DAVID Russell is stepping up his efforts to ensure he’s race-fit for a crucial Supercars endurance campaign, joining the GT World Challenge Australia grid in Sydney.
Russell is co-driving with Erebus Motorsport’s Brodie Kostecki for the third successive season, and the pressure is on more than ever this year.
That’s because not only are co-drivers back to playing a part in multiple rounds – there’s up to 600 points up for grabs across the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 – but Erebus has a golden opportunity for a maiden championship.
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Kostecki is just seven points off the series lead, while Erebus is on the top of the teams’ standings.
So, a repeat of Kostecki/Russell’s successes in 2021 and 2022 could be even more meaningful now.
On top of his regular duties in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, Russell will grab extra seat time with an GT outing at next week’s Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight.
There, he will race an M-Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3, partnering Justin McMillan.
Russell will be one of five Supercars co-drivers in the field, along with Jamie Whincup, Richie Stanaway, Jayden Ojeda and Dylan O’Keeffe.
Stanaway is again filling in aboard Triple Eight’s #888 Mercedes-AMG, allowing Broc Feeney to put full focus into his Repco Supercars Championship commitments at SMP.
Audi Austrian ace Max Hofer leads the GTWC Australia standings.
He’ll team up with Geoff Emery, with fellow title contender Liam Talbot joined by Fraser Ross, and the EMA Motorsport pairing of Yasser Shahin/Garnet Patterson (Porsche) leading the charge of all non-Audi competitors.
