INTERNATIONALS ROSSI AND HINCHCLIFFE TO TACKLE THE BATHURST 1000
[MELBOURNE,
AUSTRALIA] Walkinshaw Andretti United, in
collaboration with Andretti Autosport and United Autosports, has today
announced a wildcard entry into the 2019 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, on
October 10-13.
The entry will be piloted by fulltime NTT IndyCar Series drivers
Alexander Rossi and James Hinchcliffe.
A naming rights partner of the entry is yet to be announced, as the
Team looks to align with a high profile
brand for the biggest day in Australian motorsport. Importantly, both William
Sandbrook and Virgin Australia have thrown their support behind the program.
William Sandbrook, Chairman and CEO of U.S. Concrete will personally support
the entry of the car, which will be used to promote U.S. Concrete’s international
products, WheresMyConcrete and Polaris Materials’ Orca High Performance
Concrete Aggregates.
Virgin Australia will not only ensure the drivers and international crew make
it to Bathurst and back, but they will also use the Wildcard to help promote
their Australia to Los Angeles flights.
In a complete collaboration between all facets of
Walkinshaw Andretti United, engineering and mechanical staff for the entry will
be sourced from Walkinshaw Andretti United staff locally, as well as Andretti
Autosport and United Autosports employees, who will also make the trek to
Australia for the Great Race.
The Holden ZB Commodore entry will run under No. 27, which, historically has
been an Andretti Autosport number with a successful history. Rossi currently
uses the No. 27 in the IndyCar Series, Hinchcliffe also ran it during his time
with the team, while it is also seen on Andretti Autosport’s Indy Lights and
Formula E entries.
It will form the third car out of the Walkinshaw Andretti United stable,
alongside both Mobil 1™ MEGA Racing entries
of Scott Pye and Warren Luff, as well as James Courtney and Jack Perkins.
Rossi, 27, hails from Nevada City, California,
and currently drives the No. 27 NAPA AUTO PARTS backed Andretti Autosport Indy
car. It was recently announced that he will continue to call Andretti Autosport
home, after extending his tenure on a multi-year extension with the Team
alongside long-time
partners NAPA AUTO PARTS and AutoNation.
He began his motorsport career in the
United States before moving to Europe as a teenager to pursue a career in
Formula 1. Successful GP2, GP3 and Formula BMW Campaigns led him to five
Formula 1 starts for Marussia between 2014 and 2015.
After returning back to America in 2016, Rossi sensationally won the 2016
Indianapolis 500 for Andretti Autosport on debut, and was later named the
series’ 2016 Rookie of the Year.
Since then, he has added a further six wins to his IndyCar résumé, and currently sits
second in the 2019 IndyCar Championship.
Hinchcliffe, 32, who was born in Ontario, Canada, currently drives the No. 5 IndyCar
entry for Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.
Like Rossi, he worked his way up through the open-wheel ranks through
categories like Formula BMW and the Star Mazda Series, represented Canada in
the A1 Grand Prix in 2006 and 2007, before graduating from Indy Lights into the
IndyCar series in 2011.
He spent three seasons with Andretti Autosport between 2012 – 2014, which
included his first IndyCar win at St. Petersburg. To date, his IndyCar career
has yielded six wins.
The 2019 Bathurst 1000 won’t be Hinchcliffe’s first experience
behind the wheel of a Supercar however, having raced for Gary Rogers Motorsport at the 2012 Gold Coast
600.
For Rossi, it will be the first time he gets behind of the wheel of
a Supercar, however, he has a brief history in sportscars, having raced the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013,
the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2014, while more recently running the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12
Hours of Sebring in 2019.
Before they tackle Bathurst, the drivers will have three-day test at
Winton Raceway on October 1-3, a chance for them to become accustom to the 650hp
beast.
ALEXANDER ROSSI – DRIVER NO. 27
“It’s 100 per cent a bucket list item. It’s in one of
those six big races alongside the likes of the Indy 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Bathurst is right up there, so to be able to have this opportunity to do it
with Walkinshaw Andretti United and still be close to home with the Andretti
Autosport connection is very cool and I can’t wait to get started.
