CARTER AIMING FOR MINI HISTORY IN SYDNEY
November 29, 2010: Heading into the final event of the 2010 Hertz MINI Challenge season at the Telstra Sydney 500 this weekend, Victoria’s Sean Carter has his eyes firmly on a Series podium result. He is also aiming to go down in the history books as the final MINI Challenge Australia event winner.
With BMW Group Australia bringing the curtain down on MINI Challenge after three years this weekend, it is a bittersweet weekend for the Plan4Growth team – who entered the Series in 2010 as team owners.
Having raced on the 3.4 kilometre Sydney Olympic Park layout last year under the Bargwanna Motorsport banner, Carter believes that experience will hold him in good stead for this weekend’s stoush.
The 19-year-old protégé of ROCK Racing V8 Supercar star Jason Bargwanna sits 13 points back from fellow Victorian Peter McNiven and a further 102.5 points behind second placed man, Paul Stokell.
Sean concedes he would need a virtual miracle to surpass Stokell and even Series leader, Chris Alajajian (132 points in front), but with 180 being the perfect score from the three races – it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.
After coming agonisingly close to his first race win on the Gold Coast in October, the youngster is aiming to rectify that situation in Sydney.
Carter and the Plan4Growth team have been working hard on sponsorship options for 2011, the team now being forced to look further afield to continue their racing program following the cancellation of MINI Challenge.
With the addition of two Spanish MINI Challenge drivers, the Championship up for grabs and everyone chasing that crown as the final MINI Challenge round winner, it’s sure to be “game on” this weekend in Sydney!
CARTER’S CORNER:
“We’re aiming for third in the Championship, should we get anything more than that, it would be a bonus. Mathematically, it is possible to finish further up the chain, but realistically, third is our goal.
“The Gold Coast showed we had the pace to be challenging for race wins. It was an epic race with Paul and if it wasn’t for a slower car baulking me out of the final corner, I would have got away with the win.
“But that’s in the past and our focus is on Sydney. Last year’s event really set a benchmark and the track is incredibly challenging. We’re able to stretch the legs of the MINI John Cooper Works Challenge racecars over the back of the circuit and approach the 240kph maximum speed.
“It has a mixture of everything, but is very tight and those walls come up quickly. The Gold Coast put me in street circuit mode, so we’re ready to take it on.
“Of course we are very disappointed that BMW elected to cancel MINI Challenge for 2011 and beyond. It had been our aim to race in the Series next year. With the decision coming so late, it has thrown our 2011 plans into chaos and we’re back to the drawing board. We are looking at the options against our budget and will hopefully have some plans in place early into the new year. The last thing we wish to do now is have a year away from the sport. We have to build on what I’ve learnt racing in a national Series over the last 18 months.
“I have to thank our supporters, On Time Earth and Plan4Growth for their partnership throughout the year and also the Bargwanna Motorsport team. Jason has been unwavering in his support of our efforts since we first hooked up last year and its been a pleasure once again to work with the Bargwannas, Tim Rowse and the guys who’ve worked tirelessly on the car.
“We’re heading to Sydney aiming for a big result. We’ve got the usual suspects out there looking for the Championship win, along with some one off drivers, so it’s going to be a fascinating weekend. We cannot wait.”
RACE SCHEDULE – Hertz MINI Challenge, delivered by Pizza Capers:
Sydney Telstra 500 – Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush Bay
3.4km, Anti-Clockwise
Friday, December 3
08:00-08:20 – Practice 1
11:05-11:25 – Practice 2
17:00-17:20 – Qualifying
Saturday, December 4
12:15-12:35 – Race 1
17:35-17:55 – Race 2
Sunday, December 5
9:45-10:05 – Race 3
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS:
1. Chris Alajajian – 691 points
2. Paul Stokell – 662.5
3. Peter McNiven – 572
4. Sean Carter – 559
5. Gavin Yortt – 509.5
MORE INFORMATION:
Matt Payne
Acclaim Media for Plan4Growth Racing
Ph: 0413 082 142
Em: matt
Acclaim Media 