M2 Motorsport has confirmed Craig Innes as co-driver for Simon McLennan for the team’s V8 SuperTourer debut at the forthcoming Fathers’ Day 400 at Taupo on September 1 and 2.

Innes (34) will also join McLennan in the team’s brand new Holden Commodore VE11 V8 SuperTourer for final two endurance races of the inaugural championship at Pukekohe and Ruapuna.

He has considerable experience dating back almost a decade including Porsche endurance racing, New Zealand and Australian domestic Mini championships, New Zealand Formula Ford, endurance racing in a Ferrari F430 Challenge racer and the Bridgestone Porsche Championship. Innes has been a man in high demand by V8 SuperTourer teams but opted for M2 Motorsport and an environment and team he knows well.

“I was actually approached by three different V8ST teams with regard to driving in the endurance rounds of the championship,” he revealed. “The fact is, I get on very well with the whole M2 Motorsport team and have shared success in endurance racing with Simon before in the Porsche so the decision to go with them was not a hard one as we do all work very well together.”

The new team will include some familiar faces from McLennan’s Porsche racing days. Alan Dunn, Cameron McCormack and Wayne Hilliam have all worked with Simon in Porsche racing, and the team has enlisted extra help from the Wellington motor racing community.

“It’s going to be a big ask given that we are joining in the series over halfway through but it is still a great opportunity for us all,” said Innes. “Everyone knows we do have experience in endurance racing so that side of it is not new and won’t be hard but there will need to be a focus on getting the car performing well as there is simply no substitute for a fast car.”

The entire team is currently focussed on getting the car ready for the Taupo event, where up to 20 cars and 40 drivers could be on the grid for the series’ first endurance event.

“Craig and I just can’t wait,” added McLennan. “The field is huge, the talent of drivers is huge and we just want to be amongst it. We have a lot of hard work to do and our expectations for the event have to be realistic.

“It will be exciting not only to get our car on the track but to see all our hard work come together and get M2 Motorsport underway. Excited is an understatement. It’s going to be a very special moment for Craig, myself and everyone when we see everything ready to go on the Thursday before we take to the track for the first time. I think we’ll stand back at that point, give ourselves a small pat on the back and then get down to the racing.”