V8 Ute driver Ryal Harris is going for his third V8 Ute Championship title in a row as well as his third consecutive Hidden Valley Raceway win.
Harris is hoping that backing from local partners Ducks Nuts, Shorecranes and Darwin Mobile Auto Care will be the support he needs to get the hat-trick at Round 3 of the 2014 Australian V8 Ute Racing Series – fuelled by Hogs Breath Café.
He considers Ducks Nuts his lucky charm, the Darwin Bar/ Restaurant has supported the young Gold Coaster since he began his winning streak in 2012. Since then, Harris has gone on to win 5 races as well as the two back-to-back round wins.
“We’re super excited to be on board again and yes we are the lucky charms and that’s what it’s about at the Ducks Nuts, lucky charms and a good place,” said Manager of Ducks Nuts Lisa Krause.
Manager Director of local Shorecranes, Arthur Hamilton, is really excited to be supporting Harris this year.
“We’ve watched him for the last couple of years win in the Territory, so we wanted to be part of the team. We think he’s going to go for four in a row and this will just be one of the other wins,” said Hamilton.
If Harris wins the Round this weekend, he will be the first driver in the history of V8 Utes to win three Rounds in a row and will match Grant Johnsons feat of round wins in Darwin. It will also give the Ford racer a boost of confidence in moving a step closer for his third V8 Ute Championship.
Johnson will be back on track this weekend, stepping in the #47 Ford but Harris isn’t too worried.
“We’ve beaten Johnson a few times now so I’m not worried, he’s a good driver but I just have to run my own race and keep putting points on the board,” said Harris.
Harris is high on the leader-board in the V8 Ute history books, second overall in most race wins at 24, second overall in consecutive Race wins (5 in total 2011 Bathurst, Gold Coast) and if he wins the ARMOR ALL Drivers Championship this year he will be the first driver to win three in a row. Former V8 Supercar drivers Warren Luff and Damien White are the only other two V8 Ute drivers to win back-to-back V8 Ute titles.
“It’s great having all these achievements, we’ve been doing this for a while now but it’s always great to add another one to the list. Three in a row would be fantastic,” said Harris.
Harris will hit the track tomorrow at 8:30am for the first practice session, Race 1 and Race 3 will be televised live on the Seven Network.
See below full V8 Ute Racing Schedule
Friday, 16th May Practice 1 8:40am
Friday, 16th May Practice 2 11:35am
Friday, 16th May Qualifying 2:55pm
Saturday, 17th May Race 1 9:40am
Saturday, 17th May Race 2 3:45pm
Sunday, 18th May Race 3 12:58pm
