Jack Daniel’s Racing out for Gold Coast redemption

GOLD COAST, Queensland, Australia – Jack Daniel’s Racing Zero Sugar Cola Nissan drivers Rick Kelly and David Russell will be looking to finish their V8 Supercars endurance race campaign on a high note, with a strong result at this weekend’s Castrol Gold Coast 600.

After registering a top-10 result at the Sandown 500, the pair endured a trying day at the Bathurst 1000 with a 16th place finish.

Kelly registered solid top-ten results on the Gold Coast in his first two attempts at the event aboard a Nissan in 2013 and ‘14, while he claimed victory in the concrete canyon back in 2006, his championship winning season.

Russell meanwhile will once again be supplementing his Jack Daniel’s Racing duties with his regular drive in the Porsche Carrera Cup, where he was a race winner at Bathurst, and on the Gold Coast 12 month ago.

The weekend schedule is set to feature four practice sessions on Friday, qualifying, a top-10 shootout and the first 300km race on Saturday, with the weekend rounded out by another qualifying ahead of Sunday’s 300km race.

JACK DANIEL'S RACING QUOTEBOARD

Rick Kelly - #15 Nissan Altima

“For us, we left Bathurst pretty disheartened and frustrated,” said Rick Kelly.

“We had reasonable pace, but probably not enough to drive to the front and win the event, but definitely enough to finish in the top half dozen cars.

“We left pretty frustrated, so I’m keen to get to the Gold Coast and get the result I think we have the potential to achieve.

“At the Gold Coast last year, we had a really good top-10 car, and now we have the potential to move forward from there.

“I just want to get there and get back up the front.

“Regardless of the end result at Bathurst, it was still a real pleasure to drive the car around that track; we certainly have come a long way with the setup and getting the car to grip up on most of the circuits we visit these days.

“The Gold Coast is a good challenging circuit from a driver’s point of view, and I also enjoy the longer races in the endurance format.

“There are two big long 300km races, and I can’t wait to get stuck into them.”

David Russell - #15 Nissan Altima

“I’m hungrier than ever at the moment to get a result, not only for Rick and myself, but also for Jack Daniel’s and Nissan Motorsport,” said David Russell.

“We have all the ingredients together to get a really good result up there. We just have to have a good roll out. Hopefully the car will be in a nice window, which I’m sure it will be.

“It will be great to be back on a soft tire. Both Rick and I had some good pace there last year. Hopefully we qualify reasonably well and push on in the race for a podium.

“To be there in the Porsche Carrera Cup as well means that it’s going to be a busy weekend for me.

“It’s good to get the extra track time there as well.

“I’m up at the pointy end of the championship for the Carrera Cup. There’s a lot at stake in that championship, and a lot at stake in the last round of the endurance cup as well.”

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