Motorsport: Co-drivers ready for stern test at Winton

Jason Richards. Photo / Supplied

The two endurance rounds of the V8 Supercar series are approaching with the first race at Phillip Island for the L&H 500 in mid-September followed soon after by Bathurst in early October.

Last year the rules for co-drivers changed and teams have been prohibited from pairing their regular drivers in the same car. Each co-driver now has to come from outside the V8 Supercar competition.

The drivers not in the main game, and who have been nominated by the various teams to partner their fulltime drivers, are getting their first hit out this weekend at Winton. This is the first of four chances over the next few months that Friday's practice can be used by those competing at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

As previously, teams can nominate an extra driver per car to take part in practice one and two. For teams who have a car in the top half of the championship at this stage, only a nominated endurance driver can drive their car in the first two practice sessions.

There are a number of Kiwis eager to get their hands on a V8 Supercar again this weekend, including Steve Richards, Jason Richards, who is recovering from cancer and no longer part of the main series, John McIntyre, Daniel Gaunt and Craig Baird.

Drive pairings will not be officially announced until much closer to the first endurance race.