RICK IS AS HAPPY AS LARRY

PRESS RELEASE/Castrol Racing – Photo: supplied

Castrol and Nissan Motorsport will pay special tribute to Larry Perkins at next week’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Rick Kelly will adorn a Castrol Racing tribute livery for The Great Race, as the team marks the 25th anniversary of Larry Perkins’ famous 1993 triumph – a result that would lead to Perkins claiming a trio of titles in the ‘90s.

In 1993, Perkins was partnered with the late great Gregg Hansford. It was a year of new beginnings that year for the privateer-run Perkins Engineering team, with Castrol a new sponsor for the team and a new partnership between Hansford and Perkins. It was a dominant weekend for the Castrol Racing team, claiming pole position and an incredible race win on debut.

The legendary red, green, white and black sawtooth livery took a memorable 1995 Bathurst 1000 win as Perkins and Russell Ingall went from last to first to claim victory. The duo then took victory for a second time in 1997.

Kelly’s traditional number 15 will be replaced next weekend, in favour of 11 to mark this special occasion, as a nod to Perkins.

“Larry is a real legend of our sport, and a lot of that legend was born out of what he achieved at Bathurst,” said Kelly.

“To win three times in five years is a remarkable performance. This livery is definitely a fan-favourite and something I am honoured to be racing at this year’s Bathurst 1000. I hope 2018 will be the fourth victory for this famous livery.”

Kelly Racing/Nissan Motorsport was born out of the Castrol Perkins Racing Moorabbin workshop, a venue specially chosen to make this announcement.

“We were in a position to take over Larry’s operation in 2009, and that was when we first started our partnership with Castrol. “So to be able to look back at the origins of this team is something special for the most special race of the year.”

Perkins took victory a total of six times during his 26 year career around Mount Panorama (1982, 1983, 1984, 1993, 1995, 1997). Kelly himself has claimed two Bathurst victories in 2003 and 2004. Perkins’ win tally at Bathurst has aided in Castrol’s status as the most successful oil on the mountain with 21 victories in total. These formidable statistics do not weigh on Kelly’s mind as he partners with co-driver Garry Jacobson next weekend.

“There’s no added pressure racing in this sort of car,” continued Kelly. “I mean, the event itself applies more than enough pressure as it is. I only hope that we do Larry and Castrol proud.”

Nissan Motorsport will hit the track for Practice 1 on Thursday 4th October ahead of Sunday’s 161 lap Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000

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