Shell Helix Announce Enduro Drivers

RaceTime · 18 Jul 2001, 12:54 (Ref:118797)

http://www.racetime.com.au/archives/00000179.shtml

Full press release at link above - basically Greg ritter and Paul Stokell are the two Shell Helix Enduro additions.

Buckshot · 18 Jul 2001, 13:07 (Ref:118805)

So they'd have to be putting Jr and the Rat in the same car right ?

RaceTime · 18 Jul 2001, 13:09 (Ref:118807)

At this stage they haven't announced the pairing - but I guess announcing a Junior Rat would make media sense

Buckshot · 18 Jul 2001, 13:11 (Ref:118809)

I dunno...just the names Ritter and Stokell don't inspire me...

RaceTime · 18 Jul 2001, 13:13 (Ref:118811)

Why not? Both are former national champions?

Buckshot · 18 Jul 2001, 13:15 (Ref:118813)

But how much time in a V8 Supercar do they both have ?

RaceTime · 18 Jul 2001, 13:18 (Ref:118814)

Considering the GT Prod experience Stokell has had - he won't take much time and Ritter will be given every opportunity - DJR wouldn't risk it.

The problem now is that with so many teams in V*SC - there are not enough experienced drivers left for the enduros - expect to see this type of pairing happen more and more.

marcus · 18 Jul 2001, 15:49 (Ref:118853)

neither have had alot of time in a V8 ..ritter i believe has only ran a few meetings in mike Imrie's VT this year and may have a had a steer last year ..cant quite remember..but Stokell has run with wayne garner racing in the past and did a reasonably good job..and im sure he ran with someone else as well..again cant quite remember..i think they will do Ok ..stokell is a class driver but needs time to learn about V8's and ritter was great in formula ford but Im not sure how good he is in a V8..I guess after bathurst we will know now he will be in good machinery ..

good luck to the both of them

Crash Test · 18 Jul 2001, 23:09 (Ref:118989)

Ritter had a run with GRM, but IIRC, wasn't terribly impressive. Perhaps not the best of the pairings, but I guess they should be good for a top 10...

philneast · 19 Jul 2001, 00:47 (Ref:119014)

Stokell probably still has more V8 seat time than fellow Tasmanian Ambrose and more open wheeler time as multiple Formula Holden Champion.

Plus his Diablo time gives him experience in babying a heavy car with lots of power and limited brakes.

I think he will do a fantastic job now that he has an opportunity in a competative car and a top team.

He also started at the same Kart club I race at.

DNQ · 19 Jul 2001, 00:57 (Ref:119017)

That certainly is bit of surprise. Surely the Rat and Steve Johnson will be in the same car, especially considering Paul's championship hopes are basically non-existent.

RaceTime · 19 Jul 2001, 01:00 (Ref:119020)

Not necessarily - split them up with two good co-drivers.

Which would you rather have - two potential race winnders/top 10 finishers or one potential race winner/top ten and one possibly also ran?

Think they will end up splitting Johnson and Radisich.

AdrianG · 19 Jul 2001, 01:14 (Ref:119025)

Good to see Paul Stokell finally getting a top line drive in the enduros after all these years.

Also philneast, of r/c cars also I belive? My dad used to build Paul's motors back in Paul's karting days.

philneast · 19 Jul 2001, 02:51 (Ref:119054)

You are right Adrian.

We should racing at Goodwood this Sunday, no karts, so probably see you then.

Crash Test · 19 Jul 2001, 06:11 (Ref:119083)

I'm not sure if having one gun driver racing with a driver that is 3 secs off the pace is what they want.... If they run Little Dick/Rat in the same car, it would probably be the best one out on the track. I think DJR will be out for the win.

elephino · 20 Jul 2001, 12:24 (Ref:119626)

It's hard to tell how driver pairings will go. If both drivers are in contention for the championship it is still quite feasible to put both in the one car with 2 rounds to go after Bathurst.

nz_tourer · 20 Jul 2001, 12:32 (Ref:119632)

I agree Crash, I think they will do what Larry has done for a while, maximise your chances of winning by running your best 2 drivers. And surely Dick would want to give Jnr the best chance of winning the championship, pair him with the Rat who has shown good Bathurst speed in the last few years. And with Paul all but out of contention for the championship, it can be their only option.

mac · 22 Jul 2001, 08:16 (Ref:120150)

This whole thread again proves why Bathurst and the QLD 500 should not be apart of the championship. I have no problems with these two races being a part of the championship - if they are one driver events. The fans are being ripped off, by not seeing the best driver combinations fighting it out. I know I feel ripped off by the concept of Little Dick and Rat not being together. And Skaife and Bright definitely won't be in the same car this year.

I don't think that Bathurst shouldn't be in the championship because it is Bathurst. However, any race where there is more than one driver must not be a championship race.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
David Brabham Joins Shell Helix Racing	RaceTime	Australasian Touring Cars.	15	16 Aug 2003 10:29
Shell Helix Team Expands to 3 cars but won't need to pre qualify	RaceTime	Australasian Touring Cars.	7	3 Feb 2002 01:20
KMart Racing Announce Enduro Lineup and Pairings	RaceTime	Australasian Touring Cars.	7	3 Aug 2001 07:59
HRT Announce Enduro Line Up	RaceTime	Australasian Touring Cars.	17	6 Jun 2001 08:17