FIVE TIME LE MANS WINNER BECOMES GC600 SUPER-SUB

With IndyCar ace, Scott Dixon ruled out of the Armor All Gold Coast 600, Stone Brothers Racing has drafted five times Le Mans 24 Hours winner and former F1 ace, Emanuele Pirro as Shane van Gisbergen’s SP Tools Racing team-mate for the October 21-23 Surfers Paradise stoush.

Dixon has elected not to come to Australia given his wife has just given birth to the couple’s first child.

Pirro – a 49-year-old Italian – brings the number of drivers with Formula 1 race experience in this year’s Armor All Gold Coast 600 to nine – including Pirro’s countryman and the only current F1 driver in the pack, Vitantonio Liuzzi.

Although having raced in 40 Grands Prix for Scuderia Italia and Benetton, the former McLaren test pilot is best known for his exploits with Audi around the La Sarthe circuit at Le Mans.

Five times he has crossed the finish line first in the Le Mans 24 Hour race – including setting a new race record and being the driver of the first ever diesel powered Le Mans winner in 2006.

He’s also a former winner of the Nurburgring 24 Hour race, twice Sebring 12 Hour Champion, three times Petit Le Mans Champion, four times winner of the Wellington Street Race in New Zealand and a class winner of the Daytona 24 Hours – therefore he is perfect for the role on the Gold Coast – the third of the V8 Supercar endurance races.

Pirro is sure to have many people in the USA tuning into the live SPEED coverage from the Gold Coast – although living in Rome, he spent a great deal of time in America and has won the American Le Mans Title.

Whilst much of his success has come with Audi, more recently Pirro has been aboard the Lola-Judd of Drayson Racing. He served as the guest Driver’s Steward at three F1 Grands Prix this year and continues as an ambassador for the German marque.

Pirro – at 49 the oldest driver in the field – will provide temperate experience to van Gisbergen’s youthful exuberance as the youngest driver in the field.

The pair could well be on for a win come October – given van Gisbergen has provided the blue oval with it’s only victories thus far in 2011.

“The chance to race on the Gold Coast is just fantastic,” said Pirro. “I would like to thank Audi, being their brand ambassador, for having given me the permission to drive. I love street circuits and have lots of great memories from Down Under, I can’t wait to arrive.

“To join a young driver like Shane will be cool and I look forward to meeting him and sharing stories with each other and learning all the secrets of the V8 Supercars.

“He has had a lot of success this year already and watching last year’s race – he is clearly very good around the Gold Coast circuit. I’ve seen it on television over the years and its very unique – being right next to the beach.

“To come to Australia and race an endurance race on one of the world’s best known and most challenging street circuits will be great fun.”

Queensland Sport Minister, Phil Reeves hailed the signing of Pirro for the event:

“If Scott couldn’t join us on the Gold Coast for the amazing party that is the Gold Coast 600, I don’t think a better replacement could be found than Emanuele Pirro,” said Reeves.

“With five Le Mans Titles to his credit among a string of other achievements, he has one of the most impressive CVs in World motorsport. From one Champion in Dixon to another in Pirro, it proves that Queensland just continues to attract Champions to this wonderful state.

“Queensland truly is the Champions’ and Events State. We’ll showcase that at no better time than the Gold Coast 600, October 21-23.”

Aside from the on-track action, the Armor All Gold Coast 600 features the 600 Sounds, presented by Sea FM Concert Series on Friday and Saturday nights of the event. Aussie Hip-hoppers, Bliss N Eso are the drawcard Friday night, whilst Saturday sees Scottish rock legends, Simple Minds take the stage for their only Australian performance on their current world tour.

Track-wise backing up the V8 Supercars will be the exotica of the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup, the rough and tumble V8 Utes, Touring Car Masters for a touch of yesteryear and tomorrow’s stars in the Australian Formula Ford Championship.

Tickets for the event start at $136 for a three day pass via ticketek.com or by phone 132 849.

Armor All Gold Coast 600 for full details.