TRUCK ASSIST TEKNO RACING DARWIN PREVIEW

PRESS RELEASE/Truck Assist Tekno Racing – Photo: Velocity Magazine (Darin Mandy) Winton 2019

• TEKNO has podium experience on board at Hidden Valley Raceway, dating back to Shane Van Gisbergen in 2013 and ’14, and a total of nine top-five results at the venue.
• The event marks the third sprint event at Hidden Valley for team driver Jack Le Brocq, who made a wildcard appearance in 2017, before making his full-time debut with TEKNO last season.
• The potential for a good result last year on Sunday went by the wayside with steering damage, the only non-finish of Le Brocq’s successful rookie campaign.
• Le Brocq has previous experience at Hidden Valley in Formula Ford, dating back to 2010.

Your thoughts on Darwin, Jack Le Brocq?
 
“It’s a great place, great vibe, awesome atmosphere, it’s probably one of the best events on the calendar,” said Le Brocq.
 
“I haven’t had the best results there over the years, which is something I’d like to turn around.
 
“I’ve actually raced there twice before following the wild card back in 2017, so third time around I’ve got a fair bit of experience under my belt to now work from.”
 
You’re heading up a bit early…
 
“I’d like to tell myself that I’m acclimatising! “I’m looking forward to checking out a few of the touristy things that I’ve never had the chance to see before.
 
“It’s a great part of the world to visit this time of year, especially escaping the Melbourne winter.  “In fact, I tried to buy a black pair of shorts to wear to the track, and after checking out half a dozen shops, I gave up, because nobody sells shorts at this time of year in Melbourne!”
 
Rewinding back to the previous round, the Truck Assist Winton SuperSprint, on Sunday you had the best car speed you’ve had all season long.
 
“The gains at Winton were a big positive.
 
“It would be good to keep that momentum rolling moving forward, everything we learn with the car all adds up.  “We definitely made a step in the right direction with the car pace, but it’s a totally different circuit, different conditions, so a lot will change, but I’m looking forward to seeing how it all translates.”
 
What is the key to Hidden Valley – you’ve got a long straight, but the other side of the track is completely different?
 
“While it’s always nice to be fast in a straight line, it’s one of those strange tracks that is a bit of a compromise.
 
“It’s quite flowing through the back section, and even coming onto the straight, it’s pretty quick. “There’s only one tight hairpin where you really have to slow the car up in the Valley.
 
“Then the surface is pretty grippy, which is another added dimension.  “The two main factors you are looking for is a car that flows nicely, and also drives off the final corner onto the long straight well.”

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