Former Series TA2 Champion Russell Wright returns for Darwin Kings of the North round

With a combined age of over 130 years, Team 40 will certainly have a wealth of life experience to take to Darwin for Round 2 of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series.

Russell Wright, the 2017 TA2 champion, will make a return to the series for next weekend’s Round Two of the TA2 Muscle Car Series - framed by HYTEK Steel Framing at Darwin’s Hidden Valley. The veteran will join Rob Leonard in the “Slow Down Workers Around” Access Linemarking Equipment/ Municipal Workers Australia TA2 Mustang for the two-driver event.

Rob is hoping to draw on the experience on offer from the past champion and a long time TA2 driver. Wrights TA2 highlight was racing at the Circuit of America’s in Texas for Stevens- Miller Racing, part of the prize in winning the 2017 TA2 title, the same team that Nathan Herne now drivers for in the USA. Both drivers are quick to point out that they are there to have fun next weekend and while they will be pushing for a good result are fully aware that finishing each race is important for the series. The Hi-Tec Oils Super Series has put up a $20,000 cash bonus for the highest point scoring two driver combination over the six races next weekend. Other drivers to commit to the two driver concept are Touring Car Masters driver Marcus Zukanovic, teaming with Matt MacKelden in the Kubota Mustang, Dunlop Super 2 regular Tyler Everingham joining Jackson Rice in the Pedders Mustang, Edan Thornburrow with IES Camaro driver Graham Cheney, Andrew Fisher with Paul Hadley’s Camaro Team, National Trans-Am driver Tim Brook driving with Dylan Thomas in the CXC Mustang. Nathan Herne also returns in an all International entry alongside Asian TA2 and NZ V8 Ute Champ Paul Manuell, driving Peter Robinsons Dodge Challenger. Each of the drivers will get to do two sprint races in their own right, before combining for two feature races, each with a driver change mid race. The Monday labour day holiday feature races will be televised live on SBS, and simulcast on Fox Sports/Kayo.

QUOTESRob Leonard, driver #40 Access Linemarking Equipment / Municipal Workers Ford Mustang  “Rusty still competes in historic Trans-Am so he will be on the pace straight away in the new Mustang, prepared by Team Johnson Racing, which had its first outing at the recent Winton round. I’m pretty new to this form of racing, so I’m looking forward to learning from one of the fiercest competitors around. In Rusty’s final full time TA2 appearance last year he won 3 out of the 4 races, so I’m pumped to be able to share the car with a real master.” Russell Wright, co-driver #40 Access Linemarking Equipment / Municipal Workers Ford Mustang “I love this category and was one of the first drivers to invest in the series when Peter Robinson kicked it off. To race at Darwin is something special, so I’m glad that Rob and Jill have given me the opportunity to share the experience and enjoy the ride. The car looks sensational, has been prepared by Steven Johnson so if we keep it together for all 6 races, then we might be surprised where Team 40 ends up.”