WARREN Luff remains confident he’ll make the grid for a 25th Bathurst 1000 campaign despite being yet to have a seat formally announced.
Luff’s continuation as a Walkinshaw Andretti United contracted driver was emphasised when the team last month confirmed the retention of Fabian Coulthard and Lee Holdsworth for its #2 and #25 entries at the 2024 Sandown and Bathurst enduros.
But five weeks have passed since those communications and it’s been radio silence on any exact plans for Luff.
Besides the prospect of wildcards, the only teams thought to still have potential openings are Brad Jones Racing (x1), Team 18 (x1), PremiAir Racing (x2), Matt Stone Racing (x2) and the Blanchard Racing Team (x1).
WAU last year loaned Luff to Team 18 once it decided against running a wildcard.
A similar deliberation – wildcard or loan – appears to be on the cards now, but six-time Great Race podium finisher Luff is unperturbed by the uncertainty.
“I’m hopeful and confident that I’ll be back on the grid,” he told V8 Sleuth.
“Obviously I’m still contracted to Walkinshaws and it’s the same as last year: if for whatever reason it doesn’t work out with them to be doing a wildcard, then they’re open to the possibility of loaning me out.
“So yeah, I’m just waiting for some direction as to what’s going to ultimately be happening, but hopefully we’ll know sooner rather than later.”
While now a prominent driver mentor, including with WAU’s Super2 program, the 47-year-old is hungry as ever to hop behind the wheel himself.
“Absolutely. I love the enduros and to be able to line up on the grid at both Sandown and Bathurst is obviously very special and each year I’m just as keen to go back and compete again as much as I was 20 years ago,” he said.
“I still love it, still enjoy the thrill of it and obviously the competition side of it, so I’m looking forward to being back on the grid in some capacity this year.”
