All 54 drivers on grid ahead of Enduro Cup opener

The first event of the Ryco Enduro Cup, where one driver will guarantee their spot in Supercars’ inaugural Finals Series, is just one day away and today all 54 drivers competing met on the grid at The Bend.

Practice begins tomorrow for the Airtouch 500 at The Bend, the first ever enduro event at the South Australian circuit, that will also feature qualifying and a Top Ten Shootout on Saturday and a 500km race on Sunday.

Red Bull’s Broc Feeney leadsa the Repco Supercars Championship heading into this weekend where he is teamed up with the great Jamie Whincup, by 345 points from Ford’s best, kiwi Matt Payne – who is teamed up with Garth Tander for the Ryco Enduro Cup.

Feeney, Payne and defending Supercars’ Champion Will Brown are the first three drivers to have sealed their place in Supercars’ Finals Series which begins on the Gold Coast in October, with seven more drivers to use this weekend’s event at The Bend and the Repco Bathurst 1000 to try and force their way into the top 10 and keep their Championship hopes alive.

“It would be amazing to have two really good rounds at The Bend and Bathurst,” commented Payne. “We have put a lot of points on the board this year and given ourselves the opportunity to have a crack over these next two races.

“It’s one of my favourite tracks in Australia. It’s going to be awesome driving the Gen3 car around the track. Qualifying is going to be tough. I am really looking forward to it.”

Championship drivers will have to be at thier best this weekend to outdo the co-driver ranks who this year include the great Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup, Garth Tander and for the first time as a co-driver, Mark Winterbottom.

SUPERCARS TRACK SCHEDULE: