Latest news with #Bathurst1000
West Australian
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
Rising West Australian race car driver Mason Harvey to compete at Perth V8 Supercars round
One of WA's rising drivers is set to showcase his talents during the V8 Supercars visit to Perth this weekend. Mason Harvey is a two-time WA Saloon Car State Champion but has made the move to the Aussie Racing Cars championship for the 2025 season. The 20-year-old has made a strong start across the opening two rounds of the campaign, with a string of front-row starts, podiums, and lap records. Now, Harvey heads to his home circuit in Wanneroo ready to make a statement, having claimed his first victory in Tasmania last time out. 'Winning in Tassie was massive for us,' Harvey said. 'We've been building for this, and to now come back to Perth with that momentum, in front of my home crowd, it's going to be something special. I'll be giving it everything.' The series will join the Supercars on track for four of their seven rounds, with Perth the third stop on the calendar after rounds in Sydney and the Apple Isle. Harvey sits equal fourth in the standings, just eight points behind leader Kody Garland, in what is set to be a vicious championship fight. The 22-car field includes Olympian John Steffenson, while Garland, Joel Heinrich and Jack Boyd join Harvey in the fight for the title. It is set to be a big weekend for WA racers as Supercars and Bathurst 1000 champion Brodie Kostecki returns to his home track with Dick Johnson Racing. The Aussie Racing Cars will be on track across the three days of Supercars competition from June 6 to 9.
Perth Now
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Rising WA driver Mason Harvey to compete at Supercars round
One of WA's rising drivers is set to showcase his talents during the V8 Supercars visit to Perth this weekend. Mason Harvey is a two-time WA Saloon Car State Champion but has made the move to the Aussie Racing Cars championship for the 2025 season. The 20-year-old has made a strong start across the opening two rounds of the campaign, with a string of front-row starts, podiums, and lap records. Now, Harvey heads to his home circuit in Wanneroo ready to make a statement, having claimed his first victory in Tasmania last time out. 'Winning in Tassie was massive for us,' Harvey said. 'We've been building for this, and to now come back to Perth with that momentum, in front of my home crowd, it's going to be something special. I'll be giving it everything.' The series will join the Supercars on track for four of their seven rounds, with Perth the third stop on the calendar after rounds in Sydney and the Apple Isle. Harvey sits equal fourth in the standings, just eight points behind leader Kody Garland, in what is set to be a vicious championship fight. The 22-car field includes Olympian John Steffenson, while Garland, Joel Heinrich and Jack Boyd join Harvey in the fight for the title. It is set to be a big weekend for WA racers as Supercars and Bathurst 1000 champion Brodie Kostecki returns to his home track with Dick Johnson Racing. One of WA's rising drivers is set to showcase his talents during the V8 Supercars visit to Perth this weekend. Credit: Unknown / Supplied by Subject The Aussie Racing Cars will be on track across the three days of Supercars competition from June 6 to 9.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Wanneroo Raceway to host historic 100th Supercars race
The Wanneroo Raceway will make Australian motorsport history this weekend as it hosts its 100th Supercars championship race, the first circuit in the nation to reach the milestone. A field of 26 V8 Supercar drivers and 12 teams will take on the new Super 440 format, a combination of sprint and endurance races over the weekend. After two 30-minute practice sessions on Friday, drivers will face back-to-back qualifying sessions on Saturday before racing two 120km sprints, followed by a 200km refuelling race on Sunday. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Treating fans to a thrilling build-up ahead of the main event on Sunday, drivers will compete in a two-part knockout qualifying session and a top-10 shootout to determine their starting positions for the 200km race. Eyeing off a win in front of his home crowd is reigning Bathurst 1000 champion Brodie Kostecki, who is set to race a Ford Mustang GT alongside teammate and veteran Will Davison for Dick Johnson Racing for the first time in Perth this weekend. Kostecki, who is originally from Ballajura, said he's thrilled to return to the Wanneroo raceway, where his passion for racing first started, just like many young racers from Perth's northern suburbs who started out at the Tiger Kart Club. 