V8 brothers to apply for Bathurst debut
Aaren Russell's Fujitsu V8 Series Ford Falcon at Queensland Raceway two weeks ago
Todd and Rick Kelly can’t compete together in their Jack Daniel’s Commodore at Bathurst, but there might be another family of brothers who will be able to drive in the same car in this year’s Great Race.
Adrenaline Motor Racing will apply for a V8 Supercars Wildcard for this year’s L&H 500 at Phillip Island and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 – with its drivers Drew and Aaren Russell hopeful of securing their place in the two big V8 races.
V8 Supercars Australia will allow a number of ‘non-regular’ entrants to contest the Phillip Island and Bathurst races in an effort to increase the amount of cars competing in the long-distance, two-driver races.
The Adrenaline Motor Racing team currently competes as a two-car family-based outfit in the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series. Headed up by racing father and former Bathurst entrant Wayne Russell, the Newcastle-based squad has purchased three of Brad Jones racing’s ex-Ford Falcons.
THE FINAL RACE OF THE 2023 REPCO SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP ON ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST STREET CIRCUITS. GO ALL IN AT THE VAILO ADELAIDE 500, CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS
At the moment, Drew and Aaren are using one each in the Fujitsu Series, while the third car is at the team’s shop, being prepared for future events.
That car could form the basis of Adrenaline Motor Sport’s first foray into the Bathurst 1000.
Drew Russell told Speedcafe.com.au that they will apply to the V8 Supercars board for a spot on the Phillip Island and Bathurst 1000 grids.
“We’re going to be putting up our hand for it,” he said,
“We’re in the middle of sorting it out and organising sponsorship and all that kind of stuff.
“It’s definitely takes a huge amount of resources, effort and costs, but we’re in a lucky position where we’ve actually got three cars. We bought all three of Brad Jones Racing’s old Fords, and we’ve been building up the third car.”
Russell said that competing at Bathurst is a life-long ambition.
“For Bathurst and the Main Game, it’s just one of those things that you want to do,” he said.
“I was hoping to get an endurance drive with a regular team this year, but that hasn’t happened. The next best thing was to be able to do it with my own team. My dad (Wayne Russell) competed in the main game between 1994-97, so to able to do something that he’s done before is pretty exciting.”
Drew currently sits 11th in the Fujitsu V8 Series, ahead of his rookie brother in 13th.
The pair can be seen this weekend at Winton Motor Raceway in the third round of the series.