Prodrive Racing is gearing up for the first round of the 2017 Enduro Cup, this weekend's Sandown 500 where they will line up with the classic mix of youth and experience in their four-car challenge.
The team have won the Sandown 500 on two previous occasions and all three winning drivers are part of the team's line-up this year.
Two-time winner Mark Winterbottom won his first ever Supercars race alongside Jason Bright in the 2006 edition of the race, while his 2015 race-winning partner, Steve Owen teams up with Chaz Mostert who was runner-up in the team's 1-2 finish two years ago.
"I am excited to get to Sandown this weekend,” Frosty said. “Of course, it's great to have Deano back as well. Last year was tough for us there, so we're looking to put that behind us, and having won there two years ago, I'm just as hungry to get back to the top step of the podium. The boys have worked incredibly hard to get us set for this race, and given our pace at Sydney we're determined to be up front all weekend.”
Mostert's co-driver from that race is his now team-mate Cameron Waters who partners with rising Kiwi star Richie Stanaway who impressed on his debut in last year's wet conditions.
"I'm really pumped to be going to Sandown, and it's awesome to have Richie with me,” Waters said. “It was actually really good for him to do the Eastern Creek race meeting in Super2, seeing as though our tests got cancelled the past couple weeks. He's got a fair few miles under his belt now, which is really good, and I think we're a really good shot coming into Sandown.”
Rookie driver and reigning Super2 Champion Garry Jacobson makes his main series debut alongside Bright who will be starting his 566th race, while Dean Canto returns alongside Winterbottom for his 10th endurance campaign with the team in what will be his 11th Sandown 500.
"I'm looking forward to it. It's quite different to the rest of the year, heading into the Enduro season,” Brighty said. “We've had good race pace this year, so I think that'll put us in good shape for the Enduros. I'm looking forward to getting back with Prodrive at Sandown, we got a win last time we were there in 2006, so hopefully history can repeat. I'm excited to work with Garry, he's been doing a great job for the team in Super2. He's very familiar with everyone here and the cars. I feel like he slotted in well with the test day that we did earlier in the year, pace was good, so he should do well for us, too.”
Persistent rain forced the team to cancel three attempts to test before Sandown but a combined total of 1532 race starts for its drivers, coupled with some rapid rookies in its line-up have the team confident of a strong Enduro Cup campaign
