Racing legend Jim Richards will return to the wheel of the turbocharged Nissan HR31 GTS-R that helped him to victory in the 1990 Australian Touring Car Championship, at this year’s Lakeside Classic at Lakeside Park, Kurwongbah (Qld) from July 19-21.
It will be Richards’ historic race debut in the rapid HR31 since he acquired the car late last year, although his former Nissan teammate Mark Skaife raced it to victory at this year’s Phillip Island Classic meeting in March.
Richards originally drove the car for Nissan Motorsport Australia in 1989 and 1990, moving to the four-wheel-drive GT-R32 ‘Godzilla’ in the final rounds of the 1990 series to clinch his third Australian Touring Car title.
“I always had a special regard for the two wheel drive HR31,” says Richards, “so when the opportunity came to buy one of the team cars, I grabbed it.”
A huge crowd is expected at this year’s Lakeside Classic to watch Richards take on 25 rivals, including Holden Commodores, Toranas, BMW M3s, Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworths and Ford Escorts – of the 1970s and 1980s – in the Group A & C Historic races.
To add to the ‘1980s’ atmosphere of the meeting, former Nissan Motorsport team manager Fred Gibson will be setting up his famous Gibson Motorsport garage to run Richards HR 31 and Brian Henderson’s 1985 Nissan Gazelle at the meeting.
In the Group N races, current V8 Supercar championship driver David Wall will race the ex-‘Pete’ Geoghegan 1967 Mustang amongst the 50 competing Group N cars, while the Bowden family will have the earlier ex-Geoghegan 1965 Mustang on display, and on track, for demonstration laps over the weekend.
The 27 Australian Trans Am Championship cars entered include eight from New Zealand. Camaros, Mustangs, Pontiacs and AMC Javelins are amongst the powerful American Muscle cars taking part, with All Thundering V8s ex-Touring Car driver John English currently leading the 2013 title chase.
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