Following a productive test day at Queensland Raceway last week, Nulon Racing is feeling quietly confident ahead of the start of the endurance season with this weekend’s Sandown 500.
New Team Manager, Stephen Robertson, was on-site at the test day and will enjoy his first event with the team this weekend.
“We had an exceptionally busy and comprehensive program to run through at our test day at Queensland Raceway and the results were very promising,” Robertson said.
“We tried a lot of things and learnt a lot, and we are feeling quietly confident now with the packages we have put together ahead of this weekend’s Sandown 500.
“Enduros are unique beasts which can throw anything at you, but across the entire team we feel like we have done the work and crossed all the Ts and dotted all the Is, to be in the best possible place we can be heading into the enduro season.
“And for me personally, I am feeling excited to get on-track and get to work in my new role as Team Manager for this fantastic team. The dedication and commitment I have witnessed already in my short time with working with them all has been very impressive, and I know that together, we have the capacity to achieve great things.”
In the #23 Nulon Racing Camaro, Tim Slade will pair with Supercars race winner, Jonathon ‘Jono’ Webb.
“I am looking forward to teaming up with Webby, he has a lot of experience and has adapted well so far to the new car,” said Slade, whose best result at the Sandown 500 after eight starts is 6th in 2015.
“I think strategy will be a very interesting component this year. With no minimum pit stops and being on the super soft tyres, I think there is every chance we will be running out of tyres before we run out of fuel.”
Webb has a long history in Supercars behind him and this will be his 11th Sandown 500, previously having finished on the podium twice (3rd – 2015 and 2016). He has tested the Nulon Racing Camaro both at the start of this season and again at last week’s test day.
“I am genuinely excited for Sandown,” Webb said.
“Last week’s test was about reacquainting and ensuring we understand the car’s nuances and that Tim and I are in sync.
“Sandown is a track I love and have had success on. It is crucial for us as a team to stay focused throughout the long race weekend.
“With our crew excelling in pitstops and strategies, if we align everything perfectly, we’re poised for a strong performance.”
In the #31 Nulon Racing Camaro, Jimmy Golding and Dylan O’Keeffe are reuniting for the enduro season after sharing the entry at last year’s Bathurst 1000.
“It is awesome to have consistency with Dylan back in the car again, he is a consistent and fast driver, and didn’t put a foot wrong at the Bathurst 1000 with us last year,” said Golding, who has a previous best finishing result at the Sandown 500 of fourth (2017) after four starts.
“I think it is going to be fantastic for us to have Dylan back onboard and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together this year in not one, but two enduros.
“Sandown has been a bit of a happy hunting ground for myself and for Dylan at different parts of our career, so it is a track that we are excited to race together at.
“We have been busy working to make sure we are maximising every area possible as we head into Sandown for 500km of racing. Our test day went well, we learnt a lot and run through all the endurance processes and pit stops.”
O’Keeffe is looking forward to returning to the team, this time aboard the new Gen 3 car. It will be his first ever Sandown 500 and his fifth Supercars main game start.
“It is great to reunite with Jimmy and the team after racing with them at the Bathurst 1000 last year, especially with the return of the Sandown 500 this year,” O’Keeffe said.
“The Gen 3 Supercar is impressive, and partnering with Jimmy, a close friend, makes this venture all the more thrilling.
“We’ve already had several productive test days, and the Sandown co-driver role will deliver plenty of great track time for me in race conditions.
“Even though I’ve been racing in various categories, the Supercar experience remains unmatched and I’m genuinely excited to dive back in.”
Nulon Racing will be on track at the Sandown 500 across September 15-17. Friday will host three practice sessions at 10.45am, 12.40pm and 3.45pm, before Saturday hosts a fourth and final practice session (10.45am) ahead of qualifying (1.40pm) and a Top Ten Shootout (5.20pm). Sunday will then commence with a warm-up at 10.10am, before the Sandown 500 roars into life at 2.15pm. For event information, visit www.supercars.com.au
For more information on Nulon Racing, please visit www.premiairracing.com or follow the team on its social media platforms at www.facebook.com/PremiAirRacing/, www.instagram.com/premiair_racing/, www.linkedin.com/company/premiairracing/ and www.twitter.com/premiairracing
