Former Champion Predicts Title Shake Up
Jack Daniel’s Racing’s Rick Kelly has predicted a shake up at the top of the points table when the V8 Supercars hit the newly resurfaced Phillip Island circuit.
2006 Champion Kelly – who clinched the title in dramatic circumstances at the Victorian circuit – pointed to the recent track re-surfacing that has increased grip levels and tyre wear, as a huge unknown that could cause some headaches for the Championship contenders.
"The Championship is heating right up at the front and I think next weekend will shake up the Championship and keep it wide open heading into Homebush,” Kelly said.
“No one knows quite what to expect with the re-surfacing, so it's a big unknown that is bound to create some excitement."
The 30-year old driver, who currently sits 13th in the Championship standings, rates the seaside circuit as one of the best on the calendar.
“Phillip Island is definitely right up there as one of my favourite circuits, it's a very fast and following track that's really like no other that we race on, so I'm very excited to head back there.
"We only get one opportunity each season to race at Phillip Island and this year is particularly exciting with the re-surfacing on the track. Lap times from other categories that have raced there since the re-surfacing have been blisteringly quick and V8 Supercars tested one of its prototypes recently and the lap times it was producing were below the current lap record.
"I just can't wait to get there, it's going to be a different track if it's that much quicker and it's always something that a driver loves, you love to have more grip available and see what you can do.”
Both Rick and teammate Todd Kelly feel the Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altimas will be strong around the fast and flowing circuit, emphasising its superior handling in high-speed corners this season.
The brothers likened the track to the Albert Park Street Circuit, which also features long sweeping turns, where the Nissan Altimas were competitive in March during the Australian Grand Prix.
"The Nissan Altima over the last couple of rounds in high-speed corners has been very tidy and it's exciting heading to a circuit with a lot of high speed corners, which will be exciting from a driver's point of view," Kelly said.
Next weekend's action at the Sargent Security Phillip Island 360 – the penultimate event of the 2013 V8 Supercars Championship – will feature one 120km race on Saturday with a halftime break, before two 100km races on Sunday.
Teammate and brother Todd sees potential for the Nissan squad at the event.
“The cars are really good this year on the Phillip Island style of circuit, the Grand Prix was a really strong event for us and we were expecting to struggle a little bit more at Albert Park than what we did," he said.
"I think Phillip Island will potentially be a very strong round for us. It's an awesome track at the best of times, but now they've re-surfaced it, the reports are that it will be quicker than it ever has, so records will certainly be broken.
"The grip level and the speed will be outstanding, so I can't wait to get out there and hit the track for the first time in our first session to see what sort of times we can do and what the cars are capable of, but I'm definitely looking forward to a good result next weekend."
Tickets are still available for the Sargent Security Phillip Island 360, running from November 22-24.
