Front-running national series race team, CGR Performance has confirmed reigning Virgin Australia Supercars Pirtek Enduro Cup Champion Steve Owen as the final piece of the puzzle in their driver line-up for the 2018 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour.
Owen, who won the mini-series encompassing the Sandown 500, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 600 with Chaz Mostert last year, will team up with experienced endurance racer Danny Stutterd in the CXC Global/Hi-Tec Oils Mitsubishi Evo IX, joining the Dylan Thomas/Tim Slade combination already confirmed in the team’s Evo X.
For Owen, the event marks a return to Mount Panorama aboard a type of car in which he has already achieved success – he was a two-time Bathurst 12 Hour polesitter in an Evo IX in 2009 and ’10.
“I really enjoyed my time in the Evo during the production car era of the 12 Hour, so I can’t wait to head back there for the 6 Hour,” Owen said.
“I haven’t raced in the 6 Hour since it started two years ago, but I’ve been following it closely and I’m thankful to CGR Performance for giving me the opportunity to race in it.
“It’s a genuine grass-roots endurance race, and because the cars are production-based, they will have strengths and weaknesses in different parts of the track, which will make it an interesting race.”
“I’m looking forward to joining the CGR Performance team and teaming up with Steve – he’s a driver with a lot of experience at Bathurst in different types of cars, so it will be great learning experience,” Stutterd added.
“One of my mates Roger Lago has raced with him all over the world, and speaks very highly of him.”
CGR Performance team owner Dylan Thomas said Owen completes a very strong driver roster across the two cars.
“Probably the strongest aspect of our drivers is that all of us have recent miles at Mount Panorama, because we all competed in the Bathurst 12 Hour in February,” Thomas said.
“Steve is highly-regarded as a very versatile driver; his record shows he can slot into any sort of race car and be fast straight away.
“Tim Slade slotted into the team very comfortably last year and unfortunately our car retired from the race before he had a drive, so we’re both motivated to make up for that this time around.”
The confirmation of CGR Performance’s driver line-up follows last week’s announcement that Hi-Tec Oils – naming rights sponsor of the Bathurst 6 Hour – has joined the team as a major partner.
As part of the arrangement, Hi-Tec Oils is the official lubricant supplier for the CGR Performance workshop on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, while also enjoying a prominent presence on the team’s Mitsubishi Evo, Toyota 86 and Formula Vee race cars.
The 2018 Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour will feature live streaming and live TV coverage on Fox Sports on Sunday, 1 April.
Bathurst 6 Hour – Event Schedule
Friday, 30 March
8:35 – Practice 1 (60 min)
13:40 – Practice 2 (60 min)
Saturday, 31 March
8:20 – Practice 3 (60 min)
14:25 – Slower 50 % Qualifying (30 min)
15:00 – Faster 50% Qualifying (30 min)
Sunday, 1 April
11:30 – Bathurst 6 Hour (360 min)