Porsche winner Max Vidau Joins Brad Gartner for Kings of the North

Posted on 24 April 2023

2017 Australian Formula Ford Champion and current Porsche Carrera Cup Australia contender Max Vidau is the latest name to join the grid for the TA2 King of the North two-driver event at Hidden Valley Raceway this weekend. The excitement is building for Round 2 of the 2023 TA2 Muscle Car Series framed by Hytek, with Vidau set to team up with fellow South Australian Brad Gartner in the #22 Castec Rural Supplies Ford Mustang.

Gartner’s car is prepared by South Australian team MVA Racing which is headed up by Michael Vidau, Max’s father. Vidau is a talented young driver with an impressive track record as a champion of the 2017 Australian Formula Ford Series, and a multiple race winner in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge and now a contender in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia with Tekworkx Motorsport. Vidau also races on the dirt in Sprintcars, and is looking forward to adding the TA2 cars to his racing resume. It was a rough start to the season for Gartner, with the speedy 19-year-old coming unstuck in the first race of the weekend. However, Darwin presents an opportunity to get his championship campaign back on track, which is currently lead by MVA Racing teammate Lee Stibbs.

The addition of Max Vidau to Brad Gartner's team is expected to boost their chances of success in the TA2 King of the North Races and both drivers are looking forward to working together to achieve a win. The TA2 King of the North Races represents the first ever two-driver race for TA2 cars anywhere in the world, and the first time TA2 will race in the Northern Territory at Hidden Valley Raceway. Cars hit the track for practice on Saturday at the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series before qualifying and the first three races of the weekend on Saturday. The Monday labour day holiday feature races will be televised live on SBS, and simulcast on Fox Sports/Kayo.

QUOTES

Max Vidau, co-driver #22 MVA Racing / Castec Rural Supplies Ford Mustang “Keen to get to Darwin. Obviously we've got a round there for Porsche in a couple of months, so it will be good to get some laps there as a bit of preparation for that. “Great to join up with Brad, MVA Racing is my Dad’s racing team so it’s pretty cool to are under him as well. “I helped the team out with a bit of coaching at the final round last year at Winton where Brad won a race and nearly won the round. I go to all of the test day and help the guys out so it will be cool to finally get a drive of one. “It's been a while since I've driven a dog-box manual, not since Formula Ford, so that'll be cool to get back into. Obviously the loose driving style in the sprint car should suit the TA2 as well. “Brad had a rough one at the first round. Lee [Stibbs] ended up winning the the round, which is good for the team. But, the plan for Darwin will be to get some solid results and points on the board for him. “It would be cool to win the whole thing, but the main thing is getting points with Brad and keeping the team fast.”