Motorsport: Baird to drive with Reynolds in endurance events

Craig Baird during warm-up prior to race 17 of the V8 Supercar Championship Series. Photo / Getty Images

Experienced kiwi racer Craig Baird will join David Reynolds in the Erebus Motorsport Penrite Racing Holden for the 2016 Pirtek Enduro Cup.

The multiple Australian Carrera Cup & NZ Porsche GT3 champion completes the Erebus Motorsport V8 endurance line up alongside the already announced pairing of Aaren Russell and Shae Davies driving the Erebus run Plus Fitness Racing Holden.

Baird is no stranger to the team pairing with Lee Holdsworth from 2012 (Stone Brothers Racing) to 2014 as well as partnering Scott Taylor in the Erebus Motorsport prepared Mercedes AMG GT3 in this year's Australian GT championship.

"It's great to be back for the Endurance rounds this year" says Baird. "I've been a part of the Erebus family since the beginning so it's nice to be in a team where you know the infrastructure, the owner and the team members already. The development of the car is going in a very positive direction and that showed with the speed Dave had in Winton."

Reynolds comments, "Craig will be a great fit and I'm really glad to have him on board. This will be the first time I've raced with Bairdo and not against him. We have been in the same team before but not the same car so I'm really looking forward to it."

When asked about their chances of a strong result Reynolds was very positive. "The way the car is coming along we can definitely fight up the front of the pack and Craig's shown he has the talent in Supercars coming 4th with Lee (Holdsworth) in the 2013 Enduro Cup. He's the kind of driver you can just plug in to the car and he will be solid and on the pace all day long which is perfect."

General Manager of Motorsport Barry Ryan is pleased to have Craig pair up with Reynolds for the 2016 endurance series. "Craig is a true professional, he gets along well with Dave and he already has a great relationship with Erebus through our GT program. He is driving a lot this year and his experience will compliment Dave and the team."

The Pirtek Enduro Cup begins in Melbourne with the Sandown 500 (16-19 September), before heading to Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000 (6-9 October) and finishing on the streets of Surfers Paradise at the Gold Coast 600 (21-23 October).