#23 Tasman Motorsport VZ Commodore
Owen Kelly/Mark Noske
The second Tasman Motorsport machine is one of the longest odds to win the big race, and unsurprisingly it is due to the driving experience of the two men driving the car. Mark Noske is a former full time driver, but hasn’t driven regularly since midway through 2004, whilst teammate Owen Kelly has never driven full-time in the top level of V8 Supercar racing, and was actually swapped by Supercheap Auto Racing to Tasman for the enduros. A top twenty finish would be credible for this pair as the #23 Commodore has been unimpressive in 2006.
Rating: 4
Jack Daniel’s Racing
#7 Jack Daniel’s VZ Commodore
Steven Richards/Paul Dumbrell
Jack Daniel’s Racing performed miserably at Sandown, but that is the way the team has gone for the majority of the 2006 championship. The former Holden heavyweights have been boxed out by the Tom Walkinshaw teams for funding, and despite the strong pairing of Dumbrell and Richards, it looks unlikely that they will come good at Bathurst. However there is a chance that they could make the podium if the cards fall their way…and are played right. Perkins Engineering is vastly experienced at Bathurst – one positive for the lead car – and Richards is a double winner. The final word is that the #7 Commodore could surprise, but its unlikely to have the pace to challenge for the top spot on the podium.
Rating: 7
#11 Jack Daniel’s VZ Commodore
Jack Perkins/Shane Price
Perkins and Price are both main game rookies, but the pair have shown good pace in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series and were consistent at Sandown. In spite of this, the Jack Daniel’s Racing #11 machine is on par with its’ sister car, so a top twenty finish would be optimistic for this duo, although raw speed for the youngest combination at Bathurst could net them a top fifteen place.
Rating: 5
Toll HSV Dealer Team
#15 Toll HSV VZ Commodore
Rick Kelly/Todd Kelly
Undoubtedly the number one pick for Holden’s Bathurst lineup, Todd and Rick Kelly go into the 1000 at short odds for a win, and why wouldn’t they with so many positive factors providing momentum for the Mildura brothers? The #15 Toll HSV Dealer Team Commodore was one of the top combinations at Sandown – finishing a narrow second behind the ultra defensive Jason Bright – but the biggest plus for the Kellys is the success of the team at Mount Panorama. Twice has the Toll HSVDT won at Bathurst, albeit under the guise of Kmart Racing, in 2003 and 2004. Rick Kelly was joined by Greg Murphy in that back-to-back success and even though 2005 didn’t quite go to plan for the re-emerging operation, the Clayton squad has been blessed with enviable pace in 2006. Both drivers are class acts, each entered V8 Supercars via the Holden Young Lions development program, and both have tasted the victory champagne at the Mountain. It would be fitting for the pair to win the inaugural Peter Brock Memorial Trophy – the late master of Mount Panorama a significant influence on their careers, which sees them go into the weekend as a firm favourite.
Rating: 10
