Final round of Kumho V8 Touring Car Series in Sydney this weekend
SYDNEY racer Justin Ruggier is aiming to win the 2014 Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park and drive his ex-V8 Supercar Commodore into the racing history books.
The Eggelston Motorsport driver races an ex-HSV Dealer Team Holden Commodore VZ that could be become the first car to win championships in all three tiers of V8 racing in this country.
Rick Kelly won the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship in the car for the Toll HSV Dealer Team and it also claimed victory in the V8 Supercar Development Series in 2007 with Tony D’Alberto and his family-owned and operated team.
Now Ruggier is aiming to win the Kumho V8 Touring Car Series, which is run for ex-V8 Supercars no longer eligible for the main championship or development series.
Ruggier, who holds a 44-point margin over fellow Sydney driver Ryan Simpson heading into the final round, won the last round at Wakefield Park and, in doing so, seized the series lead.
With 143 points available this weekend in Sydney he is well-placed to add the Kumho Series crown to the V8 Supercar Development Series crown that his Eggleston Motorsport team secured at Bathurst earlier this month with Paul Dumbrell.
This weekend’s Kumho Series finale sees a few additional names appear on the entry list.
Former V8 Supercar regular Jose Fernandez will make his first Kumho Series start in his ex-Ford Performance Racing Falcon BF.
The Sydney-based driver’s car was taken to the 2012 Kumho Series title by Josh Hunter and again last year by Shae Davies and also holds the V8 Touring Car qualifying and lap records at the circuit.
Hazelbrook (Blue Mountains) driver Chris Delfsma makes his return to the Kumho Series in his ex-Fernandez Fujitsu/Britek Falcon while the category will also see a debutante with a familiar car.
New South Wales Sports Sedan driver Darrin Renouf will make his first appearance in the category in his ex-Castrol Perkins Commodore VX, which finished second at Bathurst in the hands of Steve Richards and Russell Ingall in 2002.
Official practice begins at Sydney Motorsport Park on Saturday with qualifying and Race 1 to follow. The final two races of the 2014 Kumho Series will be held on Sunday with live streaming coverage online at the Shannons Nationals website (www.thenationals.com.au)
