Bathurst Champions Opt For Experience In Sandown and Bathurst Enduros

[buza]

The Bathurst-winning Holden Special Vehicles Dealer Team has signed two proven driving talents for this year's Sandown 500/Bathurst 1000 endurance double.

Tim Leahey and Mark Noske will pair up alongside team regulars Rick Kelly and Garth Tander in the outfit's Holden Commodore VZs.

Leahey drove for the team last year, scoring a top-10 Bathurst finish when he came eighth with Steve Owen in the second Commodore to cross the finish line. Noske, who has two top-10 finishes in The Great Race to his credit - in 1996 and 1999 - will join him.

Kelly and the HSV Dealer Team will be shooting for the Bathurst treble this year after having won the race under the Kmart Racing banner in 2003 and 2004 when Kelly teamed with Greg Murphy. Tander is also a previous Bathurst winner, taking the chequered flag in 2000.

HSV Dealer Team Manager Rob Crawford said the team was delighted to have retained the services of Leahey while gaining Noske for the big endurance races.

"Both of these drivers have shown by past performances that they know how to run these big endurance races, which require patience and a cool head, as well as pace," he said.

"It is great to have Tim Leahey back in the fold after his top 10 finish last year. To be second Commodore across the line is no mean feat at Bathurst, and we look forward to another good performance this year.

"Mark Noske is also having something of a homecoming, as many of us were involved with the Holden Young Lions team when Mark scored his sixth placing at Bathurst with Todd Kelly in 1999.

"Mark and Tim should make a fine combination, and we are looking forward to getting them out on the test track in a few months."

Leahey, a motor trader from Orange in New South Wales who rose to prominence in Formula Ford, will be having his seventh start at Bathurst.

Last year he drove for the works VW Golf team in the GT Performance Championship. The year before, he came fourth in the 2003 Carrera Cup, driving for Greg Murphy Racing Team Braun. In 2000, he also drove for Greg Murphy Racing in Formula Holden, finishing fourth in the Holden Australian Drivers' Championship and winning the Winton round.

Noske scored his first top-10 finish at Bathurst with Gibson Motorsport in 1996, running ninth with Garry Waldon, and followed up with a sixth placing with Todd Kelly in 1999.

Son of former touring car driver Tony, Noske had a ding-dong battle with current Indy Racing League champion Scott Dixon for Formula Holden supremacy in 1998. Noske won five races and took five pole positions on his way to third place in the championship.

His efforts were rewarded with a test drive for US Champ Car's Team Kool Green Indy Lights team and then, in a first for an Australian driver, a drive of Michael Schumacher's Formula 1 Ferrari at the Fiorano test circuit.

In 2001 and 2002 he drove a Ferrari in the Nations Cup for the Prancing Horse team, and in 2003, drove full-time in the V8 Supercar Series in a limited-budget privateer assault.

Noske said he was looking forward to renewing his racing efforts with Rob Crawford and the HSV Dealer Team.

"This team has the runs on the board, not just at Bathurst with their wins over the past two years, but at Sandown, as well," he said.

"It is also going to be great to work with Tim Leahey who has a level head, which is so important in these big races.

"In my nine trips up to Bathurst, four ended in crashes involving my co-driver. In two races, I didn't even get to do a lap! So I am looking forward to going the full distance with Tim this year."

Leahey echoed the sentiment, saying the HSV Dealer Team had proved it had what it takes race the full 1000 kilometres and win the big ones.

"I am so glad to be back with Rob and the boys, and even though Sandown is months away, I am already itching to get back in the seat," he said.

"It will also be great to team up with Mark - it should be a good combination."

[pete55]

Congratulations to Mark and Tim. Hope they go well. I think HSVDT have made a good decision for the 16 car.

[Just Do It!]

Wahoo!! Well done Mark. Now all you have to do is show the regulars up like you have done in the past and lay the ghosts to rest