Accomplished New Zealand touring car racer Simon Evans isn’t underestimating the challenge of the V8 Supercars Dunlop Series as he debut at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.
Having plied his trade in New Zealand’s own V8 touring car category, the 24-year-old will step-up to the second-tier V8 Supercar series this year in an MW Motorsport-prepared Falcon that will run under the Super Black Racing banner.
While the 2014 NZ SuperTourer Endurance Champion – crowned with co-driver Team TEKNO Darrell Lea’s Shane Van Gisbergen – admits he has nerves about the adjustment to V8 Supercars, Evans remains confident he can carry his successful momentum across the ditch.
“New Zealand was very good to me results-wise, but now the Development Series is the next step for me,” he told v8supercars.com.au.
“It’s going to be pretty tough learning the circuits and the cars… and it’s racing guys like Paul Dumbrell and guys who have been racing V8s for a few years – of course it’s going to be a little nerve-racking.
“Going to Clipsal for the first race, obviously it’s the toughest race of the year to start off with. There are definitely nerves there – but I’m really looking forward to the challenge,” Evans said.
“Every time I go out I’m learning something about the car… Anything can happen in motorsport throughout the season, but as long as I am fighting towards the pointy end nearing the end of the season, I think you could call that a successful year.”
The Kiwi tested with Brad Jones Racing and MW Motorsport at Winton late last year and returned to the country-Victoria circuit last week to complete a pre-season test alongside MWM teammates Chris Pither and Jack Le Brocq.
Evans said the test was a good opportunity to adjust to the V8 Supercar before taking to the track for the first time today in the first of two practice sessions, kicking off at 8.30am ACDT.
“With set-up in New Zealand, we’re very limited and everyone runs the same springs, anti-roll bars, shocks, so we are limited, whereas the Dunlop Series opens everything right up,” he explained.
“We can do roll bar changes, spring changes – there are a lot more adjustments. So it’s just getting used to changes and knowing what we need to do quick during a practice session, because obviously they’re only 30 minutes long so it doesn’t give you a lot of time.”
Today’s second practice session will kick off at 12.20pm ACDT before two-part qualifying begins at 4.15pm at the Clipsal 500.
