ParcFerme.Com

The Seven Network’s man for all seasons, Grant Denyer, has completed the MINI CHALLENGE puzzle ahead of the new series’ first round this weekend at Eastern Creek International Raceway.

The star of It Takes Two and the Sunrise programs on Australia’s leading television network will join Paul Stokell at DecoRug Motorsport and is raring to go.

“I’m pretty excited about it, as I have had a great relationship with MINI over time,” said Grant. “DecoRug Motorsport has given me a great opportunity and when you look at the entry list for this weekend, there’s going to be some tough, tough competition! I think the fans will see a bit of bump and grind given the cars are so close and they are small enough you can fit five wide through turn one at Eastern Creek…and I reckon we might even see that this weekend!

“I’ve raced a MINI on a few occasions now, most recently in Targa Tasmania last year. I had a taste of MINI CHALLENGE a couple of years ago when I raced an invitational event at Imola, where there were a heap of world famous drivers from touring cars, Formula One…and me!

“Seriously though, I think its great MINI CHALLENGE is now in Australia and the Series promises to be fantastic. MINI has a great history in Australia and this will add to it further.”

Grant finished in the top five in the Imola invitational event and regularly placed in the top five of stage results in last year’s Targa, so heads into this season full of confidence.

Denyer’s racing CV is as impressive as his meteoric television rise – he went within a whisker of taking out the Bathurst 12 Hour in February and was credited with a top ten finish in the Bathurst 1000 and Rookie of the Year in 2006. Away from racing, he is the holder of five Guinness World Records.

This weekend, he will lock horns with two former team mates in the form of 2007 V8 Supercar endurance race team mate, Jason Bargwanna and Paul Stokell. Bargwanna is the first of a long line of high profile personalities who will take the wheel of the MINI CHALLENGE UBER-STAR CAR – an entry designed to bring interest to the category, in most cases, from sources outside the traditional motorsport sphere.

If they are to walk away with an historic first ever win for the R56 model MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE racecar, they will have to be on their toes, as there is an exceptionally talented field entered for Eastern Creek.

Heading those challengers will be former Gold Star Champions –Stokell (DecoRug) and Neil McFadyen (Scope Signs & Graphics) – who is driving for former Bathurst privateer champion, Peter Doulman. The McFadyen camp has made no secret of the fact that anything less than victory will be a failure.

One make racing specialists, Gary Young (Salta Constructions) – who won a Mirage Series in 2002 and the Australian Performance Car Championship last year – Tim Poulton (Trivett Classic MINI Garage), Chris Oxley (Hi-Tec Motorsport) and Dave Turner (Glory Constructions) will provide tough competition, whilst 26-year-old Victorian BMW Technician, Nathan Geier (Split Image Project Management) promises to be a darkhorse of the field, having taken a dominant Series victory in the highly competitive BMW E30 category in Victoria during 2006.

It will be a family affair for the Fiores – Paul and Todd – from Perth in the Brisbane MINI Garage Team. Paul makes his national category debut coming off two successful seasons in WA State racing, which resulted in a Formula Ford and Saloon Car Championship, whilst Todd is a proven winner in Formula Ford at a national level.

The competition between MINI Garages will be further spiced up with the inclusion of Michael Stillwell (Bib Stillwell MINI Garage) from the legendary Stillwell family, facing off against the Motorline MINI Garage duo. Two newcomers to national level motorsport, Callum Ballinger and Queensland counterpart – Darren Berry (Clipper Motor Yachts) will drive the Motorline cars, Berry making his motorsport debut.

Former karting star - Ricky Occhipinti – who has extensive experience in F3 and F4000 will be right on the pace of the frontrunners as he makes his national class return, whilst Carrera Cup regular, Iain Sherrin (Sherrin Rentals) joins the fray for the first round.

All in all, the first ever race meeting for the R56 model MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE racecar should provide race fans at Eastern Creek this weekend with some fantastic action right throughout the field!

The full schedule for MINI CHALLENGE this weekend at Eastern Creek is as follows:

FRIDAY, MARCH 7

Practice 1: 9:30am-9:50am

Practice 2: 11:50am-12:10pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 8

Qualifying: 9:00am-9:20am

Race 1: 11:30am-11:50am

SUNDAY, MARCH 9

Race 2: 10:20am-10:40am

Race 3: 2:35pm-2:55pm

TELEVISION:

Race 3 of MINI CHALLENGE will air nationally on the Seven Network from approximately 3:15pm