Besnard signs long-term at SBR
9/8/2000 19:10 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) - David Besnard’s stay at Stone Brothers Racing will be extended far beyond that which was originally thought, after the team snapped-up the young-gun for the year 2001 and beyond.
David Besnard (left) joins Tony Longhurst for the Bathurst enduros, and has signed a three-year
contract with Stone Brothers Racing.
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The Gold Coast-based brothers Stone today announced that the promising Besnard had signed a multi-year agreement with the team after his impressive debut in the V8 Lites Series at Lakeside last Sunday.
The team has given strong indications that Besnard would find an SBR seat for next year’s Shell Series, putting the futures of out-of-form SBR campaigners, Tony Longhurst and Craig Baird, in serious jeopardy.
Besnard was originally scheduled to contend this year’s endurance races alongside Tony Longhurst only (a move confirmed by SBR today), however the team sprung a surprise in announcing Besnard’s long-term future with the operation.
“It’s probably the worst kept secret that Dave (Besnard) will be partnering Tony during the upcoming endurance races, but it’s now officially confirmed,” team owner, Ross Stone, explained.
“(But) we have taken the next step and signed Dave up as a long-term driver for Stone Brothers,” he said.
Besnard – a former Australian Formula Ford champ and US FF2000 competitor – impressed many on the weekend with his fast times and aggressive driving style.
After claiming pole position at Lakeside ahead of championship heavyweights Dean Canto, Matthew White, Ryan McLeod and Wayne Wakefield, Besnard went on to win two of the three races and claim an emphatic round victory.
Besnard’s composure during heated battles between Dean Canto and Wayne Wakefield in the final race – despite coming under scrutiny by race officials – had the Queensland crowd in raptures, and Stone Brothers’ members quietly confident they had a major talent on their hands.
“He still has a lot of learning to do before he will be truly race ready, but I’m sure he will continue to impress us,” Ross Stone said.
Impressed, so much so, that Stone confirmed Besnard’s future with the team was secure for a number of years to come.
“It’s not confirmed which car David will be in next year, but neither Stone Brothers or Ford can afford to let talent like this slip through,” Stone said.
The announcement only strengthens persistent rumours that the team are less-than-happy with the performances of their current on-track squad, particularly that of Kiwi Craig Baird.
Baird will partner Simon Wills in the Pirtek Falcon for the Queensland 500 and Bathurst FAI 1000 later in the year, but beyond that his future is uncertain.
Besnard will continue to clock-up valuable race miles in the Caltex Havoline EL Falcon at the final Konica Lites round next month at Mallala, before joining the Supercar squad for the endurance events beginning at Queensland Raceway in September.
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