Aussie built Python takes on Classic Daytona 24

Australian motorsport industry veteran George Vidovic is taking on the world at the HSR’s Classic Daytona 24 Hour this weekend in the 2000 Python SR MK II that was built by his own hand.

Vidovic is currently gearing up to take on the 24 hour classic (run by IMSA) this Sunday in the Group G class, where he’ll race on track against the likes of Red Bull’s Chief Designer Adrian Newey, who’s co-driver is Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley, racing a Group A 1965 Ford GT40 Mk I.

(FYI…Vidovic has done a pretty good job in Group G qualifying too! Info at the bottom).

Vidovic’s story in motorsport reaches back over 35 years, and he’s best known for his famous Melbourne built Cobra replicas (Pythons), and as the the owner of the largest replica parts outlet in Australia, as well as establishing GV Automotive, GV Restorations and Python Choppers, and establishing an export company called Python Vehicles USA which still currently trades.

Vidovic and his wife Maggie packed up from their life in Melbourne to live and tour the classic tracks in the US with the #99 Python

In 1998 and 2000 Vidovic was also the proud winner of two Victorian Sports Car Championship titles, in ’98 as a driver of his #98 Python, and in 2000 as team owner and crew chief, before getting back behind the wheel for a third place finish in 2001.

In 2017 Vidovic chased his long held American dream, sold up his business interests, and shipped himself and the Python #99 over to USA where he has raced his cars (the Python and a McLaren M6B Can-Am) at tracks such as Road America, Willow Springs, COTA, Buttonwillow, Fontana Speedway, Sebring etc. He currently resides in Santa Monica…and he also continues to sport a classic gallon cowboy hat.

Gearing up for another crack at the Classic Daytona 24H this weeknd (driving solo…and currently with a broken wrist), like himself, Vidovic’ Python #99 has plenty of character.

Built in 2000, the red and black striped Python #99 runs a standard Python SR MK II steel chassis modified for racing, whisk the body and panels are made of Gelcoat hand laid fibreglass.

Under the hood, it runs a talkative dry sump 5.8L 358 NASCAR engine (built by Eatmon Racing Engines N.C), with a 4 speed Jericho gearbox and a 7.25 inch triple plate Tilton clutch.

It runs 18 by 11 inch wheels with 6 spot alloy callipers at the front with 330MM vented discs, and 4 spot callipers at the rear, with Koni adjusted shockers at the rear and front.

After Vidovic ran his night practice in P8 with a best lap of 02:04.054, +3.528 off the leading 2018 Audi RS3/TCR (not particularly a classic, but Group G spans 6 decades!), he then put in a flyer for qualifying.

The Melbourne born designer turned US classic racer put the Python #99 on the second row of the class grid in Qualifying 1, with a time of 02:04.042, only +0.76 seconds of a 2009 Porsche Cayman-S, and just behind the 2020 BMW M2 CS Cup.

Vidovic gets ready to head out for his night session at the classic Daytona 24

His Qualifying race is at 4:30pm on November 3, whilst his Classic 24 Hour gets underway on November 4 for Group G at 7pm.

What is Group G in the IMSA Historic Sportscar Racing? (from IMSA website for 2023 Daytona event). Click this link for class information.

Group G is home to HSR classes not represented in other groups. Offering a mix of primarily production cars from six different decades of competition, Group G includes many of the same teams and race cars that compete in HSR’s Vintage GT and Historic GT groups and the HSR Classic RS Cup and HSR Stoner Car Care Global GT series. A nearly even split of various Porsche, BMW and Audi models from all generations make up the majority of the entries and take on an Aston Martin, Mazda MX-5 and more. The diverse mix in Group G also includes an Australian-built Python SR Mk II roadster and a 2000 Caterham C400.

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