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Ex-Dynamik Commodore to make Kumho Series start at Sandown
ANOTHER classic ex-V8 Supercar will join the Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series ranks when the series races at Sandown next week.
The Kumho Series will return to the Shannons SpeedSeries program across the September 8-10 weekend for the penultimate round of the 2023 series, with the GM ranks set to be bolstered at the Victorian circuit.
That comes in the form of Melbourne driver Andrew Cook, who will make his Kumho Series debut next week driving an ex-Team Dynamik VY Holden Commodore.
The car, TD002, was raced in the Supercars Championship in 2003 and 2004 by Simon Wills and Jason Richards, with the pair joining forces to tackle the Bathurst 1000 in 2003.
Wills was then joined by fellow Gold Star champion Paul Stokell at Bathurst the following year, the duo finishing 13th.
The car was also raced in Dynamik’s final season, in 2005, before being raced in what is now the Super2 Series and later the Kumho Series.
Cook demonstrated the car at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival earlier this year, bringing the car back to the state where it was built, while Sandown will represent his racing debut in the car.
“This is something I have always wanted to do and to finally have the opportunity to get out on track with these guys I think it’s a fantastic opportunity,” Cook said.
His own racing background should ably prepare him for the performance of the Commodore at Sandown.
“I have raced sports sedans from 2015 up until the beginning of Covid and came third in the over five-litre championship in 2016, driving a VS Commodore Cup Cur with a stroked 308 V8.
“I haven’t done any races in the Supercar, only track days, but I have been training in the gym for the last three months to try and get the most out of my driving.”
The Victorian is drawing on the support of several experienced hands to assist in his Kumho Series debut, including a former racer of a similar car.
“I have a fantastic crew,” he said.
“Marcus Zukanovic is a good friend and is helping mentor me with my driving, together with my engineer Andrew Masiey, who has been around for many years in the main game and has me focused of the job at hand.
“Hopefully I can improve on my times over the weekend and that’s all I can ask – I certainly won’t be at the pointy end of the grid, but I really want to enjoy the experience.”
Jude Bargwanna leads Jamie Tilley in the series by 47 points, with Pollicina in third and the super consistent Tony Auddino in fourth.
Following his spectacular race win in Queensland, Ray Hislop is fifth in the series heading to Sandown.
The weekend’s Shannons SpeedSeries round will be broadcast live, ad-break free and on-demand on Stan Sport, with free-to-air coverage on Saturday on the Nine Network.
Tickets can be purchased online via motorsporttickets.com.au