Brock will be competing in the Mt Buller Sprint, his second attempt at the Victorian high-country tarmac rally which is now set down for November 4-6, instead of its traditional January long weekend time slot.Â
The nine-time Bathurst 1000 winner will be driving the same 5.7-litre V8 Chev-powered Daytona Coupe he took to second outright in the inaugural Lake Mountain Sprint in May. The limited production Daytona is based on the 1965 Shelby Daytona that dominated the World Sports Car Championship.
The brainchild of Motec engine management system chief, Richard Bendell, it's powered by the same V8 Chev engine that powers Brock's more recent racer, the Monaro, but it's 450kg lighter.Â
"Mt Buller is such a great piece of road, a real driver's challenge, and it's a great event," Brock says. "I did it a few years ago and loved it and now I've got the chance to do it again, and I'm really looking forward to it - it should be a lot of fun in this car.Â
"Part of the appeal of this event is the fact you get to drive the same piece of road each time, so it's a bit like doing laps of Bathurst. You think 'next time I'll go in deeper' or do this or do that differently, and you put down a better time - but I don't know the road as well as Bathurst yet."Â
Brock is hoping for a dry weekend, saying the Daytona is extra quick on dry tarmac. There's also the fact that he is now more familiar with the car, after driving it at Lake Mountain and in Targa Tasmania this year.Â
"The car is so good to drive. It's quick and it's reliable and I think we would have to be a pretty good chance of winning - we'll certainly be giving it a go!"Â Brock will team up again with his newly-minted navigator, Melbourne-based motorcycling identity, Mick Hone.Â
"Mick's very first event as a co-driver was Targa and it was a bit of a challenge, and then we did Lake Mountain. He's learning fast and doing a great job - every event he's getting better.Â
"But apart from the navigation, he's a wonderful organiser. He does so much of the logistics in terms of me doing these events. His assistance is invaluable."Â
This will be the fourth time the Mt Buller Sprint has been contested. Alex Davison drove a Porsche 911 GT3 to beat Brock's Monaro in the inaugural 2004 event, while 'Gentleman' Jim Richards took victory in 2005 and in January this year.Â
The Mt Buller Sprint is a fully CAMS-sanctioned event for driver and co-driver (navigator). Competition stages are tarmac-only and pace notes are allowed. Competitors must have a CAMS national rally licence (or higher) and wear fireproof racesuits and helmets, while their vehicles must meet stringent safety guidelines, including rollcage, fire extinguisher and safety harnesses. Â
The event is made up of eight timed, closed-road, special stages up the 16km Mt Buller Tourist Road. There will also be a Prologue in the centre of Mt Buller Village to determine the starting order.Â
The event is open to modern (post January-1982) and classic (pre-December 1981) models, with a variety of classes and categories according to engine size and degree of modifications.Â
Anyone interested in entering is urged to read the event regulations and submit an entry form, both of which are available on links from the website, www.mtbullersprint.com, or contact event director, Peter Washington, on 0418 337 955
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