Darren Turner joins V8 Supercars' Surfers Paradise event
Sportscar ace Darren Turner will partner James Courtney in the HRT Holden line-up for V8 Supercars' Surfers Paradise event in October
Alongside Turner, the team also confirmed IndyCar's Ryan Briscoe and Peter Dumbreck, currently racing for JRM in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Turner partnered Courtney in last year's event, standing in for the late Dan Wheldon. The pair finished sixth in the second race.
Briscoe will return to partner Garth Tander, currently sixth in the championship, while Dumbreck will join with Russell Ingall.
Turner, twice a class winner at Le Mans, said he was eager to get another chance in V8s, having made his Gold Coast debut in last year's event.
"I'm excited about returning to Australia for the Armor All Gold Coast 600," he said.
"To have had a taste for the V8s has you just wanting to come back for more and I'm very happy that Walkinshaw Racing has again asked me to be part of their team. It's amongst the most professional racing organisations out there.
"The cars are tricky at first but you feel your way around and work out what makes them tick, then it's a whole heap of fun.
"There's something about concrete walls that tends to sharpen driving standards so there is no messing around in an event like this.
"It is good, honest, clean racing. Also to race in a beautiful and spectacular location like the Gold Coast, racing through the high-rise buildings, is just incredible.
"Last year was difficult for everyone," he added, "especially for James [Courtney] and the Holden Racing Team.
"They handled the situation extremely well, for me with professionalism, and for Dan's family with incredible compassion. I am sure Dan would have been proud of them all."
Nicolas Minassian, Stephane Sarrazin, James Hinchcliffe, Justin Wilson, Will Power and Simon Pagenaud are among the other international drivers to have signed up for this year's event.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments