EREBUS CONFIRMS CO-DRIVERS

Erebus confirms co-drivers – Image: Supplied

Erebus Motorsport has enlisted the services of veteran co-drivers to support its rookies during this years Bathurst 1000.

By RHYS VANDERSYDE

Jack Perkins and David Russell will join the Melbourne-based squad in a completely fresh driver line-up for this year’s single endurance race.

Perkins will join former Super2 Series teammate Will Brown, Russell will line-up alongside Brodie Kostecki.

Perkins and Russell have both driven intermittently in the Supercars series for a number of years with Russell beginning his career in 2003 and Perkins in 2006.

With 26 Bathurst starts between them, Erebus CEO Barry Ryan is confident the drivers have the experience necessary to take on Mount Panorama this year.

“Both Jack and Dave are very experienced co-drivers who we can rely on to support and guide Will and Brodie respectively,” said Ryan.

“I’m personally very close with Jack after my six years at Perkins Engineering and it’ll be great to tackle Bathurst together in the same team.

“I was also part of Dave Russell’s first co-driver experience, and he’s always been a fast and solid co-driver.”

Having worked closely with both Ryan and Brown in the past, Perkins is looking forward to this year’s sole enduro event.

“I’ve had great success at endurance races in the past and Bathurst is the one that we all want to win,” said Perkins.

“Having experience as a main driver means I can do everything i need to do as a co-driver but also help support Will in his first Bathurst as lead driver.

“We have worked together before and helped push each other along, and I think it’s going to be a really good environment with Brodie and Dave as well.”

Russell also believes that his experience at Bathurst will assist Kostecki with the transition from co-driver to main driver.

“In my experience as a co-driver, it’s important to keep the main driver calm and progressing so that we’re working on the race car for the race day rather than a particular point in the weekend,” he Russell.

“It’s not about a particular lap in a session, it’s about where you finish on Sunday afternoon.

“I’m really excited about teaming up with Brodie and Erebus, and we’re in a good position to have a good shot this year.”

All four drivers will be attending today’s test at Winton Motor Raceway, with the Bathurst 1000 running October 7 – 10.

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