One of Australia’s fastest Sportscar and V8 Supercar enduro drivers, Dayco ambassador David Russell, has joined the Finance Ezy Porsche Carrera Cup team for the 2015 Australian Porsche Carrera Cup Championship.
This will be Russell’s first full time Porsche Carrera Cup season since he last competed in this highly competitive championship in 2008. He has since earned a reputation as one of the fastest and most versatile racing drivers in the country, having competed successfully in several local and international GT races, alongside his five year tenure with Nissan Motorsport / Kelly Racing as endurance race co-driver to both Rick and Todd Kelly.
The 32 year old Queenslander is excited to be returning to the Carrera Cup after his superb cameo performances in the series last season at Bathurst and Surfers Paradise. His outstanding performances earned him a race victory, two podiums and several fastest race laps at two of the nation’s most challenging circuits.
“It is fantastic to be back in the Carrera Cup championship and to be in a position to have a real tilt at the title with Finance Ezi Racing. I took some heat over how aggressively I was competing at Bathurst and the Gold Coast last season – that was just a taste of what can be expected from me once the red lights go out at the Clipsal 500,” Russell said.
For Finance Ezi team owner Maurice Pickering, gaining a driver of David Russell’s experience and talent is a major coup for the team’s 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup campaign.
“The Finance Ezi Racing Team is excited and proud to be partnering with David Russell for 2015. David is an experienced and passionate driver and we are confident that he will be rewarded with great success this year in the Carrera Cup Championship. His experience with Kelly Racing will ensure that he will be leading the way home for us.”
The Dayco sponsored race driver has already gained significant race mileage this season having set the fastest lap time of practice, the second fastest qualifying lap and a 7th place finish at the 2015 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour. His qualifying lap time of 2: 03.1751s in the JBS Lamborghini LP600 was the fastest lap time ever set by an Australian driver at Mount Panorama. He will also be competing in selected international Sportscar events along with the three V8 Supercar season of endurance races during 2015.
The last time Russell competed in a full season of the Porsche Carrera Cup Championship was in 2008, gaining four race wins and six podiums on his way to third in the title chase. He was the 2007 Porsche Carrera Cup Hard Charger Award recipient, winning a race at the Clipsal 500 that year along with five podiums during the season. Russell made his Carrera Cup debut in 2006, being the highest placed rookie at 5th in the championship with five podium finishes.
The 2015 Australian Porsche Carrera Cup Championship will be contested over eight rounds, all held in conjunction with major V8 Supercar events across the country, with the exception of one enduro event held at Victoria’s Phillip Island circuit in May.
2015 Australian Porsche Carrera Cup Championship Calendar
R1 Clipsal 500, Adelaide Feb 28 – Mar 1
R2 Australian Formula One Grand Prix – Mar 12 – 15
R3 Phillip Island – May 22 – 24
R4 Townsville 400 – July 10 – 12
R5 Sydney Motorsport Park – Aug 21 – 23
R6 Sandown 500 – Sept 11 – 13
R7 Bathurst 1000 – Oct 8 – 11
R8 Gold Coast 600 – Oct 23 – 25