‘Surreal’ podium not slowing Xiberras down

Though Peter Xiberras may be a long-time identity in Australian motorsport, September 15 in 2024 will forever be a special day for the PremiAir Racing team owner.

The long-time drag racer arrived in Supercars in 2021 as a naming rights sponsor for Garry Jacobson’s Team Sydney entry in 2021, before buying the team outright for 2022.

PremiAir Racing immediately made headlines midway through their first campaign, when Jacobson was released by the team following that year’s round in Darwin.

Jacobson’s departure allowed PremiAir to chase James Golding, who had been out of a full-time drive since 2019 when Garry Rogers Motorsport ceased Supercars operations.

Golding had kept sharp in S5000 competition with GRM, and also featured as a co-driver at Bathurst with Team 18 in 2020 and 2021.

With Golding in particular, PremiAir has been on an upwards trajectory ever since, the pair breaking through for their first podium at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500, aided by gun co-driver David Russell.

Xiberras, who had likened the final lap nerves to those of an expectant father on the Fox Sports broadcast, was still just as jubilant on Supercars’ Schick Cool Down Lap Podcast.

“Surreal is the word. There's no secrets about it, I've been wanting a podium for a while now, and it's been a bit elusive,” Xiberras said.

“But to come here to the Sandown 500, it's such an amazing, significant, historic event. How many greats have won this race and done well here. And, and it's always the precursor to the big one.”

The big one Xiberras refers to is the upcoming Repco Bathurst 1000, where both the team, Golding, and Russell have all shown form in recent years.

Golding provisionally qualified second on Friday at Bathurst last year in his Nulon Camaro, and was also running in the top five in 2022 before having an issue with his front splitter.

Russell, meanwhile, has finished on the podium in each of the last four endurance races held in the championship, dating back to the 2021 Bathurst 1000.

With their final test day of the season to be completed in the build-up to Bathurst, Xiberras knows they have momentum they can carry.

"And if you're going to peak, this is the one to peak at. We're going to head to Bathurst full of confidence now. Don't get me wrong, we're not going to let the foot off the throttle and sort of lie on our laurels. We've got a lot of work to do," Xiberras said.

“Hopefully this is the first of many."

The podium has been well received by fans and competitors alike, as PremiAir became the tenth team this season to claim a podium finish, leaving Blanchard Racing Team as the only team not to have claimed a top three finish.

"I can't believe it… when we start racing and the helmets go on, we all want to hate and kill each other, but afterwards there's just such a sea of emotion,” Xiberras said.

“Everyone's just been high-fiving and thanking us and I think they're generally happy for someone new to come through and win one. I'll take it, mate it's awesome."

The Repco Bathurst 1000 will take place from October 10-13. Tickets for the latest edition of The Great Race are on sale now.