EX-SUPERCARS TEAM MANAGER SUPPORTS HERNE

Ex-Supercars Team Manager supports Nathan Herne – Photo: Optikal Photography

Garry Rogers Motorsport are building a case to allow Nathan Herne to receive his Superlicence after the team spent two-days testing at Winton.

By HEATH McALPINE

Herne and co-driver Tyler Everingham clocked more than 250-laps in mixed conditions at the rural Victorian circuit. The young pair received tuition from Renault Sport GRM TCR and Tickford Racing endurance driver James Moffat.

Renowned former Supercars team manager and current Winton circuit manager Jeff Grech has sent a written reference supporting Herne to Motorsport Australia after the rookie was denied a Superlicence on Monday.

The team continued to test after lodging an appeal with GRM director Barry Rogers impressed by the young duo.

“The first lap Nathan got in the car, he was straight onto it,” Rogers told Auto Action.

“The two guys were identical, hundredths at the most separating them at times. There was a moment where there was light drizzle rain, not on wets, but slicks and it was pretty sketchy, you could see where Nathan has learnt the car control in that TA2. His ability to control a car is absolutely first class.

“You can’t help but focus on Nathan because that is what this centres around, but for Tyler also, to be there and thinking ‘what’s going to happen? If Nathan’s not there, I don’t race at Bathurst’. He could have been a bit off song too, due to the uncertainty surrounding this.”

As detailed in Auto Action 1795 – out this evening – Rogers expanded on his passion to provide an easier entry into the top-tier.

“We know we’re not changing the world with this, it’s only motor racing, it’s entertainment,” Rogers said.

“It’s never going to develop and grow if young people can’t dream that they can get to where the boys hopefully get to in a few weeks. That’s what it’s got to be about, it can’t be about you’ve got to do this, you’ve got to do that, if you’re good enough you should be able to get this opportunity.

“Let me tell you, Nathan and Tyler are more than good enough.”

Herne adapted well to the Supercar and told Auto Action the test couldn’t have gone better.

“It was good to get on track and get into the car,” Herne said.

“Compared to TA2, it’s no different really, just the Supercar has more grip and is more responsive to everything.

“There was nothing really new in a Supercar, it’s quite an easy car to drive and hard to be fast in, to push that last tenth or two. Coming from TA2 and Formula Ford, I’m used to a car that moves around a lot, but in a Supercar it’s always planted.

“I had a lot of good people help me throughout the day and I’ve come to grips with it really quickly.”

It comes amid a tough week for the 17-year-old after it was revealed on Monday that his Superlicence application was denied. Herne, however turned his phone off during the two-days of testing and focused on the job at hand.

“It’s not ideal having that happen going into a test,” Herne explained. “We were preparing for the test on Monday, I was just looking at my phone and had a notification about the licence, then five minutes later I had five missed calls.

“It got announced before I even knew about it so that was probably the worst thing about it, people knowing about before me.”

Herne heads to Darwin with the rest of the team next week to quarantine ahead of arriving at Bathurst the Wednesday before the event.

“Fingers crossed I get to show off the fact I’ve come to grips with it at Bathurst this year,” said Herne.

To view the livery that will adorn GRM’s Wildcard entry, pick up the latest Auto Action issue 1795, out now.

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