ShuRoo to help Nissan stay on track at Mount Panorama

MELBOURNE, Australia – The Bathurst 1000 motor race is regarded as one of the toughest motorsport events in the world – just ask former winner Todd Kelly.

The Jack Daniel’s Nissan driver has seen the highs and lows from Mount Panorama, from winning the race in 2005 to being eliminated after 20 laps when his car struck a kangaroo that invaded the famous circuit last year.

"The Great Race" is a hard enough to win – even when an Australian national icon isn’t trying to ruin your race.

To mark the one-year anniversary of Kelly’s kangaroo knock-out, ShuRoo has joined Nissan Motorsport for a one-off sponsorship deal.

Queensland-owned ShuRoo is a wildlife collision prevention device that delivers unique ultrasonic signals that only animals can hear, acting to avoid collisions by alerting wildlife of approaching vehicle.

ShuRoo branding will be seen in the center of the front bar on the #7 Nissan Altima for the Bathurst 1000.

It will be the second time that Kelly’s car has carried ShuRoo backing, having secured a deal at last year’s Gold Coast 600.

Kelly will be joined by Nissan global driver Alex Buncombe in the #7 Jack Daniel’s Nissan Altima V8.

Track action kicks off at Mount Panorama on October 9, the first of four action packed days that culminates in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 on Sunday, October 12.

For more information on ShuRoo: http://www.shuroo.com.au.

QUOTES:

Todd Kelly, #7 Jack Daniel’s Racing Nissan Altima

"Bathurst is a unique place where you get thrown weather and all sorts of circumstances that you might not get at other rounds," said Todd Kelly.

"Unfortunately, on lap 20 last year, we had a collision with a kangaroo and that was the end of our day.

"It did a bit of damage to the front of the car, but it pulled a critical suspension component out of the cross member which wasn’t able to be fixed in time.

"This year, we have ShuRoo on board for the big race and hopefully it doesn’t happen again!"

Bathurst Beckons for Jack Daniel's Racing

Jack Daniel's Racing is looking to capitalize on 12 months of development work on the team's Nissan Altimas, with the outfit primed for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

For the premiere event on the V8 Supercars calendar, two-time Bathurst 1000 champion Rick Kelly will be joined for the second time by experienced co-driver David Russell, while 2005 race winner Todd Kelly will be partnered by British ace Alex Buncombe.

Impressive on debut at Sandown, Buncombe has previous Mount Panorama experience this year, when he shared driving duties with Rick Kelly at the Bathurst 12 Hour aboard a Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3.

Russell meanwhile will get some extra mileage under his belt throughout race weekend, with a last minute deal struck to see him make a guest appearance in the Porsche Carrera Cup.

On track action commences on Thursday with a trio of practice sessions, before two further practices on Friday alongside a sole 40 minute long qualifying session.

Saturday features a sixth and final practice session and the traditional top-ten shootout, leaving Sunday with an early morning 20 minute long warm up, ahead of the 161 lap, 1000km long race.

TODD KELLY - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:

• This year is Todd Kelly's 17th Bathurst 1000 start
• It is also his seventh successive Bathurst appearance in Jack Daniel's colors
• Kelly won the race in 2005 - on his 26th birthday
• He also finished on the podium in 2001 and 2006, and won the Bathurst 24 Hour in 2003
• Kelly has finished 13 of his 16 starts in the Bathurst classic

RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:

• This year is Rick Kelly's 14th Bathurst 1000 start and sixth consecutive for Jack Daniel's Racing
• He was the youngest driver to win the race in 2003 - and went back-to-back in 2004 with Greg Murphy
• Other back-to-back winners of The Great Race include Bob Jane, Allan Moffat, Peter Brock, Jim Richards, Larry Perkins, Mark Skaife and Steven Richards.

DAVID RUSSELL - #7 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:

• This year is David Russell's sixth Bathurst appearance and second time co-driving with Rick Kelly, following on from 2012
• 2014 is his fourth successive year with Jack Daniel's Racing at Bathurst

ALEX BUNCOMBE - #15 Jack Daniel's Racing Nissan Altima:

• This year marks Alex Buncombe's Bathurst 1000 debut
• Alex started with Nissan in 2007 and has been used since 2008 as the "professional" driver alongside GT Academy winners
• This year he has been given the task of driving with Sir Chris Hoy (British cycling Olympic gold medallist) in the Blancpain GT Series

JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD

TODD KELLY - #7 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"I can't wait to get back to The Mountain, that's for sure," said Todd Kelly.

"We've got a pretty good ride lined up for the road trip this year, it looks pretty comfortable when compared to the rig we had last year!

"We should get there in good nick, and I can't wait to see how we will end up.

"There have been a few rounds that we've been to this year that we were expecting to be quite challenging for us, but we've actually gone a lot better than expected.

"So that's always a good gauge of not only car handling, but where we really sit with top line speed.

ALEX BUNCOMBE - #7 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"It's the biggest race of the year for these cars, and I can't wait to get there," said Alex Buncombe.

"I've been there earlier in the year for the Bathurst 12 Hour, I know the track pretty well now, although I didn't get to do a full stint in the race.

"I'm really looking forward to getting the V8 around there, and seeing what we can do.

"We made some improvements on the car at Sandown, let's hope we can take that forward and have an improved result."

RICK KELLY - #15 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"It's the big one, there's no doubt about it!" Said Rick Kelly.

"Bathurst is obviously Australia's most iconic motorsport event, and you always get a bit nervous when you head up there.

"You want to be as best prepared as you can, and we are still in the midst of some of the bigger development items on our cars.

"So we are heading up there obviously further progressed with the Nissan Altima compared to last time, so it's going to be a good yardstick to see how far we've come.

"Looking at the Sandown 500, comparing data from that track to last year and our performance there, you can really see how much we have improved.

"It's one of those events that you get to Sunday morning and it's the big one, but you're already a little bit sad because you know you have to wait another 12 months before you can come back there and do it again.

"We're preparing as best as we can, obviously preparation is a big part of that event, two drivers, 1,000 kilometres, by far the longest race we do on our racing calendar.

"It's about doing the hard yards in the workshop, and we believe we've done that, and this year should provide improved results compared to last year."

DAVID RUSSELL - #15 Jack Daniel's Nissan Altima

"For me it's very exciting to be joining up with Rick again, and to once again be a part of the Jack Daniel's Racing family," said David Russell.

"It's a great opportunity, and I can't wait to get to The Mountain.

"There's no doubt that the guys in the workshop have been working flat out over the past 12 months to get the Nissans up to the pointy end of the field.

"But that said, every other team out there is working their hardest as well.

"After Sandown I really thought we could have finished a few spots up; the timing of the safety car didn't help, and some lapped cars got in the way.

"You never know what can happen at Bathurst, the straights are pretty long and that will be a tall order, but I think we should have a pretty solid package.

"My job will be to keep the car nice and straight, and give it back to Rick so that he can have a good shot at the finish."

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