To kick off his assault on the V8 Supercars endurance season, current championship leader JDub has driven the 62 tonne, Red Bull Racing Australia B-double MAN truck to Melbourne on his way to Sandown Raceway. Having recently obtained his multi-combination vehicle ‘truck driving’ licence, Jamie prepared for the PIRTEK Enduro Cup by spending some long hours behind the wheel of the transporter.
“I absolutely love driving the truck and with the endurance season starting this weekend, there’s no better preparation for me than to do the long haul out on the open road,” he said.
“Our transport driver Warick ‘Wazza’ Beames was a bit white-knuckled at the start because he doesn’t usually hand the keys over to his pride and joy so I was very grateful to get the opportunity.”
JDub and Paul “The CEO” Dumbrell will again partner up in the #1 Red Bull Commodore for the third straight year for the enduros, making up one of only seven combinations that have remained intact from last year’s Enduro Cup.
“PD is in good shape, having done a few half marathons over the last month or so, and has plenty of miles under his belt from the Dunlop Series so we’re in a good place.”
Jamie has a good track record at the Melbourne circuit, having finished on the podium every year from 2005 onwards. Now having broken Peter Brock’s all-time ATCC/V8SC pole record in Sydney, he now could achieve another qualifying milestone at Sandown – his 100th front row start.
“I grew up in Melbourne so I did a lot of laps in the junior categories around the Sandown circuit. It’s steeped in history with the Formula One cars running around the same track in the 1960’s so it adds that extra special element which is an awesome.
“I think my biggest competition this weekend will be Lowndesy. I hope he’s up there firing as he does in the endurance season. Without doubt, the Volvo guys will be right up there because that thing is so fast in a straight line and if they do a good job they’ll we well up the track.”
Don’t miss the Sandown 500, kicking off tomorrow with practice from 10.35am local time. For local broadcast times head to v8supercars.com.au.