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YOUTH & EXPERIENCE COMBINE FOR OSBORNE
Osborne Motorsport will continue its tradition of fostering the next generation of motorsport talent by providing a seat for 16 year old Tyler Everingham in this year’s Australian Production Cars, starting at the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour this weekend.Everingham will be joined in driving the #31 Osborne Motorsport Renault Megane by 66 year old Bob Hughes – providing a perfect recipe of youth and experience for the entry.Everingham comes to Osborne Motorsport and the APC by way of karting and the CAMS Jayco Formula 4 Championship, with the Dubbo teenager who is managed by respected racing identity Cameron McConville to continue in Formula 4 this year as part of the Zagame Autosport outfit while undertaking his APC duties.”This entry is a classic case of youth and experience, but not at the same time,” laughed team owner Colin Osborne, a production car stalwart of more than 20 years who will also compete in the event in the #13 Osborne Motorsport Renault Megane with long-time co-driver Hadrian Morrall.”Fortunately, while they may be far apart in age, they are the same size so that makes it easy for us for car set-up!”When it comes to rounds two through six of the Australian Production Cars season we are not yet quite sure who will drive with Tyler – we are seeking expressions of interest and anyone who is interested is welcome to make contact through the APC management.”For the 16 year old apprentice electrician, his debut at Bathurst is one bringing plenty of nerves but also plenty of excitement. “From what I have seen and heard the Australian Production Cars is a great series – not only do you have a great mix of well-known drivers from all kinds of categories but you also have close racing across a range of different classes and skill levels,” Everingham said.”I am definitely fairly nervous, but this is a dream come true – any chance you have to race at Bathurst is a chance you take, and I am really happy to be able to race not only at the Mountain this weekend but at all the APC rounds in 2017 with Osborne Motorsport.”I am really looking forward to gaining a lot more seat time – at the moment I am limited in that regard as to the amount of time I can spend in the F4 and other cars, so that is going to be very important for my development.”Practice this weekend will be my very first time in the Osborne Motorsport Renault Megane and the race will be my first competitive outing in a tin top car – up until now I have been karting, racing open wheel, and undertaking a test day here and there in a Kumho car where I can, but I haven’t had the chance to race in a car before now.”I am very happy to be able to do this with such a professional and experienced team such as Osborne Motorsport who are well-known for their quality drivers and also their crew. It will be great to learn off them all as I come to grips with the car and all the different tracks across the year.”Osborne says the Australian Production Cars will play a vital role in Everingham’s development as a well-rounded driver as he seeks to move through the ranks.For Osborne, a key objective for the team’s nurturing of Everingham is to help him learn about endurance racing – the key formula of the APC.”Endurance racing is a very different beast to what he would be used to. To understand the dynamic of the pit crew and the role it plays in the tactics is something that will be foreign. You can’t engineer the race from the driver’s seat, you have a co-driver to work with, and tactics and strategy are key rather than just going hell for leather for 15 laps,” Osborne said.”It is a completely different mindset and it is our hope that we can help him develop that. It is about giving him exposure to a completely different discipline of motor racing and hopefully being able to let him experience and develop different skills and approaches he wouldn’t’ get in open wheeler or sprint racing.”The two Osborne Motorsport Renault Meganes will be part of a 66-car strong entry list for the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour.To be held across April 14-16, the event doubles as the first round of a six-event calendar for the 2017 Australian Production Cars season.