Friendship put aside as work mates crank it up
‘‘ “BROCK AND I ARE TEAM-MATES BUT ONCE RACING STARTS, IT’S ON. FRIENDSHIPS GET PUT ASIDE UNTIL THE CHEQUERED FLAG COMES DOWN. JIMMY MANTEUFEL
MOTOR RACING: They are best of mates at both work and play, but when the race-track light turns green for Brock Mitchell and Jimmy Manteufel it’s every man for himself.
Mitchell and Manteufel are work colleagues at Top Of The Range Builders who share a love of motor racing and it’s back to the track this weekend when the pair line up in the gruelling Shannon Nationals production car round-four event at Queensland Raceway.
The weekend begins with a 300km race on Saturday night followed by a second 300km marathon on Sunday.
Manteufel lines up with codriver Scott Cameron in his VT Commodore while Mitchell shares his driving duties with one of Australian motor racing’s most recognised family names.
Partnering Mitchell at the famous Ipswich raceway will be Phillip Brock, brother of the late Peter Brock, a nine-time Bathurst 1000 winner.
“This is the first time I’ll be racing with Phil and I’m really looking forward to working with someone with his amount of knowledge and experience,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell cut his racing teeth on the kart track while Manteufel kicked off his motor racing career in local street sprints.
Both stepped up to HQ racing before moving into saloon car class.
A HQ racing highlight for the pair was competing in the 2016 Bathurst 6-hour race.
“We both bought our saloon cars together and I’ve been racing in this class for about a year now,” Mitchell said.
“I’ve had about eight races now and finished fifth in last year’s championship.”
Manteufel is in his first saloon car season and leads the 2018 Rookie of the Year title while sitting seventh overall in the championship.
“This weekend’s Shannon Nationals is a tough event, and it will be the first time Jimmy and I have raced under lights,” Mitchell said.
“The races go for around two-and-a-half hours and it will be a busy two days for drivers and our support crews of family and friends.”
Manteufel’s team-mate is a former V8 ute competitor and has partnered Mitchell previously.
“This weekend is definitely one of the season highlights and it will be full-on in 38-car fields,” Manteufel said.
“I’m really hoping to hang on to first place in the Rookies so Scott and I will be looking for a strong result heading into the last two rounds.
“Brock and I are team-mates but once racing starts, it’s on.
“Friendships get put aside until the chequered flag comes down.”
The Australian Production Cars “Fight in the Night” returns to Queensland for the seventh consecutive year this weekend with the race starting at 4.45pm.
Sunday’s second race starts at 1.45pm. Sports sedans and Porsche GT3 racing also features across the weekend.