Rod Nash Racing has distanced itself from Perkins Engineering for 2006 and has instead joined forces with Marty Brant’s Independent Race Cars operation, the same group who engineered Paul Dumbrell’s 2002 Fujitsu Championship victory. Former Britek Motorsport driver Steve Owen has jumped ship to this fledgling Holden operation and will run the #55 Autobarn VZ Commodore, with the automotive goods specialists staying with Rod Nash Racing as major sponsors for 2006.
Paul Morris Motorsports has re-entered itself as Team Sirromet Wines for this year’s championship and in doing so will field a second car to be rotated between young-guns Alan Gurr and Fabian Coulthard, with the latter poised to drive with Paul Radisich at the enduros with Team Kiwi Racing.
2006 LINE UP
Stone Brothers Racing
Russell Ingall (#1 BF Falcon), James Courtney (#4 BF Falcon)
Both Stone Brothers Racing Falcons will be up the front of the grid this year with Russell Ingall leading his rookie teammate James Courtney from the front. Whether Ingall reverts to his old fashion of hard charging, never-say die attitude or not remains to be seen, but his Caltex Falcon is expected to be one of the most competitive machines on the grid in 2006.
Courtney will take time to learn circuits in the championship, but is expected to be contesting for top five finishes early in the season, if he lives up to the ultra hype circulating the Ford contingent at the moment. His international pedigree is unrivalled in the series, and he is likely to finish on the podium by the end of the championship.
Final Word
Ingall: Consistency is unlikely to net him another title, must race hard and lead from the front.
Courtney: With such a huge reputation, anything less than consistent top ten finishes in unacceptable.
Holden Racing Team
Mark Skaife (#2 VZ Commodore), Todd Kelly (#22 VZ Commodore)
Regarded as Holden’s top team for a number of years, the Mark Skaife-led brigade will need to fight off a challenge from the young Toll HSV Dealer Team crew to maintain their position as The General’s crown jewel. With a new sponsorship deal with Dodo adding further funding for the team in 2006, the HRT are preparing to contest one of their most important series since joining the Australian Touring Car Championship.
