Cindric outlines target for Adelaide Supercars cameo
Austin Cindric outlines target for Adelaide Supercars cameo
NASCAR driver to race Tickford Mustang at bp Adelaide Grand Final
Cindric currently chasing first Cup title in NASCAR Playoffs
Austin Cindric is under no illusions that he will face a stern examination on debut in Supercars, but remains set on trying to “race out front.”
The NASCAR Cup Series star will steer a Tickford Racing-run Ford Mustang at November’s bp Adelaide Grand Final.
Cindric, 27, tested Supercar machinery as a teenager, and also has a brace of Bathurst 12 Hour starts to his name.
In the years since, Cindric reeled off an Xfinity Series championship in 2020, won the 2022 Daytona 500, and clinched a Playoffs berth this season with victory at Talladega.
Cindric does have a road racing background, and continues to dabble in sportscar racing to this day. Notably, he steered a factory-entered Ford Mustang to a podium finish at this year's Daytona 24 Hour in GTD Pro.
Tickford driver Thomas Randle believes Cindric could surprise. But come November, and Adelaide's concrete walls, big kerbs and fearsome Turn 8 are standing in Cindric’s way, let alone 24 of the best touring car racers in the world.
However, while insisting it will be a “huge challenge,” the American maintains he is planning to come Down Under and try and grapple what it takes to challenge towards the front.
"I've definitely been following Supercars for a long time, since I was a kid when our team stateside had a team,” Cindric said.
"I followed quite closely and cheered on a lot of Ford Falcons and obviously Ford Mustangs. So, definitely cool to think that I'm gonna be part of the fold for a race weekend.
"I think it's going to be a huge challenge for me to jump into a new car that I've never raced in, in a series that's as competitive as the Supercars Championship is, and expect to go try and race out front. But that's what we're gonna try and do.
"Obviously Tickford is a team that expects to be at the front of the field and challenging for podiums and race wins. I have a long way to go to understand what it's gonna take to do that.
“Definitely super excited to have the chance in a quality team and really compare myself against competitors I have a lot of respect for.”
Cindric will aim to defend his win at Gateway this weekend, with Supercars kicking off the Ryco Enduro Cup at The Bend Motorsport Park next weekend.
