Meet the Co-Drivers: Craig Baird, EMV8 4

Many of this season’s Endurance Cup co-drivers participate in Porsche Carrera Cup – but there’s only one king of the category.

Recognised last year for the most wins in a Porsche worldwide, Baird again showed at the Sucrogen Townsville 400 how it’s done, winning all three races – and finding time to jump into the Erebus Motorsport V8 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG he is sharing with Lee Holdsworth for the co-driver session.

However, Baird said he didn’t find it difficult to switch from one vehicle to another and settle into the new make.

“I don’t even think about it, I’ve been doing it so long!” Baird said. “I’ve driven single seaters and touring cars on the same day.

“A lot of drivers don’t understand how hard it is until they do it, but I feel very comfortable jumping into either car – one’s got the engine at the back, one’s right hand drive and one left – but by the time I get to the end of pit lane, I don’t even think about it.”

Having competed at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 every year since 1999, as well as 1997, New Zealander Baird has extensive experience at The Mountain. For a short time, he thought he’d won in ’97 in a touring car – however, he was quickly disqualified on the grounds of having completed too many miles.

“That was a fairly bitter pill to swallow,” he said. “I was standing on the podium holding the first place trophy and then I was handing it back. It was a tough year.

“But I think every Bathurst you do, you have good memories and bad memories.

“One of those races is very difficult to win, and to win you need – without a doubt – a bit of luck on the day… Only one link weak in the chain and the whole thing comes crumbling down.

“You see it every year, guys like Glenn Seton who won Championships and races – but not Bathurst. It shows how hard a race it is to win and if you ask most of the drivers, they’ll tell you a Bathurst win would probably be a higher reward than winning the Championship.”

Baird began racing at the age of four in go karts.

“I really just progressed from karting through to Formula Ford and then took the single seater path, for many years, trying to make a career in America and Europe,” he said.

“I got to a point in my career when I could see that single seater path wasn’t working. Then I headed towards touring cars and started racing a BMW back in ’94-95.

“I carried on with touring cars and did my first Bathurst with Dick Johnson Racing in 1997… I’ve been in a fortunate position, being able to derive an income in a sport I’ve always been really passionate about.”

Baird competed a few seasons in V8 Supercars, but when his team WPS merged with Mark Larkham Racing at the end of 2005, there were four spots for two drivers.

He received a call from Tony Quinn from VIP Petfoods – who also has a long background racing, including two wins at prestigious tarmac rally Targa Tasmania – with the prospect of a Carrera Cup drive. “And I’ve been there ever since,” Baird said.

“I think if you can’t race V8 Supercars, in this country for sure Carrera Cup is one of the most competitive (series) and it’s a level playing field.

“Unlike some other categories – where the more money you spend or the newer equipment you have, the faster you go – Carrera Cup always cycles cars between three to four years and everyone’s always in the same car.

“We play on the V8 Supercars’ stage; it’s an evolved, good category; and when I look at the current V8 Supercars drivers, a fairly big amount come through Carrera Cup, so in some ways the field is transient.”

Three full-time drivers in the V8 Supercars field have won the Carrera Cup Championship – Alex Davison (2004), Fabian Coulthard (2005) and David Reynolds (2007). This year seven Carrera Cup drivers – including Baird and 2011 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 winner Nick Percat – have been called up as co-drivers for the Endurance Cup. 

“It’s that platform – some people say the (Dunlop) development series is the next category down, but I think development series is what the name represents – young guys trying to get into V8s.

“But with Car of the Future, it’s more representative of the skill level and driver skill – the cars are more like Carrera Cup cars than the old style V8 Supercars, in terms of driving style.”

Baird hasn’t been one to stick to a marque – he’ll drive anything. So he was excited to be involved with a team with a new manufacturer this year.

And given his past experience, he couldn’t look past the former Stone Brothers Racing, now Erebus Motorsport V8, crew for his enduro onslaught. He described team owner Betty Klimenko as a breath of fresh air in pit lane.

“It’s a good thing for the category,” Baird said of Mercedes-Benz E63 AMGs in the V8 Supercars field.

“Some local manufacturers are struggling a little and it’s important for the future of the category to look outside the square.”

While Baird was in the car for the co-driver session at the Sucrogen Townsville 400, he didn’t find it hugely productive. “It’s an awkward position – you’ve got a session before the lead driver – it’s his big weekend, so the last thing you want to do is put a scratch on it… Plus teams are very limited on tyres, so the chance of a co-driver getting on good tyres is very slim... So for me it’s not that relative.”

He finished 17th (of 20) at the end of the half-hour session. Interestingly, the top three drivers in the sessions – Steven Richards, Warren Luff and Percat – all compete in this season’s Carrera Cup.

However, Baird will get the chance for an extended run at Erebus Motorsport V8’s test day tomorrow at Queensland Raceway and feels that run will be of a greater benefit. “There’s no replacement for laps in these cars,” he said.

Between now and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, Baird will compete in endurance racing in Asia behind the wheel of a Ferrari, and the Singapore Grand Prix support race in a Porsche.

“I’m always in something – this year in Adelaide I drove the (Erebu Motorsport) Mercedes SLS AMG GT (in the Australian GT Champioship) and got out of it into the Carrera Cup car. I competed in five races over the weekend and won all five. It proves you can do both.

“The Mercedes I had never driven before… so it underlines the fact some drivers can jump in anything and find their feet, while some drivers need time.”

Stay tuned for more ‘Meet the Co-Driver’ articles as the Endurance Cup approaches.