The V8 Utes championship is on a knife edge heading into the conclusion of a season that has seen some of the closest racing to date.
A full field of twelve V8 Utes will do battle at the season decider over the weekend of May 18-19th at Hampton Downs, and there are four serious contenders for the title.
Top of the pile is Brad Kroef – the reigning champion and the most consistent performer all season. Kroef has pushed his P & I Pascoe-backed Ford Falcon FG ute to one pole, three wins and seven podiums putting him on top of the driver standings.
His cool, relaxed demeanour off-track is at odds with his killer instinct on-track that sees him clinically and relentlessly overtake his way to the front, outpacing even the more experienced drivers.
Just a few championship points behind in a similar Ford FG is his father, Greg Kroef – a standout performer who’s notched up one race win and five podiums. Clearly, crew chief Vince Gee – who has an uncanny ability to read the conditions and make the right calls – has been a contributing factor in the Kroefs’ success.
Enjoying his first full-time season and just a few points back is Alex Fougere driving the Ward Demolition championship-winning Holden VF ute. Fougere has managed two wins and five podiums, with only minor electrical issues preventing him from amassing even more points.
Also within striking distance of the title is Phill Ross, who’s thrashed the C & R Construction Holden ute to one race win, one round win and three podiums. Electrical issues were also a thorn in his side early in the season but with these gremlins now behind him. Expect a big showing from Ross in the final round.
After suffering a bruising shunt at Hampton Downs in March, Simon Ussher is back with a score to settle. His Ford FD has received cosmetic surgery in the form of a new bonnet, right front guard, bumper and radiator, so his ute is now looking sharp and ready to rumble.
In a season where qualifying times have often been separated by a mere two seconds from first to tenth, we can expect to see more super-close racing as the V8 Utes race alongside the Super V8s.
Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday morning, 18th May, with Race One that afternoon.
Sunday morning’s Race Two will be a reverse grid affair – a format that sees rampant overtaking, while Race Three, potentially the championship decider, will be mid-afternoon.
Header Image: Matt Smith
