Photo: DJR

DJR Drivers Prepare for Sandown

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Fresh from a productive test session at Queensland Raceway, Jim Beam Racing’s Will Davison and Steve Johnson are setting themselves for a fiery round of V8 Supercar racing at Sandown this weekend.
Having played host to one of two endurance events on the V8 calendar in recent years, Sandown Raceway will return to a sprint race format this weekend for the first time since 2002, a change that Davison predicts will definitely spice things up.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Davison has a real connection with Sandown Raceway, his uncle having run the circuit prior to this year and his Grandfather Lex Davison having passed away while racing at Sandown in 1965.

“Sandown is very much like a home circuit for me, I grew up in Melbourne and I absolutely love racing there; I’ve have always been right on the pace there,” explained Davison.

“I think certainly with the change to a sprint round format that it will spice things up, guys have gone there in endurance mode in recent years so I think we get to cut loose a little bit with three sprint races.”

Johnson believes the team will benefit a great deal from last week’s test session in the lead up to Sandown and is confident of returning his Jim Beam Falcon to the front end of the grid during the weekend’s three races, though he did enjoy the endurance event at Sandown.

“To have such a productive test day leading into a round keeps us in good shape, our previous test was before Adelaide and we were able to learn a fair bit last week,” said Johnson.

“I really enjoyed the Sandown 500 so it’s sad to see it disappear; I thought it was a great event and a great track to host an endurance event. “Having said that Sandown promotes really good racing and the Jim Beam Falcon’s tend to handle the circuit quite well so I am really looking forward to next weekend,” said Johnson.

Jim Beam Racing’s endurance co-drivers Warren Luff and Steve Owen also took part in the test session last week, and will take full advantage of the practice session open to endurance co-drivers at Sandown this weekend.

“Overall it was a great days testing, to have all the guys get into the car was very useful and Warren and Steve will make use of the practice session at Sandown as well, said Jim Beam Racing Sporting Director Adrian Burgess.

“Steve and Will both completed over 100 laps, and any time that Warren and Steve have in the car is great for their preparation later in the year.”