Snapshot
The final event of the PIRTEK Endurance Cup is about to hit the streets of the Gold Coast and the Holden Racing Team’s pairing of Garth Tander and Warren Luff currently sit 2nd with a chance of taking out the title.

In other big news, HRT has announced that James Courtney will be back in the driver’s seat, teaming up with Jack Perkins in the #22 Commodore. This is his first event since suffering major injuries caused by flying debris whipped up by a helicopter demonstration at Sydney Motorsport Park in August.

The Gold Coast track is a 2.96km street circuit where one tiny mistake can mean a costly date with the concrete wall. Garth Tander has proven his ability here clocking up the most number of race wins by any driver with seven in total.

Prior to 2002 V8 Supercar races at the Gold Coast were non-championship rounds and the category was a support event to the Indy Car Championship series. The high speed circuit that was shortened by 1.5kms in 2010 and has since been a standalone event for the V8 Supercars Championship.

Words of Wisdom

Garth Tander, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“Obviously I’m happy to be sitting 2nd in the Enduro Cup. It shows our consistency from Sandown with a 4th then Bathurst with a 3rd. The Gold Coast still has the potential to mix it up, so we are looking to try and have a strong weekend, win a couple of surf boards and take out the Enduro Cup as well.”

“The Gold Coast circuit is very different of any of the circuits we have been to this year, and you really do have to attack this track. You need a car where you can jump over the kerbs through the first chicane and the back beach chicane. You need a car that changes direction very well and you need a car that you are confident on the brakes with so you can carry plenty of speed into those chicane.”

“I enjoy the commitment required to go fast at the Gold Coast, particularly the commitment you need through the first chicane because the wall is very close to the exit and if you get it wrong there are big consequences. On the flip side, what I dislike about this track is it very easy to make a mistake and a very small mistake can be costly.”

“I think I have done well here in the past because that attacking style you need is very similar to my driving style and our cars have traditionally been very good here. We have had a lot of success and I enjoy the event. Also it’s the start of summer so effectively and you are driving with a smile on your face.”

Warren Luff, #2 Holden Commodore VF:
“Garth and I are currently sitting 2nd in the Enduro Cup which is a really exciting thing. Heading into the Gold Coast event there are still a lot of points up for grabs and Garth and I would love nothing more than to bring the Enduro Cup back to the Holden Racing Team. I’ve won it before a couple of years ago and it was a great honour and a great privilege.”

“Last year we had a really fast car and luck didn’t go our way on Saturday or Sunday, but I think we are definitely in with a chance this year and I think qualifying will be the key. The nature of the Gold Coast track is its very tight, it’s very hard to pass on and it’s also a very unforgiving circuit. Like in many of the long races, staying out of trouble will be a big factor. We’ve seen it so many times on the Gold Coast people getting involved in other people’s accidents.”

“It’s certainly going to be a challenging weekend but one that Garth and I are up for. In terms of the circuit I really enjoy it, I really enjoy all of the street circuits we get to race on here in Australia, but I think the Gold Coast is one of my favourites because it is such a challenging circuit.”

“The event is great, the atmosphere and the way the whole town gets behind it. For me it’s a home event, it’s a lot of fun and it’s nice at night to go home and sleep in your own bed which is a massive bonus.”

James Courtney, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“The Gold Coast is definitely one our marquee events and the elusive first place surf board is something that I haven’t got yet which has been annoying for me. I’ve been in the lead of the race numerous times but I haven’t been able to achieve my ultimate goal of winning there. Being my local race it’s an important race for me.”

“I love street circuits and I love all those types of races. We had a great start to the year at Clipsal on the streets of Adelaide. I think we are in really good shape with the car speed we have shown of late and I think the longer the race goes the more speed we tend to find.”

“It will be great to get back in the car and to finally do a race meeting with Jack. We set out at the start of the year with big plans to take down this Enduro Cup but unfortunately through no fault of our own we haven’t been able to race together. So I am really looking forward to partnering up with Jack, being back with all the boys and getting a good result at the Gold Coast.”

Jack Perkins, #22 Holden Commodore VF:
“It's great to finally be paired with JC. That's who I signed up to drive with in the first place so it will be great to have him back in the car and I'll be able to settle into the co-driver role.”

“Our preparation as drivers is very similar, but the engineers will need to give us a car that can handle bumps and kerbs pf the street circuit. This year the races at the Gold Coast will be different because traditionally the championship has had soft tyres at this event and this year it’s predominately hards.”

“The track is a concrete lined street circuit that takes big commitment to be fast but margin for error is zero. The attrition rate during the races is high, as the tyre bundles and kerbs are very hard on suspension components.”

“The race itself is great. The atmosphere is fantastic and the weather is always superb. It's a cool event to be a part of it. The hardest thing is always the rules associated with kerb hopping. Hopefully this year there's a balance between kerb sensors and tyre bundles.”

“We won’t really be doing anything different in terms of car set up now that is it myself and James driving, and not Russell. Al, the engineer on 22 is still the same. The drivers give him feedback and he tunes the car accordingly. The benefit is that he and JC have worked together all year, whereas Al and I have only done 3 races now. So his relationship with JC means we will be able to get more out of the car and I'll get more out of having JC there.”