Craig Dontas has announced he will make a return at motorsport’s biggest Race, the Bathurst 1000 for Shannons Insurance in the V8 Utes Category.
Racing at the Townsville 400 earlier this year in the V8 Utes, Dontas produced a strong 3rd place overall result with two podium race finishes on his 2017 return.
Dontas undertook a test day last week to prepare the Ute, and believes the car setup is looking promising for the upcoming round.
“It was good to be back in the ute and we worked on a series of different scenarios after Townsville. We didn’t want to go into Bathurst under prepared - overall it was a really good session.”
Dontas will begin the weekend with two practice sessions & qualifying on Thursday, followed by a single race on Friday and two races on Saturday.
Dontas had a difficult run at Bathurst last year, after being taken out in race two, which saw him then start from the rear in the final race.
“We had a really good start to the season last year in the V8 Utes but Bathurst was where our season turned, we were taken out in one of the races, and once you get a DNF in this series you are out of the running. I am very excited to be having another crack at Bathurst as we definitely have some unfinished business!!”
As well as racing in the V8 Utes, Dontas will be busy performing demonstrations for the new SuperUte Category over the weekend. Debuting the new Triton on track along side the Ford Ranger.
“We are working really hard to launch the SuperUtes. This is the first time we will have them in full race trim and will be taking them out to the racing heartland of Mount Panorama. It will be good to get them out and show them off.”
The Bathurst 1000 will be held at Mount Panorama Circuit, in New South Wales from October 5-8.
