DEREK Hocking is hunting for a last-minute sponsorship deal to rescue his hopes of joining the Kumho V8 Touring Car Series this weekend.
Hocking missed the opening two rounds of the reborn season, due to mechanical problems (Phillip Island) and illness (Winton).
Round 3 takes place this weekend at Queensland Raceway, and the 64-year-old has a never-before-raced VE Commodore Supercar at his disposal.
However, the falling over of a sponsorship deal has left the Holden stickerless at his New South Wales base.
Hocking told V8 Sleuth that no expense had been spared on the car, which boasts brand-new brakes, gearbox, motor and more, and is yet to be tested. He also has Scott Loadsman onboard as team manager.
The chassis’ lack of racing history though means it will only be eligible for an invitational class, should it make it to QR.
“Scott acquired this shell to move on from the VZ to VEs,” Hocking told V8 Sleuth.
“It got stopped pretty well two-thirds of the way through the build and what we’ve done is we’ve completed that car, so it has got no history.
“I think we’ll be competitive but we just have to get the money behind us to be able to do it.”
The Kumho Series has been revived this year exclusively for pre-Car of the Future Supercars, attracting a small mix of competitors young and old.
“I’m 65 this year in November and all I want to do is go back and race this car and prove that I can actually do it, to not only myself but the family and whatever,” said Hocking.
“Things change in your life and I thought to myself, before I leave this planet, I want to try to finish what I started out to do.
“My family is full of champions and I’ve sort of got to live up to it!
“I really want to do it… but I have got to get out there because at the moment it is all talk.”
Jude Bargwanna, the nephew of Bathurst 1000 winner Jason, leads the standings.
