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Ritter and Scifleet return to V8 Supercars as GRM enduro signings |
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Tuesday, 11 July 2006 |
GARRY Rogers Motorsport has opted to sign experienced V8 Supercar drivers Greg Ritter and Philip Scifleet to join the team for the Sandown and Bathurst endurance events later in the season.
The pair, who have both driven in the endurance events for the team previously, will join team regulars Dean Canto and Lee Holdsworth in the Repco Valvoline Cummins Commodores in the two big races.
However, a final decision on combinations for the two cars will be made later in the year as the date for the 500-kilometre Sandown classic draws closer.
Team principal Garry Rogers said that having been a big supporter of youth over the years, he felt signing two experienced drivers was of key importance for a successful assault on the endurance races, where finishing is crucial.
“I’ve always been a firm believer and supporter of giving younger drivers a break in the V8 Supercar category,” Rogers said.
“It’s a strategy that has worked out well as a long-term option in the
past, but for the endurance races where there’s limited time for
testing and laps in the lead-up, I felt that experienced drivers would
be what we needed.
“Both Greg and Philip have driven with our team before and, even though
they haven’t driven a V8 Supercar this season, they haven’t lost their
experience, which is why we decided to sign them up.”
Signing with GRM is a return for Ritter, 33, who made his V8 Supercar
debut with the team in 1999’s endurance events at Queensland and
Bathurst after clinching the national Formula Ford series in the same
year.
He finished ninth on debut at Bathurst that year with Steve Owen before
finishing ninth the following year at the Queensland 500 with Tim
Leahey.
His resume includes full-time as well as endurance stints with Dick
Johnson Racing, Team Brock, 00 Motorsport and Stone Brothers Racing.
A highly experienced endurance driver with seven starts at Bathurst
under his belt and a best finish of fourth in 2001 (which included an
appearance in the Top 15 Shootout), the Melbourne-based driver won the
Sandown 500 in 2004 driving alongside two-time series champion Marcos
Ambrose.
Ritter parted company with Ford Performance Racing before the 2005
championship was complete and has been keeping his skills sharp this
year by returning to his roots and racing karts in the Victorian
Leopard Series.
Scifleet, 29, was a member of GRM’s endurance line-up last year. He
shared the #33 car with Holdsworth and the duo finished 20th at Sandown
and failed to finish at Bathurst.
The Sydneysider finished sixth driving an older model Falcon in last
year’s V8 Supercar Development Series and will be lining up for his
sixth start in the 1000-kilometre classic at Bathurst.
He began his career in open wheeler Formula Fords, before moving to
England and winning the national class of the 1997 British Formula 3
Championship.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 January 2007 )
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