After competing in his home race in New Zealand three weeks ago, LDM driver Andre Heimgartner is looking forward to his Supercar debut on the unforgiving street circuit around Sydney Olympic Park.
The young Kiwi racer has raced on this track in support categories, including the Dunlop Series in 2013 and 14, however this weekend will be the first time he will pilot the #3 Plus Fitness Racing Holden Commodore on the challenging track.
“I haven't raced at Homebush since 2014's event, so it will be interesting to see how I go,” said the 21 year old. “It is a very demanding track, it's very bumpy and one of the more ‘street style' circuits we have on the calendar, aside from the Surfers Paradise event. It really offers a unique sort of challenge for the entire field, and man does she have a bite when she wants to!”
This weekend will not only be the curtain closer for the 2016 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, but is also an end of an era, as the V8 Supercars will race around Sydney Olympic Park for the last time and look to head to Newcastle for the 2017 event.
“Obviously this is a sad time knowing that this will be the last time that we will be racing at Homebush, but then again it is also exciting to see the Newcastle event coming on board, so it is one of those things where it is definitely a case of mixed feelings,” Heimgartner added. “The Plus Fitness Commodore should suit the track pretty well and I have confidence that it should be one of the stronger tracks for the car, based on the balance of the car and it's set up.”
“I am certainly looking forward to pulling on the helmet and seeing what we can put together this weekend. For us drivers, it's important to make sure we make the most of our last trip at this circuit and top off the year on a high and you can rest assured, I will certainly be throwing everything at it!”
