Auddino targeting battle of older-spec Falcons at Winton

TONY Auddino has set his sights on competing with fellow older-spec Ford Falcon driver Tony Evangelou in Round 2 of the Kumho V8 Touring Car Series.

The revived category returned last month at Phillip Island and will this weekend form part of the Shannons SpeedSeries bill at Winton.

Among the nine-car field is Jude Bargwanna and Jamie Tilley, who both chalked up race wins at Phillip Island, and veterans Jim Pollicina, Auddino and Evangelou.

Bargwanna and Tilley are both armed with FG Falcons, the model which debuted in the Supercars Championship in 2009, while Auddino and Evangelou field earlier BF and BA versions respectively (Pollicina drives a Holden VE Commodore).

“I’ve done a fair bit of competing at Winton, whether its testing or racing it’s a happy little hunting ground for me,” Auddino said.

“We have always done well and it’s going to be good to get back there to try and maintain the top three in the Kumho Cup, but achieving anything higher than that is still the goal.

“Tony Evangelou is usually my target because it’s apples for apples.

“It’s easier to judge yourself against similar cars and my focus will to be on pace with him or even beat him.”

Evangelou admits he’s looking a little further forward.

“If I’m somewhere not far behind Bargwanna and Tilley, I’ll be very happy,” he said.

“My car is a bit older, so I’m happy enough to be competitive with Tony, but my eyes will be on the front guys.

“I’ve done a fair bit at Winton, I think I have won more races than any other driver there in the past so it’s a bit of a favourite track for me. 

“I’m looking forward to seeing the series grow as the season goes on.” 

The Kumho Series will have three races across the June 9-11 event.

Entry list: Kumho V8 Touring Car Series Round 2, Winton