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Hazelwood Primed for Mustang Bathurst Double Duty
TODD Hazelwood is one of a handful of drivers set for double duty over the Easter long weekend, with the reigning Trico Trans Am Series Champion also slated for a high-flying start in the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour.
Hazelwood is riding a wave of confidence into the event, having recently registered a perfect weekend from the Trans Am season opener at Symmons Plains Raceway, where he picked up four race wins from pole position.
For the production car classic, the current Bathurst 1000 champion will line up alongside Jason Gomersall and Aaron Seton aboard a Gomersall Motorsport-prepared Ford Mustang Mach 1, a combination that proved quick last year.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to The Mountain behind the wheel of a pair of Mustangs,” said Hazelwood.
“I’ve known Jason for a very long time, he backed me through Super2 and with Matt Stone Racing, and I’m good mates with Aaron.
“It will be great to have Glenn (Seton) behind the scenes masterminding the operation and looking after the engineering and the strategy side of things.
“That is going to be a big challenge with 72 cars out on track – you’re really going to have to be on top of things.
“The Gomersall Motorsport guys did very well last year, winning the class and finishing fifth outright. Obviously, we’ll be out for a class win again, and hopefully be a chance for an overall podium.”
While Hazelwood will be behind the wheel of Mustangs for both the 6 Hour and the two Trans Am encounters, the pair of Pony cars are technically worlds apart.
“Swapping from left-hand drive to right-hand drive will be a challenge; I’ve never done that on the same weekend before, but the best drivers have the adaptability to make it work,” said Hazelwood.
“Fortunately, the schedule is such that there is enough time between the two categories to make it all happen.
“On the Trans Am side, it’s certainly going to be busy, with TFH Racing running an extra car for Diesel (Thomas), so we will have a total of seven cars in the fleet.
“Hopefully, we can keep the good times rolling on from Tassie.
“Last year at Bathurst, I qualified second, and starting on the outside, I got shuffled back at the first corner in the race starts.
“If we can qualify well, that will help keep us at the front, which will be important with 40-plus cars in the field – it’s going to be hectic!”
Also lining up for double-duty over the Easter long weekend will be Graham Cheney and Paul Hadley, who will be joined by Tyler Cheney in another Class A2, Extreme Performance Naturally Aspirated Ford Mustang Mach 1.
A fourth driver is set to back up from the Trans Am races for the 6 Hour, with Hayden Jackson slated to share a Maisie Place Motorsport Mazda RX8 with Grant Bray and Matthew Totani.
The quartet are primed to receive ample track time over the weekend, with the Trico Trans Am Series set to enjoy 30 minutes of practice, 15 minutes of qualifying, split over two groups, and a pair of 45-minute-long races.
Meanwhile, the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour is scheduled for lights out at 11:15am on Easter Sunday.