GRM READY FOR RETURN WINTON TEST

The Garry Rogers Motorsport (GRM) stable of machines will be free from lockdown on Monday when both its TCR Australia and S5000 cars head to Winton Raceway for testing.

Young Super2 Series drivers Josh Fife and Matt Chahda will have the opportunity to take the wheel of an S5000 for the first time, as they ramp up their preparations for the return of Super2 at Sydney Motorsport Park from November 19-21.

The Tasman Cup opener is also set for the same weekend, as part of the final Sydney Supercars Championship event, the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight.

GRM Team Manager Stefan Millard explained the outline of the test day.

“We’re taking two cars up there on Monday where we’ve got Josh Fife and Matt Chahda having a day,” Millard said.

“They were keen to get involved and have a drive of an S5000. Hopefully they enjoy the day and it goes from there.

“We packed up the three trucks yesterday and it’s just good to get back to the track.

“This off-season feels longer than the last to be honest, even though 2020 was a much drawn-out duration.

“Monday is all about firing everything back up again and just trying to get into some sort of rhythm before we return to racing.”

Fife, who sits 13th in the Super2 standings, was excited to return to the track in what will be his first experience of a wings and slicks open wheeler.

“We’ve obviously had a big break after Townsville and I was scheduled to do a test earlier just to get some laps in,” Fife said.

“COVID happened so it didn’t happen, but now I’m free to travel again so I’m able to complete the test with GRM.

“The goal is to increase my mileage as Super2 testing is restricted, so to get some laps in an S5000 will be beneficial ahead of the return to racing.

“I’m really looking forward to the power, I’ve heard how much it has, and the aero. I’ve never driven with wings, so I’m looking forward to that and see how it all goes.

“My main goal is Supercars, but I’d love to do a few rounds of S5000 next year in between Super2 events, I’d definitely look into that.”

Victorian drivers of GRM’s TCR Australia program will also be at the test, as the team’s three Peugeots, two Renaults and pair of Alfa Romeos will be given a shakedown ahead of the season resumption.

“It’s been a pretty long mid-season break, so the aim for us is to give the cars a shakedown and also to get the crew back into gear before a busy end to the year when we fire back up again,” Millard said.

“We’ve got the Victorian guys heading up there, so we won’t have Michael Caruso or Jordan Cox due to being Sydney-based.”

At this stage, the TCR Australia Series will return for the six-day Bathurst 1000 event from November 30 – December 5.

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