Jones has faith in Heimgartner
Supercars team owner and motor racing legend Brad Jones says he has faith Andre Heimgartner is up the challenge of reaching at the Bathurst 1000 tomorrow.
The Kiwi driver is a late call up to the Great Race as a replacement for Ash Walsh, who pulled out early yesterday, deciding the pain from driving with four broken ribs would be too much.
Heimgartner was put on standby to be Tim Slade’s co-driver in car No 14 on Thursday, while Walsh tested out how he’d be in the car, following an incident where he crashed a sports car when testing it last week.
Once rumours circulated down pit lane that Walsh could be out, Jones was approached by numerous other drivers desperate to take his spot.
However, Jones said he felt the 22-year-old from Auckland was the best option.
‘‘I had a lot of people contacting me about getting an opportunity to go for a run in the car,’’ Jones said.
‘‘But Andre has driven in the main game for a couple of years, he’s driven around here lots of times in a Supercar.
‘‘I felt he was probably of the guys available the most current.
‘‘It’s a pretty tall ask, he’s going to be coming into a team where he doesn’t know anyone and drive a car he’s never driven before and it’s in the biggest race of the year, so that’s not easy.’’
Heimgartner took part in the co-driver only practice session yesterday at Mt Panorama was the 24th fastest.
However, given the lack of time to prepare that wasn’t surprising.
‘‘I thought he did a really good job,’’ Jones said.
‘‘He’s a day behind everyone else and he was doing 2:07.5 [minute laps] and honestly that’s about what they’ll be doing in the race.
‘‘So I think he’s done a really good job when you consider he’s driving with a guy who is a fair bit smaller than him and he’s never sat in the car before. We’ll have a good chat about it later and trim him up and I’m sure he’ll be fine.’’
It will be Heimgartner’s fourth appearance at the Great Race, having competed the first two times for the now defunct New Zealand team, Super Black Racing and last year was with the low budget Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport team.
Heimgartner’s best result at the Bathurst 1000 was an 11th place finish in 2014.
He lost his spot in the main game this year, unable to bring any financial support with him to the team and has spent the season racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup in Australia, where he is second in the championship.
He was at Bathurst this weekend to race in that category, but has gladly taken the opportunity to jump into a Supercar again.
‘‘Obviously no one wants to see a fellow driver hurt and unable to compete, and it is certainly unfortunate for Ash that he hasn’t been able to continue this weekend,’’ Heimgartner said.
‘‘At the same time, I am very pleased that it was me that they called up to be on standby and ultimately take over the co-driving duties with Tim Slade this weekend. BJR is a great team and I am looking forward to working with Brad, Tim and all the crew who put in a mammoth effort overnight to get the No 14 back in action after the damage incurred yesterday with Tim in the car.
‘‘Any chance you have to race around here is a chance you do not turn down, and I am pretty excited to be lining up again for the 1000.
‘‘As a co-driver my job is to get in and put in a solid performance and bring the car back straight, so that is what I will be focusing on this weekend.’’
The other Kiwi drivers in the Bathurst 1000 are Scott Mclaughlin, Fabian Coulthard, Shane van Gisbergen, Chris Pither and Richie Stanaway, plus the New Zealand born and Australian raised Steven Richards.