Toby’s trading bike for a you-beaut ute
TOBY Price hopes his move into the inaugural SuperUtes series can reap the rewards down the track when he makes a permanent transition from two wheels to four.
The Gold Coast-based racer, who won the motorbike class of the prestigious Dakar Rally two years ago, will drive a Mitsubishi Triton.
Price said the deal came together quite quickly and is excited to be on the grid for the season-opener in Adelaide on March 1-4.
“For sure still my priority is all my two-wheel racing and everything but when an opportunity comes up like this you have got to grab it and have a go,” he told the Bulletin.
“There is definitely no retirement coming any time soon on the two-wheel side of things.
“It’s still a long way away but once the two-wheel stuff finishes I would like to keep racing so having a bit of a backing in some four-wheel stuff would definitely make that switch over a bit easier.”
Among the 30-year-old’s bucket list is to contest the Dakar on four wheels and to maybe even have a crack against mates such as Jamie Whincup, Chaz Mostert and Will Davison in Supercars.
Ute racing has long been popular as an action-packed category and will move into a new era this year by progressing to turbo diesel machinery.
Having previously raced in the Stadium Super Trucks series from time to time, Price had a taste of the SuperUte on Wednesday morning and found it to be a “quite different” challenge.
“I don’t really dabble too much on tarmac trying to find grip … this relies a lot on very late braking,” he said.
Price did find the Triton’s handling to be surprisingly good, though.
He will steer Mitsubishi Motors’ No.87 entry, competing in all SuperUtes rounds that don’t conflict with his rally commitments. Craig Dontas will be his teammate in the No.50 Triton.
WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY COMES UP LIKE THIS YOU HAVE GOT TO GRAB IT AND HAVE A GO