Gardiner to Co-Drive Foggy Commodore in V8st Enduros
Angus Fogg Racing has announced experienced Porsche GT3 and V8 Challenge Cup racer Hugh Gardiner as team mate to NZ V8
Champion Angus Fogg in the Hydraulink Holden Commodore at the forthcoming V8 SuperTourer endurance races.
Gardiner will co-drive at the Father’s Day 400 at Taupo over the weekend of September 1 and 2, then again at the
International 500 at Pukekohe on October 26-28 and finally at the series finale at Ruapuna over the weekend of November
24 and 25.
Fogg debuted in the V8 SuperTourer series at the final sprint round at Hampton Downs, but has spent plenty of time
fine-tuning the car after the initial rush to get on the Hampton Downs grid. Both will be testing the car extensively in
the lead up to Taupo.
Gardiner is no stranger to the SuperTourer machine, having tested the Prototype following his Saturday race win in the
V8 Challenge Cup at Hampton Downs. The 29 year old is looking forward to getting into the thick of the action at Taupo
with a field brimming with the country's leading motorsport names.
"No question, I am thrilled to join AFR as co-driver for the V8ST endurance series," explained Gardiner.
"Angus is a very talented driver and someone I have respected since I was young. He runs a very professional team and I
am confident we can do a good job together. It was a goal of mine to use the V8 Challenge Cup as a stepping stone into
an endurance ride. It is a good thing for V8ST to have a strong feeder series, similar to the DVS series in Australia,
and it has worked well for me.
"We are all optimistic of a good result in the Father's Day 400. Sure, we have some catching up to do as we haven't had
the miles in the car other teams have had but I am sure we can work together and end up with a good car come race-day
and that’s what it will be all about.
"I have driven the series car in a test at Hampton Downs at the last round and I was very impressed/ I have a lot of
Porsche Cup car experience and I found driving the SuperTourer came quite naturally to me, though it was certainly much
more impressive than a GT3.
Fogg - the current NZV8 champion - has an enormous fan base in New Zealand and the entire team is hoping they will come
to show their support for the team at Taupo. "That’s what we are hoping for," said Foggy. "This race weekend should be
one of the best motorsport spectacles this country has seen for a long time."
As well as principal sponsor Hydraulink, Foggy’s team is also supported by Property Tutors, Supercharge Batteries,
Porter Group, Moselle Panel & Paint, Segedins Auto Spares, iSign it, PPG and BOC.
ENDS
Racing Highlights - Hugh Gardiner
2003 Karting- Rotax Max Heavy New Zealand Champion
2005 Pukekohe 6 hour 2nd in class
2006 2nd North Island Formula Ford Championship
2006 Formula Ford- winner of the Morrie Smith memorial trophy
2007 Formula Ford Round winner manfield round National Championships
2008 2nd Ruapuna 3 hour race in Porsche Gt3
2008/09 Porsche 996 GT3 Cup Champion
2009/10 Porsche 996 GT3 Cup Champion
2012 Pole sitter and round winner V8 Challenge Cup