Dear Friend,

DENYER CONFIRMED FOR DJR'S CRACKING BATHURST LINE UP

Popular television weatherman and racing driver Grant Denyer will join Dick Johnson Racing's (DJR) squad for this year's Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 at the famous Mount Panorama (NSW) on 8 October.

Denyer will share the team's #18 Accor Premier Vacations Club (APVC) Racing Falcon with Carrera Cup racer Alex Davison in the annual V8 Supercar enduro, while team regulars Steve Johnson and Will Davison will drive the #17 FirstRock Home Loans Falcon.

The pairings will also contest the season's additional long-distance race, the Betta Electrical 500 at Sandown next week in Melbourne (3 September).

"This caps off what has been a remarkable year for me professionally and personally," Grant Denyer said.

"Having conquered the highest rating TV show as a winner on Dancing with the Stars to racing at Bathurst for the first time.I've achieved more in this single year than in my whole life to date!

"And to be driving with Dick Johnson's team is the realisation of an 11 year dream; when I was seven I would sit in a go kart seat in front of the TV and watch hours of tapes, turning each corner as Dick did.

"I'm an ambitious man and driving at Bathurst is the biggest box for me to tick in my life."

Grant's previous Bathurst experience includes second in class in the GTP 3-hour, sixth outright / second in class driving a Porsche and in the 2003 Bathurst 24-hour, and second outright in the V8 Utes at Bathurst.

"I don't cry much but the day I found out I was going to live my dream of driving with Dick Johnson Racing at Bathurst. let's just say it was emotional."

"If I die the day after Mt Panorama I die a happy man!

"Unless of course I mess it up, because Dick has a rather large shoe size, and I don't fancy him giving me a kick up the backside!"

Denyer has been getting V8 Supercar miles in his second Fujitsu season with DJR in the Summit Fleet Leasing / JaxQuickfit Tyres Falcon and partner Alex Davison steps back into V8s after a season in Porsches.

"Grant has been going really well in the Fujitsu series so I hope we can surprise a few people," Alex Davison said.

"The DJR cars have also been performing well of late, and the experience the team has gives us a great chance to get some good results.

"I especially can't wait to get to Bathurst!"

Alex's younger brother Will partners up with Steve Johnson in the team's lead car, forming one of the race's strongest driver combinations.

"Steve and Will are going to be hard to beat at Bathurst," a confident Dick Johnson said.

"Both guys are very fast, they're easy on the gear, and they'll have well-sorted cars under them . we went through some pain last year with reliability and mistakes but that's to our benefit now, I am feeling very good about our chances this year.