Dannemora local, Andre Heimgartner will race in this weekend’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 for Brad Jones Racing in the #14 Freightliner Australia Holden Commodore alongside Tim Slade.
The 22-year-old has been called up to replace injured steerer Ash Walsh, who was hoping to race this weekend but has been ruled out of driving due to the lasting effects of a prototype crash last Thursday (28 September).
Heimgartner was already on-track to compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia title, in which he is currently placed second (68 points adrift of David Wall).
The Melbourne-based Kiwi is an accomplished steerer, having raced previously with Super Black Racing and Lucas Dumbrell Racing in the Supercars Championship and recently receiving a call-up to compete in the Asian Le Man Series.
“Obviously no one wants to see a fellow driver hurt and unable to compete, and it is certainly unfortunate for Ash that he hasn’t been able to continue this weekend,” Heimgartner said.
“At the same time, I am very pleased that it was me that they called up to be on stand-by and ultimately take over the co-driving duties with Tim Slade this weekend. BJR is a great team and I am looking forward to working with Brad, Tim and all the crew who put in a mammoth effort overnight to get the Number 14 back in action after the damage incurred yesterday with Tim in the car.
“Any chance you have to race around here is a chance you do not turn down, and I am pretty excited to be lining up again for the 1000.
“As a co-driver my job is to get in and put in a solid performance and bring the car back straight, so that is what I will be focusing on this weekend.
“At the same time, I will be continuing to chase the Carrera Cup Australia points with qualifying and a race today, and a race each day on Saturday and Sunday – so things just got a lot busier! It is a great problem to have and I hope I can do a good job for BJR and also for Sonic this weekend.”
