See More Favourites at Free sydney.com V8 Supercars Test Day

Good news for V8 Supercars fans – you’ll see even more of your favourite drivers this weekend, as a number of co-drivers suit up for the sydney.com V8 Supercars Test Day.

This Saturday’s event – which is free to attend at Sydney Motorsport Park – includes two three and a half hour sessions between 9am and 5pm, as well as the popular fan grid walk at 12.30pm, with all 25 V8 Supercars parked on-track, drivers alongside.

While the day is compulsory for teams, it is governed by the usual testing rules, meaning teams can opt to run PIRTEK Enduro Cup co-drivers if desired.

A number of co-driver pairings for 2014 have already been announced, with Holden Racing Team confirming its line-up with its livery release at Mount Panorama, Bathurst yesterday.

Warren Luff and Greg Murphy will join Garth Tander and James Courtney for the three PIRTEK Enduro Cup events, and will be at the sydney.com V8 Supercars Test Day to meet the fans and hopefully jump in behind the wheel.

“That’s the plan,” fan favourite Murphy told v8supercars.com.au.

“Hopefully it will go to plan and I’ll get behind the wheel and get back into the groove a little bit in a V8 Supercar.

“I’ve done a few laps this year with (New Zealand Championship) the SuperTourers, but as far as being race ready … the Supercar is a bit different. So if I can get a few more laps in it – being at the testing this year will be pretty limited (so to) get as much driving of the car as possible is going to be pretty important.”

While the PIRTEK Enduro Cup doesn’t begin until the Wilson Security Sandown 500 in September, ‘Murph’ said it was critical to have co-drivers confirmed as early as possible.  

“It’s very important to have this all locked away very early, the team was very focused on it and many of the teams are pretty well locked in because you need to be integrated as much as you can, for as long as you can, before we get to the enduros. It’s just more important than ever.”

He described the look of the 2014 HRT V8 Supercar as awesome, fresh and spectacular, and was keen to suit up alongside Courtney and get the job done.

“I’ll just go and do the job as required – we know what we’ve got to do, it’s the same as any other year really. It’s certainly not a lot different to last year.”

Arch-rival Holden team Red Bull Racing Australia will also have co-drivers present on Saturday, with Steven Richards replacing Luff as Craig Lowndes’ partner, and Paul Dumbrell continuing on with Jamie Whincup.

Brad Jones Racing yesterday also confirmed its co-driver line-up, both Team BOC and Lockwood pairings to continue on from last year, with Andrew Jones to run with Jason Bright and Luke Youlden with Fabian Coulthard.

The team has also confirmed Bright will be fine to drive at Saturday’s test after a substantial crash at the Bathurst 12-Hour on the weekend.

Bright was knocked out in the accident and was hospitalised as a precaution.

While he has had some soreness since, he reported feeling “pretty good, considering”.

“It’ll be business as usual this weekend – I’m pretty much back to normal,” Bright said.

Tekno Autosports confirmed managing director and former driver Jonathon Webb will pair with Shane van Gisbergen for the PIRTEK Enduro Cup this morning. 

Valvoline Racing GRM has announced its additional drivers jumping in the Volvo S60s – long-time co-driver Greg Ritter and 2012 and ’13 team pilot Alex Premat to run at the PIRTEK Enduro Cup. However, specific pairings have not yet been confirmed and the pair will not be present on Saturday.

While Ford Performance Racing will have a full team launch tonight, at this stage the team has not confirmed its full driver line-up for the test day.

Stay tuned for more co-driver and pre-season news at v8supercars.com.au and head to the free sydney.com V8 Supercars Test Day at Sydney Motorsport Park on Saturday.