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30-09-2011 at 08:00: Jason Richards to Star with the Mountain’s Masters

Touring Car Masters organisers have confirmed that Australian motor sport icon and inspiration, Jason Richards, will join the series for next weekend’s Bathurst 1000 event, making the category undoubtedly the one to watch as 34 classics roar around the mountain.

With Richards a welcome addition to the most challenging field ever seen by the muscle car category, he will join iconic personalities including good friend John Bowe, reigning champion Jim Richards, series leader Andrew Miedecke and one of the greatest drivers to have not yet won at Mount Panorama, Glenn Seton to again take to the track the 35 year old knows so well.

The only difference, this time Richards will take on the illusive mountain in Tony Hunter’s classic 1971 Holden HQ Monaro that he’s never driven, in a category he’s not yet experienced, but to Richards, it’s music to his ears.

“It was tough to know I’d be watching the V8s this year rather than being in the car, but this opportunity to race with TCM will certainly ease the pain.

“As I think people have realised, I’m not too good at standing around, I like to keep busy and I love to race so to know I’ll be racing against all the legends of the sport is amazing – it’s going to be great going head to head.

“I’m not familiar with the HQ but I am with the track, so it will be somewhat of an unknown. My main motivation is for the enjoyment of the experience, but I think we’ll be competitive after Tony’s (Hunter) made a big effort to make sure that we are.

“I haven’t won at Bathurst with the V8s, we’ve been close so many times, so to win with TCM would be the ultimate this time out but I’m just so happy to be there and be participating.

“The older cars will make for a nice change, and I’ve been speaking with JB (John Bowe) who tells me these are very different, being unstable on the straight, meaning it’s going to be an exciting drive.”

Bowe who has raced for many years to his own successes has watched the career of Richards develop and the story of his illness unfold. A neighbour, great friend of Richards and one of the instigators of this outstanding experience, he explained,

“Jason is one of the most outstanding drivers I’ve ever raced against in my 35 years on the track. It’s such a thrill to see him drive a car.

“Jason is surely the bravest man I have ever met and we’ll be honoured to have him with us at a place as iconic as Bathurst.”

The Richards’ family will make the journey to Bathurst just as special as their time there, making the drive in a Sunliner motorhome also offered by Touring Car Masters board member and fellow competitor, Tony Hunter, who said,

“Not only will the motorhome provide for a family road trip and allow Richards’ children to be there and watch him race, it also means the family can stay at the circuit alongside his Brad Jones Racing teammates keeping him very much in touch with the Team BOC unit. Making that happen is the greatest of pleasures.”

With the refurbished HQ almost to ‘Jason spec’, additional information about the car that may in fact be the vehicle that takes Richards to the illusive top step at the mountain will be available soon.

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