Former Fujitsu Series champion Andrew Jones will return to the category in Townsville.
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11:28 AM Wed 22 June, 2011
Source: BigPond Sport
FORMER Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series champion Andrew Jones will return to the category in Townsville.
The 2004 series champion, who will join Brad Jones Racing for its endurance race assault at Phillip Island and Bathurst later in the year, will join the Fujitsu field at the Sucrogen Townsville 400.
He will drive the #20 Commodore for the team in Townsville.
“We’re definitely doing Townsville and there’s a plan to also race at Queensland Raceway and potentially the rest of the year,” Jones told BigPond Sport today.
“I guess the situation is one where I get to get some miles before the enduros but that’s not the whole aim of competing.
“We’re fortunate enough to have a really good backer and hopefully it will continue further into something further through the year.
“Personally it’s a good time for me too. I want to get back in rather than be on the sidelines of racing and not doing any other than two races a year. Now’s a good time to get back in and get a bit more racing back in my life.
“The last few years I’ve been in good cars for the enduros and the miles are not the important bit because the cars are good and the results can come. The really important thing is that personally I want to do it and we think the Fujitsu Series is a terrific category.
“I lost some love for racing and I feel like the time is right to go back and get back out of racing what sometimes gets lost. It’s about enjoying it and going through the phases of practice, qualifying and the races and seeing what comes out of it.”
Jones will drive the team’s spare chassis – WR003 - which was used by Karl Reindler at Winton after the Western Australian’s firey accident at Barbagallo Raceway.
It is a known quantity to the former full-time V8 racer, having driven it as a Team BOC entry in the 2008 V8 Supercars Championship.
Jones raced full-time in the V8 Supercars Championship in 2005 for Garry Rogers Motorsport, in 2006 for Tasman Motorsport and in 2007 and 2008 for Team BOC.
He has taken part in the endurance co-driver practice sessions at both Winton and Hidden Valley this year to help keep his eye in.
He has also taken up the role of Driving Standards Advisor for the Auto One V8 Utes Series.
His 2004 Fujitsu Series title win remains the closest in series history given he ended the season tied on points with Luke Youlden.
However, Jones was declared champion on a count back with two round wins at Winton and Eastern Creek compared to Youlden’s none.
Jones competed in the Fujitsu Series between 2001 and 2004, racking up three round wins, four race wins, five podiums and three pole positions.
He also became the first man in series history to win a round without winning a race – Eastern Creek 2004.
