Dane wants Jenson and Lewis for V8s
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton
TeamVodafone boss Roland Dane wants to see both McLaren Mercedes Formula One drivers compete with his V8 Supercars team in the future.
Dane, the team principal of Australia’s most dominant race team in recent history, says the excitement surrounding Jenson Button’s V8 Supercar test at Albert Park yesterday has made him keen to convince both Button and Lewis Hamilton to drive in the V8 category.
He told Speedcafe.com.au that the schedules didn’t align for them to drive this year, but he wants to see them race here in the near future.
“We had a look a long time ago to see what the calendars were and it isn’t possible this year,” he said,
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Jenson Button pedals the TeamVodafone Commodore VE around Albert Park yesterday
“We’d love to have the two of them, actually. We’d love to have Jenson and Lewis come and have a go some time. We’ll see. The calendars have to align first, but you never know.
“There’s a few guys from that end of the world who have made it clear that they’d like to drive our cars at some point.”
Dane agreed that Button’s one-off drive in the TeamVodafone Commodore VE at Albert Park was a coup for the sport.
“It was very good for our sport, for our category,” he said.
“Obviously it was an initiative of Vodafone with the common sponsorship link, but it’s good for everyone, and hopefully it’s good for the Grand Prix this weekend. Most of all, I hope it’s good for Supercars to have a world champion drive our car.”
Button told the assembled media that he’d like the opportunity to compete in V8 Supercars.
“Yes,” he said in response to the inevitable ‘Bathurst’ question.
“I was surprised at how much grip the car had. The braking zones – you’re in the braking zones for a lot longer, which you’d hope would open up the possibility for overtaking. It’s very exciting. It’s very heavy compared to what I’m used to, but I enjoyed it all the same.
“If the possibility arose in the future, it would be very exciting.”