V8 Utes: Crambrook targeting title defence

Layton Crambrook has his sights set on a second successive V8 Utes title when the 2009 season kicks off at the Clipsal 500 this weekend.
 

The impressive Crambrook dominated the championship last year taking three wins and finishing on the podium in eight of the nine rounds.
 

With the streets of Adelaide beckoning this weekend, the 26-year-old from New South Wales is determined to make a strong start to the year.
 

“I cannot wait for the series to get underway and now with this year’s testing regulations I haven’t been able to do any testing, so that will give no one an advantage over one another,” he said. “The Clipsal 500 is a fantastic event and I absolutely love street circuits and I am very confident of starting the year off on the right foot. As usual I will have the likes of Grant Johnson, Jack Elsegood and co looking to wrestle the series title from my grasp.”
 

The V8 Utes calendar boasts trips to Townsville and Homebush  this year, with the street circuits joining the calendar for the first time and Crambrook is looking forward to a fresh challenge at both.
 

“The Townsville and Homebush rounds promise to be spectacular and it’s going to be wonderful to be part of these history making events,” Crambrook said. “Street circuits are becoming more and more frequent with the V8 Ute Series and I am a big fan of them and hopefully I can turn that into my advantage throughout the year.”
 

While Crambrook is fully focussed on V8 Utes for 2009, he has never denied his ambitions to race in V8 Supercars in the future having tasted Australia’s top motorsport category earlier in his career.
 

“I make no secret about wanting to return to V8 Supercars and all I can do is drive the best I can and see what happens,” he said. “It would be great to secure an Enduro drive in the main game but most of them are already filled. Also I might be able to get a few runs this year in a round or two of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Development Series.”
 

Highlights of the V8 Utes championship will be screened on Motors TV.

 

Andy Wilkinson