We are going retro for this weekend’s Sandown 500, as we kick of the season of endurance around the corner from home, at the Sandown 500.
Our livery for this weekend will be revealed tonight, but before then, let’s have a look at what the weekend holds.
We welcome back Warren Luff and Jack Perkins to the driver’s seat for another campaign, with Luffy teaming up with Scott Pye for the second year, and Jacko back with James Courtney for their fourth year together.
Both partnerships have had success, most notably with Warren and Scott finishing second at Bathurst last year, and James and Jack winning the Gold Coast 600 in 2015.
At 3.1kms in length, it’s a short but busy lap around Sandown. If you can get a good run onto the main straight, turn 1 is a passing opportunity, with the fastest part of the track located at the end of the back straight.
Like Bathurst, it will be a 161-lap journey on Sunday, with three compulsory stops throughout.
The format for this weekend is quite unique. Saturday morning will host a 20-minute qualifying run, which sets the starting order for the first of two 60km ‘races for the grid.’
The co-drivers race the first part, and wherever they finish, is where the main drivers start the second part.
Wherever JC and Scotty finish that one, is where the cars will start the 500km race on Sunday. Different, but exciting!
Both Jack and Warren got a heap of time behind the wheel at our third and final test day of 2018 last week, while we continued with our development programme in what was a busy, but successful day.
All running will be done on the SuperSoft tyre this weekend, with on-track action getting underway on Friday at 10:40am for the first practice session of the weekend.
Scott Pye
“I love this time of year, it’s really exciting to be involved with, and I’m really looking forward to it.
“Obviously it’s great to have Luffy back alongside me. He did such an incredible job last year, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together this year.
“We made some good gains on the car across the weekend at The Bend and were able to follow it straight back up into a test so we want that momentum to keep rolling into this weekend.
“The cars for this weekend look awesome, can’t wait for everyone to see them.”
Warren Luff
“It’s fantastic to be back in action officially this weekend. I’ve had a bit of seat time recently with our two test days and the session at Queensland Raceway, but there is nothing like a race weekend.
“I’m really excited to be teaming up with Scotty again this year. We worked really well together last year, and I’m looking forward to what lies ahead.
“The guys here have built some momentum recently, so we want to continue that not only this weekend, but for the next three events.
James Courtney
“Everything goes to another level at this time of year, it’s great to be back.
“Having Jack is a bonus. We are very similar in the car, we know how each other work, so it’s great to have that consistency for another year.
“We’ve been taking steps all year, we’ve had two good test days recently, so I’m confident heading in.
“The cars look fantastic, now I just want to get out there.”
Jack Perkins
“It’s good to be back for another year, I’m looking forward to the next three events, It’s a great time of year.
“Endurance racing has always been a strong suit of this team, and with the progression that everyone has made so far this year, I’m confident heading in.
“The key to this weekend is to make no mistakes and aim for that top 10. It’s endurance season, so anything can happen, but if we aim for that, we can bank some valuable points for the PIRTEK Enduro Cup.”