Two-plus many years have handed since Will Power final raced a production-based sports activities automobile in Australia’s Bathurst 24 Hour in 2003 in a Porsche 996.
The two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion mentioned he has appeared for the correct alternative to return to sports activities automobiles, and he discovered it in a spot he is aware of so effectively.
Yes, it’s truthful to say Power has some expertise – and success – at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is internet hosting the Indianapolis 8 Hour introduced by AWS this Saturday, Oct. 18. In addition to successful the 2018 Indianapolis 500 introduced by Gainbridge, Power has competed in 17 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile IMS street course, successful 5 races and 6 poles. He completed third on this 12 months’s Sonsio Grand Prix.
“I have been meaning to do, and wanting to do, some GT racing for some time,” he mentioned, noting his effort to compete within the Rolex 24 At Daytona in 2023 was referred to as off because of the sickness of his spouse, Liz. “It’s different, and I’ve wanted to feel it and see how I go. This is a good start at a track I know, and if I do a good job and if I like it, I’d like to do some more.”
Power is paired this week with fellow Australians Kenny Habul and Chaz Mostert within the 75 Express Mercedes-AMG within the Intercontinental GT Challenge occasion for GT3 sports activities automobiles. The automobile will compete within the Pro class of Saturday’s eight-hour race, with a inexperienced flag at 12:20 p.m.
Power isn’t certain how they may share the automobile, however he acquired an opportunity to take some laps in it Wednesday. Fellow NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver Conor Daly is also competing. Gates open at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Australian Power mentioned he needed to get permission to take part from Team Penske, which holds his rights via the top of the 12 months. In January, the driving force who ranks fourth in INDYCAR SERIES profession race wins (45) and first in profession poles (71) will formally be part of Kyle Kirkwood and 2022 “500” winner Marcus Ericsson at Andretti Global. Power will drive the No. 26 Honda in subsequent 12 months’s 17 races.
Power mentioned he has appeared ahead to racing with Habul, a longtime good friend whom he competed towards within the Queensland Formula Ford Championship within the late Nineties. In 2000, they shared a podium for a help race for the INDYCAR occasion at Surfers Paradise.
Power mentioned he has identified Mostert, an Australian Supercars star who drives for Walkinshaw Andretti United, over time, too, though not as effectively. This is identical crew, albeit with a distinct title, that he tried to race with within the Rolex 24.
In addition to being an IMS street course professional, Power is assured that the suggestions he has obtained from his teammates will assist him shortly reacclimate to this type of racing.
“There’s a reasonable amount of practice time, too, so I should be able to get some good laps in before the race,” he mentioned. “It’s not like qualifying issues so much in considered one of these (endurance) races, so it’s not about absolute velocity.
“I should be able to get a lot of time in the car in the race, and that’s enough time to figure it out. If I like it, I’ll do more of it in the future.”
Tickets and extra data for the Indianapolis 8 Hour might be found here.