter and faster and will no doubt be a major factor in a successful race for us."

Spurle, holder of two women's world water speed records and several New Zealand land speed and endurance records, announced last week she had signed to co-drive the Florida-built Mosler MT900R, which is one of the race favourites after finishing second last year.

She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March, but her recovery has progressed so well she was able to commit confidently to the Bathurst race.

The Rollcentre team at Donington also tested its third driver, British GT Cup Champion Patrick Pearce.

Short said: "Patrick Pearce was reunited with us after racing with us in the Spa 24 hours. The British GT Cup Champion quickly got down to business in the car, and enjoyed himself immensely.

"He is really revved up to see Bathurst for the first time."

As well as the Bathurst 24-Hour, a packed support race program at Mount Panorama will feature the traditional 2-Hour Showroom Showdown for GT Performance and Production Cars on the Saturday, the final round of the Australian Porsche Drivers Challenge and a three-leg feature event for V8 BRutes, with a finale for two-driver teams.

Off-track attractions are planned to include a ute muster, a country music concert featuring singer (and V8 BRute driver) Adam Brand and special entertainment in the Bathurst city centre.

The Channel Seven television network will devote more than seven hours' live coverage to the race, mixed with its telecast on Saturday night of the Rugby World Cup final match, which will be watched by fans on two giant screens at the top and bottom of Mount Panorama.

Tickets to the Bathurst 24-Hour are on sale from $32 for adults through Ticketmaster7, on ph. 1300 136 122 or www.ticketmaster7.com.au.

-www.bathurst24hr.com-