Dick Johnson to continue famous legacy at Australian Grand Prix

The famous name might be missing from the grid for the firsttime in decades but Dick Johnson has no doubt of the importance and stature ofthe Rolex Formula One Australian Grand Prix to his celebrated team.

The absence of a member of the Johnson family behind thewheel at the recent Clipsal 500 broke a streak of 351 consecutive AustralianTouring Car Championship/V8 Supercars Championship event starts for Dick andSteven Johnson.

And with Steven not driving in the MSS Security Challenge atAlbert Park, it’s the first time that a Johnson hasn’t competed in theAustralian Grand Prix showcase since the World Championship first visitedAdelaide in 1985.

Johnson himself won in Adelaide in 1985 and 1987, while sonSteven has raced at Albert Park from 2000 onwards. Dick Johnson Racing hasclaimed two race wins at Albert Park – both taken by Paul Radisich in 2001.

“DJR has a long, successful history at the Grand Prix bothhere in Melbourne and in Adelaide,” Dick Johnson said.

“I recall launching the Shell Ultra sponsorship era inAdelaide and we had success with the Jim Beam cars in Melbourne a number oftimes. The event is very important from the racing and the corporate aspect.DJR have raced at every AGP since 1985 so we are always keen for success atthis event. We are going to get both DJR cars as far up the field as we can.”

DJR will front up with a slightly different look at AlbertPark this weekend. The famous #17 Falcon will race with Wilson Securitybranding for the event making it a two car assault for Wilson Security over theweekend.

The pair of FG Falcons is aiming at an increase inperformance over the four race V8 Supercar MSS Security Challenge at theAustralian Grand Prix this coming weekend.

After a promising showing at the Clipsal 500, the DJR teamhave spent valuable time in the workshop focusing on engineering the cars andvital de brief’s from Jonny Reid and Tim Blanchard to bridge the gap to thefront runners as fast as possible. The cars returned from Clipsal with onlyminor damage to the #12 Wilson Security Falcon, so the team were able to focuson setting the cars up for the fast and flowing layout at Albert Park.

DJR General Manager Steve Johnson said, “The whole DJR teamdid an outstanding job in Adelaide. Everything was new. We had turned very fewlaps and the drivers were working with their engineers for the first time in arace environment, so overall it was a very positive start. We focus on AlbertPark like any other race meeting. My goal is to move the two cars up the gridin qualifying and in the races this weekend.”

For #17 driver Tim Blanchard and #12 pilot Jonny Reid whowill both pilot the Wilson Security branded Falcons this weekend, it will betheir first start at Albert Park in a V8 Supercar. Reid contested the eventlast year in a Porsche 997 Cup Car with a great start by claiming his maidenPole Position, but Blanchard has never raced there as Formula Ford was not onthe program during his Championship winning year.

The V8 Supercars are on track everyday at the 2013 RolexAustralian Grand Prix and will conduct four races during the event.