David Russell has fought off inclement weather to finalise his preparations for next weekend’s Clipsal 500, where the racer will start his tilt at the 2015 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia title.
Russell took the reins of his new Finance Ezi Racing Porsche, driven by Maurie Pickering last season, for the first time yesterday at Queensland Raceway.
While Cyclone Marcia cut short Russell’s Queensland Raceway preparations, he suggested the rain won’t dampen his Clipsal 500 hopes.
“It all went really well in the Queensland Raceway test. It was the first time driving the car and it felt great; we did a few laps but we’re fighting off a cyclone up here so we were lucky to get some laps in at all,” said Russell.
The Queensland based racer has completed three full-time seasons of Carrera Cup Australia (2006-2008) with a best result of third in the 2008 standings. Russell then raced in the final two rounds of the 2014 season, highlighted by a race win at the Gold Coast season finale.
“It is fantastic to be back in the Carrera Cup championship and to be in a position to have a real tilt at the title with Finance Ezi Racing. It will be a lot different to making a couple of cameos like I did last season.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve contested a whole championship and even longer since I’ve contested a Carrera Cup championship. There’s going to be a very strong competition this year and I’m proud to be part of it.”