DJR, Eggleston managing Allen's busy Bathurst
Dunlop Series
02 Oct 2023
Allen making Great Race debut, fighting for Super2 title
Teenager sharing third DJR Ford with Simona De Silvestro
Allen one of four Dunlop Series drivers on Great Race grid
Kai Allen feels at ease ahead of a busy weekend at Mount Panorama, with Dick Johnson Racing and Eggleston Motorsport uniting to manage his double duty workload.
The 18-year-old will make his Great Race debut aboard a DJR-prepared, Shell V-Power-backed wildcard Mustang with Simona De Silvestro.
The Great Race won’t be his sole focus, however — Allen is entrenched in an intense Super2 title fight with Zak Best, Ryan Wood and Eggleston teammate Cooper Murray.
Allen is 33 points behind Best in second after four rounds, with Wood (75 points) and Murray (90) just behind.
Mount Gambier product Allen is one of four Super2 drivers in this year’s field, along with Best (Tickford Racing), Jack Perkins (Erebus Motorsport) and Aaron Love (Blanchard Racing Team). Allen and Love are both debutants, and both are in wildcards.
With so much on his shoulders in Bathurst, Allen was grateful both teams have united to make his Great Race debut as streamlined as possible.
“The team’s been great, they’ve been working closely with my Super2 team Eggleston Motorsport, to make sure everything’s under control,” Allen told Supercars.com.
“They’re making sure the media and all the other stuff is organised. I’ve got to get a lot of sleep, eat as much as I can, because when you get to Sunday, I’ll have a lot of laps under my belt.
“I’m really excited, and both teams are working really well together to make sure we have the best opportunities available, and come Sunday, we’re ready to go.”
De Silvestro and Allen have tested the #98 Ford at Queensland Raceway this week, with the former completing her first laps in a Supercar since November 2019.
Allen will have been more support in his corner next weekend, with professional netballer sisters Sienna and Nyah set to be trackside with their family.
“They’re coming to Bathurst, which is really cool,” Allen said of his sisters.
“My sisters will be helping with nutrition, they’re right into that. Making sure I’ve got electrolytes, and so I’ll be fuelled up and ready to go.
“We just want to finish, and if we finish, we should finish roughly pretty well. Limit the mistakes, we’ve got a good car, and take away a lot of learnings and press on to next year."
