SUPERTEAM CONFIRMED!

DICK JOHNSON RACING

ALEX INWOOD

ITS OFFICIAL - Dick Johnson Raong will expand to four cars next season. As first reported in A41A67. DJR will run entries lot Steven Owen and Dean Flore alongside its existing cars.

The confirmation Owen completes the four-car superteam, with DJR understood to have leased the fourth REC from Paul Morris Motorsport The development confirms the disbandment of PMM for 2012. with Morris' second REC already leased to Tekno Autosport

Dick Johnson confirmed the expansion of DJR for 2012. with the motorsport legend confident his expanded operation will yield immediate results on the track.

"I think running four cars will be a lot easier lot the learn." he said.

"It certainly won't be any more difficult Mainly because it will give us the opportirtty to put the right people in the right place and certainly have the right expertise in the engineering department That wii alow us produce enough information to be able to run towards the very tront of the pack.

"How our speed is at the beginning of the year will be dependent on now we plan everything from the start. Today (Monday) is our first day back at the workshop and nght now I'm in the midst of getting even/thing organised.

"Malcolm (Swetnam). our team manager, gets back next week and once he's back we'll have everythng done and dusted in about another month."

But while Johnson Is confident that all four cars will be quick, he admits expanding the operation has already produced some logistical issues

"With four cars, we've had to bring on a whole lot of new staff that's for sure." he said "At the moment. I'm trying to figure out what their names are and then trying to fit them into the right hole within the team."

Despite his willingness to confirm the expansion. Johnson was less eager to be drawn on who will drive me tourth car.

"It could be Sieve Owen." he admitted. "But until such a time as everything is done and the dust settles, plus everyone signs bits of paper. I can't really confirm It officially But I'm pretty confident regarding Steven and I'm very confident about the whole year to be honest"

In contrast to Johnson's cautiousness. VIP Petfood chief Tony Quinn confirmed Owen had indeed signed at DJR.

"Yeah It's all done." Quinn said "It's a done deal Steve Owen will drive for DJR and it'll be a VIP-sponsorod car. absolutely."

Quinn sponsored Owen last season. and the pet food magnate ts confident Owen will produce better results at DJR.

'We decided to stay with Owen because basically I'm a creature of habit.''he said. "I'm a loyal sort of person. I think he did a good job overall last year. We all expected a bit more of him and the car and everything else, though

"He had a bit of a bumpy start to the year, but he had moments of goodness -I wouldn't say brilliance, but moments of goodness - and look. I ihink another year is going to work wonders for him.

TONY QUINN

"But unfortunately for him he's got a new team and a new car but to be fair I don't think that'll make much of a difference." Quinn added. "I think he'll do just as good a job"

Quinn said DJR will provide a better environment for Owen to produce on track. "I think he'll be In better surroundings at DJR. I trunk Paul (Morris), with his personal crisis that was going on last year. I don't think that helped the situation to be fair And I think Steve will almost become the number one or number two driver at DJR.

"I think Steve will prove to be probably one of the fastest and most likely will be equal to Steve Johnson. So I think he'll do a good for them."

HINCHCLIFFE GETS GOING

INDYCAR OWNER Michael Andretti and driver James Hinchcliffe were on the verge of signing a contract as AA went to press this week. Barring a wrong turn in talks, last year's Rookie of the Year will be the driver of the high-profile GoDaddy-sponsored car this season. The seat was vacated by Danica Patrick as she turned full-time to NASCAR. Two-time Indy 500 champion Dan Wheldon had signed to be her replacement on the morning of his fatal crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

LADA TO RETURN TO WTCC

THE LADA Sport Team has confirmed plans to return to the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2012, in partnership with Russian car manufacturer AVTOVAZ. The last time LADA competed in the WTCC was in 2009, where it strove to a bestrace finish of sixth with Brit James Thompson at the wheel. The team currently plans to compete in two rounds of the 2012 series in the LADA Granta Sportcar, before contesting the series in full from 2013.

INTERNATIONAL INVASION

NEW ZEALAND'S Toyota Racing Series has a record number of 15 overseas drivers signed up (or 2012. including West Australian Jordan Oon. The series kicks off at Teretonga Park on January 14-15. with drivers from 13 different countries on the grid.

PADDON'S SUPER SKODA

HAYDEN PADDON is moving up to the competitive S2000 rally class in 2012 after winning the 2011 Production World Rally championship. The 24-year-old Kiwi will drive a Skoda Fabia run by Spanish team ASM Motorsport. "I am ecstatic about the move to Super 2000; it's a fantastic opportunity," Paddon said. "I was lucky enough to test the Skoda Fabia S2000 in Europe a couple of months ago, and it was an incredible car to drive."

TEMPLEMAN THIRD DRIFT WINNER

HIGH-PROFILE off-road and circuit racer Daynom Templeman has underlined the competitive nature of this season's Cody's D1NZ National Drifting Championship by beating three-time defending Champion Gaz Whiter (Nissan S14) at the third round in Taupo on December 16-17.

HINCHCLIFFE GETS GOING

LADA TO RETURN TO WTCC

INTERNATIONAL INVASION

PADDON'S SUPER SKODA

TEMPLEMAN THIRD DRIFT WINNER

Auto Action

Categories

Social Footprints