16 November 2015 |

RITTER JOINS TCM GRID FOR PHILLIP ISLAND

THE ENZED TOURING CAR MASTERS debut of V8 Supercars regular Greg Ritter highlights a strong entry for this weekend’s season finale’ at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

The Rare Spares Phillip Island Tourist Trophy will see the 1999 Australian Formula Ford Champion make his TCM debut behind the wheel of Tony Hunter’s Sunliner RV Chevrolet Monza.

Ritter has vast experience in V8 Supercars competition and contested every Bathurst 1000 race between 2001 and 2014 – including nine consecutive starts with Garry Rogers Motorsport.

His TCM debut comes as the series looks to decide the ProMaster title this week with Australian racing legends Jim Richards and John Bowe split by just five points at the top of the standings.

“I’m looking forward to it. Tony was looking for someone to drive the car and we started talking and from there it didn’t take long to put a deal together†Ritter said.

“TCM looks like great fun. The cars are interesting and it’s got huge crowd appeal which is why this has come together.

“I’ve been talking to a sponsor for a while now with a view to going into Utes or Development Series but TCM seems to get as much if not more exposure as those at a more cost effective price.â€Â

Ritter said he was looking to use Phillip Island as a first step towards a potential long-term future in the category next season.

“Phillip Island is a toe in the water for us with a view to a full season next year†he said.

“I’d like to think I’d be competitive otherwise I wouldn’t do it. The goal would have to be a podium and I think that’s a realistic chance given what people have told me about the car.

“I won’t drive it until the Friday at Phillip Island but it should be good and we should be competitive.â€Â

Ritter’s addition to the grid ensures a strong finish to the season with 25 cars set to race across three races this weekend.

With 180 points up for grabs it’s also more than just Richards-versus-Bowe at for the ProMaster title.

Mark King (Third -96 points) Andrew Miedecke (-155) and Eddie Abelnica (-153) all remain in mathematical championship calculations ahead of the Phillip Island weekend.

Lubrimaxx Chevrolet Camaro driver Miedecke was a winner at Phillip Island last year while for Abelnica there’s home track advantage Phillip Island not too far from his Suburban Melbourne base.

Steven Johnson will return to the wheel of Mustang ‘Sally’ as will Bowe behind the wheel of the Bendigo Retro Muscle Cars Holden Torana SL/R 5000 that he’s raced so effectively this season.

Several newcomers will join the field – amongst them Toowoomba driver Royston Evans and his remarkable 1966 Pontiac GTO Trans Am entry.

The GTO is a genuine NASCAR Grand National racer and was built by US legend Bobby Allison for the 1966 season – racing in 34 of the 50 races.

Evans’ TransAm rival Brett Curran will also make his TCM Phillip Island debut driving a 1967 Ford Mustang TransAm – to be joined by local Group N racers Andy Clempson (’69 Ford Mustang) and Angelo Taranto (’68 Chevrolet Camaro).

The remainder of the field includes familiar faces like Porsche 911 IROC pilots Rohan Little and Sven Burchartz 16-year-old Tasmanian Adam Garwood in a Torana SL/R 5000 and the welcome planned return of Graham Alexander and his HT Monaro GTS.

Missing from the field will be the Thunder Road Racing Team Ford Mustang driven by Glenn Seton the team confirming via Facebook recently that they would be sitting out for this round in order to rebuild for the future.

The Rare Spares Phillip Island Tourist Trophy will include three races across the weekend – two on Saturday and one on Sunday prior to the V8 Supercars.

All of the races will be shown live on FOX Motorsports – Channel 506 on FOXTEL.

RARE SPARES PHILLIP ISLAND TOURIST TROPHY – ENTRY LIST

2	Shannons Insurance	Jim Richards	VIC	1972	AMC	Javelin	Grey/Green	5890
4	Skye Sands	Rusty French	VIC	1970	Ford	Mustang Fastback	Black	5800
7	Red Rock Winery	Rohan Little	VIC	1974	Porsche	911 IROC	Silver	3600
9	Jesus Racing	Andrew Fisher	NSW	1971	Ford	Falcon XY GTHO	Grey/Red	5800
10	Sunliner RV	Greg Ritter	VIC	1971	Chevrolet	Monza 2+2	White/Black	5800
11	Lion Mill Solutions/Ultra Performance Products	Tony Edwards	VIC	1973	Ford	Falcon XA GT	Violet	5768
12	Giraffe Civil Contracting	Adam Garwood	TAS	1974	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000	White	5047
17	PAYCE/Wilson Security	Steven Johnson	QLD	1969	Ford	Mustang Trans Am	Blue/Yellow	5800
18	Dunlop Super Dealers/ Wilson Security/ PAYCE	John Bowe	VIC	1974	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000	Blue/Yellow	5047
20	Storage King	Ian Palmer	QLD	1970	Pontiac	Trans-Am	White/Blue	5800
24	RPM Mechanical Repairs	Royston Evans	QLD	1966	Pontiac	GTO Trans Am	Black/Gold	6899
35	iseek RacingÂÂ	Jason Gomersall	QLD	1974	HoldenÂÂ	Torana SL/R 5000	White/Blue	5047
46	THD Motorsport	Leo Tobin	VIC	1972	HoldenÂÂ	HQ Monaro Coupe	Orange	5810
48	Melbourne’s Cheapest Cars	Eddie Abelnica	VIC	1974	Ford	Falcon XB Coupe	Red	5800
52	Angliss Meats	Brett Curran	QLD	1967	Ford	Shelby Fastback	White/Red	5800
56	Gabriel Shock Absorbers	Brett Youlden	VIC	1972	HoldenÂÂ	HQ Monaro Coupe	Green	5800
57	Corio Auto Parts	Graham Alexander	VIC	1968	HoldenÂÂ	HT Monaro	Orange	5819
60	Glennan Transport / Tilleys Racing Equipment	Cameron Tilley	NSW	1969	Valiant	Pacer	Blue	4390
74	Lyndways Builders	Wayne Mercer	VIC	1971	Ford	Falcon XY GTHO	Blue	5800
75	Quest Roofing	Andy Clempson	VIC	1969	Ford	Mustang TransAm	White	5800
81	Tarosa Stairs	Angelo Taranto	VIC	1968	Chevrolet	Camaro SS TransAm	Yellow	5800
85	Whiteline Transport Racing / King Springs	Mark King	QLD	1970	Chevrolet	Camaro RS	Red/Bla/White	5800
88	TIFS – Warehousing & Distribution	Tony Karanfilovski	NSW	1969	Ford	Mustang Trans Am	Orange	5800
90	Kalus Kenny Intelex	Sven Burchartz	VIC	1974	Porsche	911 IROC	Orange	3600
95	Whiteline Transport Racing / Lubrimaxx	Andrew Miedecke	NSW	1969	Chevrolet	Camaro SS	Black/Blue	5800