The Board of V8 Supercars Australia is set to decide whether drivers should remain in their respective cars for the 2010 enduros.
It will Even up the playing field for teams without two gun drivers and also raise the stakes of accomplished V8 Supercar steerers lacking a full-time gig.
Such a move would be detrimental to teams like of the Toll Holden Racing Team, which won last weekend’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 with their stars Garth Tander and Will Davison paired together.
Those in favour of the concept also believe that it would give more cars the opportunity of winning Bathurst.
Tony Cochrane, V8SA Executive Chairman, confirmed the Board would discuss the item at a meeting, which is scheduled over two days next week.
“Personally I favour it but I don’t know what the Board’s feeling is yet,” he said.
“(And) I truly have not seen the feedback yet from the teams.
“That is on the agenda for the October 21st board meeting.
“It’s a two-day board meeting because it’s also our budget board meeting on the Wednesday/Thursday before the Gold Coast event.”
Warren Luff and Jonathon Webb drove for Jim Beam Racing in the enduros, experiencing a disappointing Bathurst, but they surprised many with a top six finish at the L&H 500 at Phillip Island.
Luff said he would rather an endurance drive with a strong team than a full-time drive with a weaker one, which is sure to be music to the ears of the leading teams if the proposed rule change goes ahead.
“I’ve found a really good home here; even though it’s only an enduro drive I’m sure there’s plenty of other guys that would love to have this drive,” he said.
“Who knows what the future holds, but it’s good to have a competitive car and be with a competitive team.
“There’s definitely a core group of us that are probably the better of the enduro drivers and given the right opportunity I’m sure we could all hold our heads high if given a full-time drive again.
“But it’s getting a drive, and getting a drive with a good team, that enables you to show what you can really do and that’s probably been the big thing for me this year with these guys and their new cars and stuff; I’ve been able to show that I’ve got some good speed.”
David Besnard and Greg Ritter proved their mettle at Bathurst paired in the second Garry Rogers Motorsport Commodore.
On a similar strategy to Sprint Gas Racing’s Greg Murphy and Mark Skaife, the part-timers would have been in contention for a podium – if not the win – but an ill-timed safety car stopped them in their tracks and they had to settle for a top 10 finish.
Besnard was far from surprised that he and Ritter did well at both of this year’s enduros.
“It’s definitely harder when you’re not in it all the time but I think if you ask any decent race car driver they’ll be confident in their ability and that’s why we do it.
“I get asked the same question every year especially at Bathurst. I’ve been on the podium twice and each time people say ‘oh are you amazed to have the pace to be on the podium?’ and you’re like ‘no, I’m not’,” he laughed.
“I’ve had good cars the last couple of years and I have been able to show what I can do.”
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