MEDIA RELEASE || Tuesday 10 August 2010

SHANE Van Gisbergen and Tim Slade, two of the youngest and most talented Ford drivers in V8 Supercar racing, will take the wheel of some blue-oval classics to entertain spectators at the Leyburn Sprints on the Darling Downs on 21-22 August.

The Stone Brothers Racing drivers will swap their regular FG Ford Falcon V8 Supercars for a 1971 Falcon GT HO and 1974 Ford Escort for demonstration runs on the one-kilometre round-the-houses track during the Sunday program. And they will share the cars with a Ford racing legend from another era, Dick Johnson.

While Johnson is making a popular annual return to the laid-back Sprints, it will be a first visit for SP Tools Racing's Van Gisbergen and Wilson Security Racing's Slade.

As well as taking to the track among more than 210 entrants, the pair will sign autographs for fans and be interviewed by the course announcers.

Leyburn Sprints President Ann Collins said Van Gisbergen and Slade would be a big attraction for younger motor racing fans.

"The V8 Supercars season is currently in winter recess, so the Sprints committee is extremely grateful that these two high-profile young drivers have given their time for the trip to Leyburn from their Gold Coast homes," Mrs Collins said.

"While Dick Johnson and his former teammate John French, also to be an official guest at Leyburn, are enduring legends of the sport I suspect many young people will relate more directly to Shane and Tim. Their appearance will be extremely popular."

Van Gisbergen, 20, has been one of the most impressive drivers of the 2010 V8 Supercars season, with three podium finishes confirming his superstar potential.

Signed recently by noted talent hunters Ross and Jim Stone to a further two-year contract, the quietly-spoken New Zealand youngster has impressed all with his blistering speed, particularly in wet and damp track conditions.

Slade, 25, has embarked on his second year as a full-time driver in the V8 Supercar Championship Series, heading the new Wilson Security Racing team for James Rosenberg under the Stone Brothers Racing umbrella.

The former South Australian stamped his mark as a man to watch back in 2006 by finishing runner-up in the Australian Formula Ford Championship.

He debuted in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series in 2007 and his second year in 2008 proved to be one of his best, delivering the Privateer's Cup for the best non-Level 1 affiliated team and driver in the Fujitsu Series.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION

Tickets: Adults $15 per day, $25 weekend; children under 14 free; on sale at gate
How to get there: Leyburn is 219 kms south-west of Brisbane, 75 kms south of Toowoomba and 36 kms from Clifton on the Darling Downs
Accommodation: Campsites available in Leyburn on first-come-first-served basis, $20 per site for Friday and Saturday; motels, hotels, etc available throughout the Southern Downs region
What's on: Racing both days from 8am; Saturday highlights 10am & 3pm vintage speedcar demonstrations, 12pm official opening, Show n' Shine and car clubs grand parade; Sunday highlights 12pm Show n' Shine and car clubs grand parade, 3.30pm trophy presentations

The Leyburn Sprints is benefiting from funding under the Queensland Events Regional Development Program (QERDP).

The QERDP is an investment program designed to extend the flow of economic and social benefits of events to regional Queensland.

A state-wide initiative, the program is committed to enhancing existing events in regional Queensland, as well as assisting in the establishment of new events.

Since the QERDP began in 2001, more than $15.3 million has been invested in 705 regional events, an indicator of the important role these events play in their communities and wider Queensland.

The Leyburn Sprints also has received support from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal.

For further media information and assistance:

Ann Collins
President
Mob. (0428) 959 101
Email