“It’s going to be a steep learning curve and I’m very aware of that. I’ve got a
few friends who are Supercars drivers, so I know how talented the competition
is, and how challenging this specific racetrack is, but at the same time it’s a
really exciting challenge and something that has been on my target list for a
long time, we’re going to go out and do the best we can.
“The team is excellent, there are guys who
are going over who I know from the IndyCar program, so with all of that in
place and having a great team mate to learn off, and other local guys as well,
it’s going to be the best possible recipe to have a successful event.
“As much as we are going to try and put our best foot forward, it’s important
for us to enjoy the experience as well, because it’s certainly a once in a
lifetime opportunity.”
JAMES HINCHCLIFFE – DRIVER NO. 27
“Bathurst is one of those bucket list things. As drivers we look back at the
era of guys like Mario (Andretti) jumping in a different car every weekend, the
nature of the sport now is quite different and it’s not quite as easy to do
that. When these opportunities come up you want to jump at them and really grab
a hold of them.”
“The Gold Coast race some years ago was a
huge blast and a bucket list thing to, but for Supercars the Bathurst 1000 is
their Indy 500, it is their 24 Hours of Le Mans, it’s their hallmark event so
to get to add that one to the résumé is very special.
“For sure it’s a big ask, we are neophytes to the car, to the track, to
everything involved, but I think we are both competitive and Alex is an
immensely talented guy, a very driven guy, and together we can push ourselves
and the team and hopefully not make ourselves look too silly.
“It’s obviously nice to have a familiar
element in the whole thing, there is going to be a lot new to us, and there is
going to be a lot of unknowns, but knowing there is a great team like
Walkinshaw Andretti United, and knowing there is that tieback to Andretti
Autosport with whom I had a very successful stint in IndyCar, it does make it a
little bit easier, and makes it feel a bit more natural to jump into a new
situation.”
MICHAEL ANDRETTI – DIRECTOR, WALKINSHAW
ANDRETTI UNITED
“Running a wildcard entry for the Bathurst 1000 has been a goal for us since
the formation of Walkinshaw Andretti United, and I’m really looking forward to
bringing some of Andretti Autosport to The Mountain.
“We have great talents both within Andretti Autosport and within the IndyCar
Series. Alexander and James are both great fits within our team and will be
natural teammates. I have no doubt that they will adapt quickly. It’s great to
be able to bring this program to life and provide this opportunity for everyone
involved.
“This effort wouldn’t have been possible without Bill Sandbrook and the support
of Sean Seamer and the Supercars organization. I’m looking forward to boarding
that Virgin Australia flight in LA and seeing everyone in Bathurst!”
RYAN WALKINSHAW – DIRECTOR, WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED
“It’s fantastic to bring this program to life, and to strengthen our
relationship with our partners.
“I can’t wait to see both Alexander and James behind the wheel of a Supercar.
It’s not only a big deal for our team, but the sport as a whole.
“To further enhance those links between us, Andretti Autosport and United
Autosports, not only on the driving front, but with staff who can add to their
experience is a really fulfilling thing. It shows the strength and connection
between our organisations.
“This program would not be possible without the support of Sean Seamer and the
entire Supercars organisation. We must also thank Bill and U.S. Concrete, as
well as Virgin Australia for their support in making this happen.
“Keep an eye out for them up there, they will be ones to watch.”
ZAK BROWN – DIRECTOR, WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED
“It’s great to finally bring the wildcard to life. We’ve spoken about it for a
while now, so I’m really excited to see it in motion, and what a place to be
able to make it happen.
“To have two drivers of Alexander and James’ calibre behind the wheel is
fantastic, but also, to have some of our guys from United Autosports there at
one of the biggest races in the world is extremely exciting.
“Bring on The Mountain, I can’t wait to get there!”
SEAN
SEAMER – CEO, SUPERCARS
“It’s great to have these celebrated international
stars race with us at Mount Panorama.
“Over the years, some of the world’s best drivers have tackled the 1000 and we
look forward to welcoming both Alexander and James at this year’s event.”
