AKERMANIS AND APPLEBY LEAD TASSIE MINI ODYSSEY

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Western Bulldogs AFL megastar, Jason Akermanis and eight time PGA Tour event winner, Stuart Appleby, will make their circuit racing debuts in MINI Challenge at Symmons Plains Raceway, Tasmania this weekend, November 21-23.

Known for his speed and skill on the footy field, it will be a different type of speed the always outspoken ‘Aka’ will have to adapt to when he takes control of a Motorline MINI Garage-prepared MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE racecar.

It will be the Brownlow Medallist’s first ever race meeting, but by no means his first introduction to motorsport. Some years ago, Akermanis tested a Stone Brothers Racing V8 Supercar.

But this isn’t testing – he will be thrust into an environment just as hostile as the centre square on that last Saturday in September, which is one that he knows all too well, having been an integral part of the Brisbane Lions’ Premiership three-peat.

Appleby – who is featured on tonight’s episode of Enough Rope with Andrew Denton on the ABC – has embraced his need for speed through competing in Targa Tasmania the last few years and building an enviable garage chock full of exotica, but climbing aboard the MINI Challenge UBER-STAR CAR is an altogether different proposition.

Becoming an UBER-STAR alumni will be another impressive item on Appleby’s extensive CV, but he will need to call on all the skill, concentration and guile that has led him to his eight PGA Tour victories to ensure success this time around.

“I have fond memories of competing in Tasmania through the Targa event, so to return with MINI Challenge is going to be an absolute thrill!” Appleby enthused.

Akermanis – although never short on confidence – knows he faces a huge challenge when he slots himself behind the wheel of the 211-horsepower, twin-scroll turbo-charged MINI John Cooper Works CHALLENGE racecar.

“I’m excited about the opportunity, for sure,” Akermanis said. “In many respects, lining up on the grid is totally different to being on the MCG in front of 90,000 screaming fans, but there are similarities between racing and AFL, too.

“Both sports are about passion and dedication. I don’t think anyone has ever questioned the passion that I bring to anything that I’ve done in the past and I’m approaching this exactly the same.

“It will be a big mental test racing in MINI Challenge,” Akermanis continued. “Obviously, I want to perform well and put a show on for the crowd, but also use it as a learning experience for a potential future in motorsport.”

Also joining the field will be V8 Supercar star, Paul Morris. The Queenslander has been a keen observer of MINI CHALLENGE throughout 2008 and his desire to drive one of the iconic machines was piqued at Bathurst when his two international drivers – Matt Neal and Boris Said – both racked up some additional seat time in the Series.

Morris will deputise for former Australian Sprintcar Champion, Todd Wanless, who is attending to dirt track duties. Coincidentally, Morris drove one of Wanless’ 850 horsepower Sprintcars just a few weeks ago in Brisbane.

Ever versatile, Morris will also be campaigning his Supercheap Auto V8 Supercar and Aussie Racing Car at Symmons Plains!

Local interest will come in the form of Series aspirant, Paul Stokell. The popular Tasmanian will go into the weekend red hot favourite in his DecoRug MINI, having cut his racing teeth on the Apple Isle.

The battle for Series honours will continue to be fought out between current Series leader – Neil McFadyen (M3 Motorsport), Nathan Geier (DecoRug Motorsport), Paul Fiore (Shell Helix Ultra) and Stokell.

Meantime, ending the run of former Bathurst winner, Jason Bargwanna (Trivett Classic MINI Garage/Matchmaster TV Reception Systems) – who has been undefeated in the last three rounds of competition – will be the primary focus of the big MINI CHALLENGE field this weekend.

MINI Challenge will feature three races across the weekend, with two races being shown live as part of the Seven Network’s Logie Award winning V8 Supercars coverage.
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