Angus Fogg Racing has announced experienced Porsche GT3 and V8 Challenge Cup racer Hugh Gardiner as team mate to NZ V8 Champion Angus Fogg in the Hydraulink Holden Commodore at the forthcoming V8 SuperTourer endurance races.

Gardiner will co-drive at the Father’s Day 400 at Taupo over the weekend of September 1 and 2, then again at the International 500 at Pukekohe on October 26-28 and finally at the series finale at Ruapuna over the weekend of November 24 and 25.

Fogg debuted in the V8 SuperTourer series at the final sprint round at Hampton Downs, but has spent plenty of time fine-tuning the car after the initial rush to get on the Hampton Downs grid. Both will be testing the car extensively in the lead up to Taupo.

Gardiner is no stranger to the SuperTourer machine, having tested the Prototype following his Saturday race win in the V8 Challenge Cup at Hampton Downs. The 29 year old is looking forward to getting into the thick of the action at Taupo with a field brimming with the country’s leading motorsport names.

“No question I am thrilled to join AFR as co-driver for the V8ST endurance series,” explained Gardiner.

“Angus is a very talented driver and someone I have respected since I was young. He runs a very professional team and I am confident we can do a good job together. It was a goal of mine to use the V8 Challenge Cup as a stepping stone into an endurance ride. It is a good thing for V8ST to have a strong feeder series, similar to the DVS series in Australia, and it has worked well for me.

“We are all optimistic of a good result in the Father’s Day 400. Sure, we have some catching up to do as we haven’t had the miles in the car other teams have had but I am sure we can work together and end up with a good car come race-day and that’s what it will be all about.

“I have driven the series car in a test at Hampton Downs at the last round and I was very impressed/ I have a lot of Porsche Cup car experience and I found driving the SuperTourer came quite naturally to me, though it was certainly much more impressive than a GT3.

Fogg – the current NZV8 champion – has an enormous fan base in New Zealand and the entire team is hoping they will come to show their support for the team at Taupo. “That’s what we are hoping for,” said Foggy. “This race weekend should be one of the best motorsport spectacles this country has seen for a long time.”

As well as principal sponsor Hydraulink, Foggy’s team is also supported by Property Tutors, Supercharge Batteries, Porter Group, Moselle Panel & Paint, Segedins Auto Spares, iSign it, PPG and BOC.