BIGMATE RACING TOWNSVILLE PREVIEW

PRESS RELEASE/BigMate Racing Todd Hazelwood – photo: Darin Mandy

Bigmate Racing will make their Townsville Virgin Australia Supercars Championship race debut this week, with Todd Hazelwood ready for the next event on the calendar.

A two-week break for the 22-year-old has Hazelwood feeling excited about the next challenge at the Reid Park street circuit.

“Really looking forward to heading north again and competing at one of my favourite events and tracks of the year, this is a track I have had great success at in previous years and I’m looking forward to continuing the fight in the Supercars field this weekend,” Hazelwood said.

Hazelwood and the Bigmate Racing team were victorious in the Dunlop Super2 Series at Townsville,  taking both race wins, a pole position and the round win at the event last year.

It’s a track the South Australian thoroughly enjoys, with new challenges to be presented ahead having not raced on a street circuit since March this season.

“The track is fast, flowing and concrete-lined with walls—it really is the ultimate challenge as a driver,” Hazelwood said.

“I really enjoy the qualifying commitment and close racing on the street circuits, it also seems to suit my driving style as well. With all this being combined, I am confident we will perform better than previous rounds this weekend.

“The team have worked day and night in preparation for this event and hopefully the hard work is rewarded with a solid result.

“The results have been tough for everyone involved to take in, so I’m hungrier than ever to keep pushing and help the whole team make that next step we are all so desperately trying to achieve.”

Head of Engineering Wes McDougall added that last year’s Super2 success could benefit the team this weekend.”

A lot has happened since number 35 was last at a street circuit in March this year … we are now deep in the middle of the year and we have spent the time in the workshop since Hidden Valley focusing on analysing our weaknesses, understanding them and duly improving the car,” McDougall said.

“Last year Todd managed to capture pole position and two wins on the streets of Townsville in Super2, in what were two of his more dominant performances in his championship year—he also finished on the podium there in 2016, so he certainly seems to perform well at Townsville and at street circuits in general, I believe.

“Townsville is an unique circuit insofar that it is a hybrid street track—two-thirds permanent circuit, one-third street circuit.

“This, along with kerb riding ability make this track a challenge prospect and with success there in 2017 we hope to use some of that knowledge when we tackle the circuit in 2018.”

Hazelwood is pleased to welcome new partner Gravelroad to the team this weekend, with the Ford racer thanking his supporters and sponsors for their faith this season.

“I cannot thank everyone involved for their continued belief and support in me and hopefully the team at Matt Stone Racing and I can start to make steps in a positive direction,” Hazelwood added.

“We are already at the halfway mark in the season and from here I really want to show what we are truly capable as a team from here—watch this space.”

The Watpac Townsville 400 will run on 6-8 July.

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