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UBET Charity Sprint

31 Mar 2016
Teams will take part in a sprint with a difference at Symmons Plains tomorrow, with BJR’s driver and lead engineer hoping to win for Jason Richards’ family.
2 mins by James Pavey
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Teams will do battle tomorrow morning for victory in the first race of the Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint – but it won’t be behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar.

Most teams have nominated a member to contest the UBET Charity Sprint – a 100-metre run down pit straight, with a $5000 prize donated to their specified charity.

CoolDrive Racing’s Tim Blanchard is flying the flag for the drivers, and with Jason Richards’ Family Trust nominated as Brad Jones Racing’s charity, there’s strong motivation to cross the line first.

“Being part of BJR gives you a better understanding of the influence JR had on this industry,” Blanchard said of the driver who sadly passed away in 2011 battling a rare form of cancer.

“I wasn’t racing V8s when he was … but you can see by the influence he had on BJR what a figure he was in pit lane.

“Hopefully I can get out and win tomorrow in the run and help out JR’s family.”

The team also has chief engineer Andrew Edwards and #14 number one mechanic Sam Cosgrove running.

A long time member of BJR, Edwards stressed he is not a regular runner, but was inspired to have a shot at the prize for the Richards family.

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“It’s good to be involved and it sounds like a bit of fun for a good cause, so I put my hand up,” Edwards said.

“Obviously JR is a big part of our family and we have a big emotional attachment to him, so it would mean a lot.

“Whether my little skinny legs are going to carry it over the line, I can’t say!”

V8 Supercars Dunlop Series driver Kurt Kostecki is running for Red Bull Racing Australia, with a number of behind-the-scenes team members participating, including TEKNO panel beater Andy Hackett (pictured) and James Moffat’s number one mechanic Kieron Woodger.

“A lot of the guys up and down pit lane are fit, not just the drivers,” Blanchard warned.

“They do a lot of training themselves, especially the guys involved in the pit crews – they do a lot of training to make sure their pit stops are really sharp.”

Stay tuned to the V8 Supercars coverage this weekend for the UBET Charity Sprint.

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