'It's always a great turnout at the Wanneroo raceway and racing in front of friends and family is always great as well,' he said. 'My first ever memories of being on a racetrack were at the Wanneroo, way back when I was four years old.' Reigning Bathurst 1000 champion Brodie Kostecki. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian Despite his sentimental attachment to Wanneroo raceway, Kostecki has thrown his support behind the State Government's planned Perth motorsport street circuit in Burswood, which is expected to host V8 Supercars from 2027 — making this weekend's event one of the last V8 Supercar races at Wanneroo. Kostecki said he contributed to the design of the recently announced Burswood circuit, which he described as a 'privilege' to be a part of. 'I think it could be great for everyone here in WA,' he said. 'It's going to bring a lot of new people into our sport, and it's going to be right in the heart of Perth city, which is going to be fantastic as well.' Supercars veteran Will Davison said he considered Perth a second home since his wife is from here, and although he has been a 'huge supporter of supporting local motorsport circuits', he also threw his support behind the Burswood circuit plan. 'There's so much going on at street events that are good for the kids, good for the family. There's entertainment everywhere you look,' Davison said. 'Until you sort of feel that around a street track experience, the atmosphere that it creates . . . it's probably impossible to explain it to people.' The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship, at the Wanneroo Raceway. Credit: Kass Brumley/EDGE Photographics / Kass Brumley/EDGE Photographics This week's event marks the 46th time the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars Championship has been held at Wanneroo. Over this 52-year history, eight manufacturers have stood atop of the podium at the track. Holden, which is now defunct and hasn't raced in the series since 2022, still stands well clear with 50 victories ahead of Ford with 36 wins, followed by Nissan and Chevrolet with three apiece. The legendary Craig Lowndes holds the record for most wins at Wanneroo with 16, ahead of Mark Skaife with eight. Cam Waters won the 2024 Bosch Power Tools Perth SuperSprint. Credit: Mark Horsburgh/EDGE Photographics / Mark Horsburgh/EDGE Photographics Supporting the Supercars across the three days will be the V8 SuperUtes, Trans Am/TA2 (Muscle Car Series), WA Historic Touring Cars, and the Aussie Racing Cars championship. WA Tourism and Sports Minister Rita Saffioti said ticket sales for this year's event were again strong, and called on fans to support the new racing format. 'We encourage all Western Australians to go along and watch motorsport racing at its best,' Ms Saffioti said. 'These types of events very much support our growing economy.' SUPERCARS TRACK TIMES FRIDAY, June 6 Practice 1 — 12.05pm Practice 2 — 1.55pm SATURDAY, June 7 Race 14 Qualifying — 9.45am Race 15 Qualifying — 10.35am Race 14 — 12.55pm (120km sprint, 50 laps) Race 15 — 4.10pm (120km sprint, 50 laps) SUNDAY, June 8 Race 16 Qualifying — 11am Race 16 Top Ten Shootout — 1.05pm Race 16 — 3.15pm (200km, 83 laps)
West Australian
2 days ago
- Automotive
- West Australian
Daniel Ricciardo: Supercars legend Mark Skaife says General Motors should sign F1 star for 2026 season
Supercars legend Mark Skaife has argued that the General Motors team should go all-in on signing Daniel Ricciardo for the 2026 season. Ricciardo's future in motorsport remains unclear after he was unceremoniously sacked by Red Bull in the latter stages of the F1 season last year. His exit was followed by the rise of fellow Australian driver Oscar Piastri, who is on track to become the first Australian to win an F1 title in 45 years, and the demotion of Jack Doohan, who lost his seat with Alpine just six races into the 2025 season. Skaife says GM needs a big-name star after its Triple Eight team defected to Ford for 2026. GM will field Team 18 in place of Triple Eight, which won last year's Drivers' Championship with Will Brown, as well as the Teams' Championship. 'If I was running a race team, I would constantly be looking for the very best operators. You would be delinquent if you weren't,' Skaife told motorsport website speedcafe. 