Stokell, Ritter win prized DJR seats
18/7/2001 22:50 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
Dick Johnson will put his mountain-ready machines in the hands of Sportscar racer Paul Stokell and Formula Ford champ Greg Ritter, it was announced tonight.
The surprise duo joins Shell Series campaigners Steven Johnson and Paul Radisich in the DJR endurance squad for next month’s VIP Petfoods Queensland 500 and October’s Bathurst 1000. Driver pairings have not been announced.
"Both Paul and Greg have been on our driver list for a quite some time but we’ve only really had the opportunity to test them quite recently," Johnson Snr. explained.
"Driver selection for the long distance events is always difficult because you want to have competitive speed, but they’ve got to be people who fit in comfortably with the existing team.
"I’m pleased to say that both have tested extremely well and there’s no egos about them, they are a comfortable fit and give us the flexibility to make a final decision on driver pairings later."
32-year-old Stokell, a three-time Australian Drivers Champion, is the pacesetter in this year’s Nation’s Cup series aboard his Lamborghini Diablo. While he’s driven for Wayne Gardner and Steven Ellery in the endurance events previously, the Johnson call-up was met with excitement.
"Bathurst is the motor racing Grand Final and to go there with one of the country’s very best teams is a great opportunity," he said.
"I am being given lots of miles to get a handle on the car and settle in, and I am sure Greg and I can run competitively in whatever combination the team use us."
1999 Formula Ford champion, Ritter, 28, will make his debut in a Falcon after racing for Garry Rogers in the endurance races previously (and for Mike Imrie at this year’s Clipsal 500).
"Dick has been a great supporter for a couple of years now, and I must thank him for this opportunity," Ritter said.
"Although I’ve been driving V8 Supercars recently, the cars at the front of the field are another thing again and I’m thoroughly enjoying every drive in the Shell Falcon. I can’t wait to go racing."
Both men will again test with the team prior to the Queensland 500.
“Fortunately we have three cars, so every time we go testing we can give them a car to themselves to clock up the miles,” Johnson said.
"I am very confident we will go to Bathurst and be the pace-setters again, for the third year in a row."
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