Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) today made the exciting announcementof their 2012 Season of Endurance and Gold Coast co-drivers.
Drawing from both Australasian and international driver talentpools, the team is excited about the skills and experience these drivers willbring to the four-car team throughout October.
Pairing up with Steve Johnson in the Jim Beambacked car #17 will be Allan Simonsen for the Supercheap AutoBathurst 1000 and the Sandown 500 and Max Papis for the AmorAllGold Coast 600. Simonsen has been a constant competitor in the V8Supercars series in recent years, having completed his first Bathurst 1000 backin 2003 and 7 times since. In 2011, Simonsen scored his first podium atthe Great Race.
Max Papis,also known as ‘Mad Max’, has a career that spans NASCAR, A1GP, Le Mans andFormula 1. He has also earned numerous victories and championships racingin the CART and Grand-Am Series. Frequently appearing in the high profile Indy500, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona, Papis will race in theInternational V8 Supercars for the first time in 2012 with Dick Johnson Racingat the Gold Coast.
Dean Fiore will bejoined in his #12 Jim Beam Racing Falcon by V8 Supercar stalwart, Matt Hallidayfor the Bathurst and Sandown races and Gianni Morbidelli onceagain for the Gold Coast event. Morbidelli has over 30 years motorsport experience including 70 Formula 1 starts. Matt Hallidaywill again join Jim Beam Racing and complete his 8th Bathurst.
Team Norton DJR car #18 pilot, James Moffat, willrace with former DJR endurance driver, Alex Davison, for theendurance races and the experienced racer, Peter Kox, for theGold Coast. Davison, previously drove for DJR back in 2006 and2007 when he scored two top 10 finishes at Bathurst.
Peter Kox, aninternational motor sport professional with over 30 years experience, joins theteam during a busy year for the Dutchman. Kox will drive in theFIA GT World Championship, the ADAC GT Masters and Blancpain Series (a previouswinner of the latter two). Kox will also undertake development work forSaReNi / Reiter Engineering’s Camaro GT3.
Steve Owen, willagain be joined in the #49 V.I.P. Petfoods car for the endurance races by DJRTeam Strategist, Paul Morris, this time in their new DJR preparedFord Falcon. The pair came 9th in the 2011 race. His internationalco-driver for the Gold Coast race will once again be the experienced AmericanNASCAR and Le Mans racer, Boris Said. The pair claimed a top 10finish in the second race of the 2011 event.
Dick Johnson,Owner and Team Principal, Dick Johnson Racing commented, “This year we neededto source eight co-drivers to team up with our regular season drivers. Wewere pleased that many of the internationally acclaimed drivers agreed to come backand race with us again.
“With a team the size ours, it was important wefound drivers who were of an exceptional standard but who also fitted with ourteam dynamic. They need to hit the ground running and fit in quickly inOctober and the group we have found, we believe, due to their experience andprofessionalism, will be excellent additions to the DJR team,” Johnsonadded.
Drawing from both Australasian and international driver talentpools, the team is excited about the skills and experience these drivers willbring to the four-car team throughout October.
Pairing up with Steve Johnson in the Jim Beambacked car #17 will be Allan Simonsen for the Supercheap AutoBathurst 1000 and the Sandown 500 and Max Papis for the AmorAllGold Coast 600. Simonsen has been a constant competitor in the V8Supercars series in recent years, having completed his first Bathurst 1000 backin 2003 and 7 times since. In 2011, Simonsen scored his first podium atthe Great Race.
Max Papis,also known as ‘Mad Max’, has a career that spans NASCAR, A1GP, Le Mans andFormula 1. He has also earned numerous victories and championships racingin the CART and Grand-Am Series. Frequently appearing in the high profile Indy500, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Rolex 24 at Daytona, Papis will race in theInternational V8 Supercars for the first time in 2012 with Dick Johnson Racingat the Gold Coast.
Dean Fiore will bejoined in his #12 Jim Beam Racing Falcon by V8 Supercar stalwart, Matt Hallidayfor the Bathurst and Sandown races and Gianni Morbidelli onceagain for the Gold Coast event. Morbidelli has over 30 years motorsport experience including 70 Formula 1 starts. Matt Hallidaywill again join Jim Beam Racing and complete his 8th Bathurst.
Team Norton DJR car #18 pilot, James Moffat, willrace with former DJR endurance driver, Alex Davison, for theendurance races and the experienced racer, Peter Kox, for theGold Coast. Davison, previously drove for DJR back in 2006 and2007 when he scored two top 10 finishes at Bathurst.
Peter Kox, aninternational motor sport professional with over 30 years experience, joins theteam during a busy year for the Dutchman. Kox will drive in theFIA GT World Championship, the ADAC GT Masters and Blancpain Series (a previouswinner of the latter two). Kox will also undertake development work forSaReNi / Reiter Engineering’s Camaro GT3.
Steve Owen, willagain be joined in the #49 V.I.P. Petfoods car for the endurance races by DJRTeam Strategist, Paul Morris, this time in their new DJR preparedFord Falcon. The pair came 9th in the 2011 race. His internationalco-driver for the Gold Coast race will once again be the experienced AmericanNASCAR and Le Mans racer, Boris Said. The pair claimed a top 10finish in the second race of the 2011 event.
Dick Johnson,Owner and Team Principal, Dick Johnson Racing commented, “This year we neededto source eight co-drivers to team up with our regular season drivers. Wewere pleased that many of the internationally acclaimed drivers agreed to come backand race with us again.
“With a team the size ours, it was important wefound drivers who were of an exceptional standard but who also fitted with ourteam dynamic. They need to hit the ground running and fit in quickly inOctober and the group we have found, we believe, due to their experience andprofessionalism, will be excellent additions to the DJR team,” Johnsonadded.