'And they don't come along that often. You think about a Jamie Whincup or a Craig Lowndes — they are pretty few and far between in terms of absolute superstars. 'I think overall, the policy around having superstar drivers — I can't emphasise enough how essential it is. It's just fact.' Ricciardo has previously said he would love to race in the Bathurst 1000, and former Supercars chief Shane Howard said last October it would be a 'massive coup' to sign Ricciardo to Australia's premier motorsport competition. 'Where would Red Bull be without (Max) Verstappen? They'd be nowhere. To me, GM finding one — or maybe a couple — of real stars is essential,' Skaife said. 'I thought when I read about GM trying to get Cam Waters, that made a lot of sense to me. 'But I'd be looking at some other scenarios. I'd be picking the phone up to someone like Dan Ricciardo or Matt Campbell. 'I'd be looking outside our current sphere to try and procure an absolute superstar.' Ricciardo has kept a low profile since his F1 exit, but when his likeness appeared in advertising for next year's series, speculation grew that he could still race again in F1 — possibly with the new team, Cadillac. Soft drink giant PepsiCo launched a major advertising campaign after announcing a multi-year deal with F1, and the silhouette of a driver promoting the deal looks strikingly like Perth's favourite son. Cadillac bosses have stated their intention to pursue an experienced driver in a global search to partner a younger, less seasoned American driver as their two-seat combination for 2026. The 35-year-old Ricciardo fits the experienced driver profile perfectly, but the F1 driver market is such that many top-tier drivers are also currently without seats.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Perth Now
‘Essential': Racing icon says Ricciardo a must for 2026
Supercars legend Mark Skaife has argued that the General Motors team should go all-in on signing Daniel Ricciardo for the 2026 season. Ricciardo's future in motorsport remains unclear after he was unceremoniously sacked by Red Bull in the latter stages of the F1 season last year. His exit was followed by the rise of fellow Australian driver Oscar Piastri, who is on track to become the first Australian to win an F1 title in 45 years, and the demotion of Jack Doohan, who lost his seat with Alpine just six races into the 2025 season. Skaife says GM needs a big-name star after its Triple Eight team defected to Ford for 2026. GM will field Team 18 in place of Triple Eight, which won last year's Drivers' Championship with Will Brown, as well as the Teams' Championship. 'If I was running a race team, I would constantly be looking for the very best operators. You would be delinquent if you weren't,' Skaife told motorsport website speedcafe. 'And they don't come along that often. You think about a Jamie Whincup or a Craig Lowndes — they are pretty few and far between in terms of absolute superstars. 'I think overall, the policy around having superstar drivers — I can't emphasise enough how essential it is. It's just fact.' Ricciardo has previously said he would love to race in the Bathurst 1000, and former Supercars chief Shane Howard said last October it would be a 'massive coup' to sign Ricciardo to Australia's premier motorsport competition. 'Where would Red Bull be without (Max) Verstappen? They'd be nowhere. To me, GM finding one — or maybe a couple — of real stars is essential,' Skaife said. 'I thought when I read about GM trying to get Cam Waters, that made a lot of sense to me. 'But I'd be looking at some other scenarios. I'd be picking the phone up to someone like Dan Ricciardo or Matt Campbell. 'I'd be looking outside our current sphere to try and procure an absolute superstar.' Ricciardo has kept a low profile since his F1 exit, but when his likeness appeared in advertising for next year's series, speculation grew that he could still race again in F1 — possibly with the new team, Cadillac. Soft drink giant PepsiCo launched a major advertising campaign after announcing a multi-year deal with F1, and the silhouette of a driver promoting the deal looks strikingly like Perth's favourite son. Cadillac bosses have stated their intention to pursue an experienced driver in a global search to partner a younger, less seasoned American driver as their two-seat combination for 2026. The 35-year-old Ricciardo fits the experienced driver profile perfectly, but the F1 driver market is such that many top-tier drivers are also currently without seats.
