MOTORSPORT: Three wildcards make 28 for Bathurst 1000

The three wildcard applications for the Bathurst 1000 in October have been accepted, making a field of 28 cars for the Great Race.

Apart from the full-time V8 Supercar Championship field of 25, there will be two extra Holden Commodores and another Ford Falcon (but no more Nissan Altimas, Mercedes-Benz E63s or Volvo S60s).

The teams running the wildcards have not announced driver line-ups yet.

New Zealand’s new Super Black Racing will field a fifth Ford Performance Racing Falcon at Mt Panorama on October 9-12, while V8 Supercar development series outfit Dragon Motor Racing will run two ex-Garry Rogers Motorsport Commodores.

Dragon also will field one of the Commodores in Melbourne’s Sandown 500 on September 12-14.

It is being assisted with the preparation of the Commodores by GRM, which now is campaigning two Volvos in the championship – one of them, driven by young New Zealander Scott McLaughlin, at the pointy end of the field.

Super Black Racing, funded by Kiwi new-media entrepreneur Tony Lentino and fronted by NZ’s former world touring car champion and V8 Supercar racer Paul Radisich, is the first team from across the Tasman to dabble in V8 Supercars since the ill-fated Team Kiwi.

Super Black wants to enter the championship full-time next season.

Dragon Motor Racing is led by Melbourne businessman Tony Klein and only recently entered the development series.

Klein has said a priority for Dragon is to create opportunities for young people to forge careers in motor sport.

“We have been working with GRM on our wildcard entries since May,” Klein said.

“Our team is hoping that our campaign is a catalyst and stepping stone to further opportunities within the V8 Supercar competition.

“Both cars were in the top 10 on the grid last year at Bathurst, so if we can put together the right drivers and support team there is no reason why we could not achieve the same results in 2014.”

Tim Edwards, team principal at reigning Bathurst champion team FPR, said the fifth car from his stable for the NZ team would be a fine addition to the Bathurst line-up.

“Super Black Racing represents a whole nation and one that has produced and continues to produce top-line talent,” Edwards said.

“The concept of helping to bring on the next generation is commendable and the team will add another interesting point of difference to a race that captures everyone’s attention on both sides of the ditch.”

Super Black funder Lentino said: “I am a proud Kiwi and have a passion for motorsport, so being able to create a team and bring the black and silver NZ colours back into the sport gives me great pride.

“Bathurst is the greatest motor race in our region and is as iconic in NZ as it is in Australia.

“It is the best place for us to make our debut and will be a great sounding board to a potential full-time entry in the series.”