LIKE all those who will compete in Sunday’s Bathurst 1000 Todd Hazelwood would love to see his name on the Peter Brock Trophy, but he has set himself a more realistic goal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Given Hazelwood will be starting the Great Race for just the second time in his career and both his co-driver Bryce Fullwood and his Matt Stone Racing team has never before contested the Bathurst 1000, he knows a podium is unlikely.
While Hazelwood, who currently sits 26th in the championship, and his team will still be pushing hard at Mount Panorama, he just wants to stay on the lead lap.
Given there are 161 of them to complete, it will be a challenge.
READ MORE: Heimgartner will give his all at the Mount
READ MORE: Triple Eight is not resting on its laurels
Keep up to date with the latest sports news by clicking here
“It’s very hard to set expectations for Bathurst being a 1000 kay race, lots of variables being 161 laps and two drivers, so it’s definitely one of those races that if it can happen, it will happen,” Hazelwood said.
“You definitely need a little bit of luck on those days to get a good result. For us, if we can just stay on the lead lap and be in the race in those last 30 laps - that’s essentially what we’ll be trying to achieve.
“If we can get to that point I think we can have a strong result.”
On debut last year, Hazelwood and lead driver Tim Blanchard completed 160 laps as they finished in 11th.
It was an experience that he will draw on this year.
“It’s one of those races where I’ve done it before and I learned a hell of a lot last year about the 1000 doing it with Tim Blanchard and Team CoolDrive. So I’ll be trying to use that knowledge as much as I can,” he said.
“Just the simple things like when you are doing a driver change during the race, it’s very unique compared to what we normally do, so to get all those little variables out of the way last year and use that knowledge this year, hopefully that will help us out.
“Adding to that, having young Bryce Fullwood, it’s his first Bathurst 1000, so I’ll be trying to help him out as much as I can. Hopefully we can move forward during the weekend.
“With strategy playing such a key part in the Bathurst 1000 we can really roll the dice and try and improve that position we are in.”
