Perkins development duo completes JDR squad.

By Matthew Agius.

Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series competitors Shane Price and Jack Perkins are set to become the youngest pair to compete at the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama this year, with the announcement they will each drive for Jack Daniel's Racing in the V8 enduros.

Both Price and Perkins son run in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series for the team operated by Jack's father Larry Perkins - who also owns the successful Jack Daniel's Racing outfit in the main game - which has been a successful competitor in the V8 Supercar Championship for many decades.

The pair will drive the #11 Jack Daniel's VZ Commodore that has been campaigned by Paul Dumbrell in this year's sprint rounds, whilst Dumbrell joins team leader Steven Richards in the #7 JDR Holden.

Both Shane and Jack have a combined age of thirty-nine, a new record for a Bathurst partnerships - eclipsing the previous record held by teammate Dumbrell and Leanne Tander (nee Ferrier) in 2001 and Scott and Jason Bargwanna in 1992.

Team Principal Larry Perkins believes 2006 was the right year to give the debutant pair a go at the tough competition of V8 Supercar endurance racing.

LEADING Holden V8 Supercar team Jack Daniel's Racing has announced that it will create history in this year's Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama by fielding the youngest-ever driver combination for the famous race.
Two members of Holden's 2006 Young Lions program, Jack Perkins, who will be 20 come race day on October 8, and Shane Price, 19, will drive the #11 Commodore at Sandown and Bathurst.
With a combined age of 39, the duo will eclipse the previous record of 40 held by cousins Jason and Scott Bargwanna, set in 1992 and Leanne Ferrier and Paul Dumbrell in 2001.

"Over the years I've tried every combination of drivers, including ex world champions, internationals and ex Bathurst winners," said Perkins.

"So I thought why not use this opportunity as a leg up for a couple of young blokes at the beginning of their careers.

"Both Shane and Jack have 10 years of competitive experience in other forms of motorsport and current form in the V8 Development Series warrants their inclusion for the enduros."

Both youngsters were also keen to get into the same car at the two endurance events, and will also compete in the Fujitsu Series support races at Bathurst in their separate all-black Holdens.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for me to be racing at Bathurst this year with Shane," said Jack Perkins.

"It is good to get into the record books as the youngest driver combination, but we're not getting too carried away with it all. The aim is to finish both races and bring the car home straight. It has been a small dream to race at Bathurst in #11, so to do it in my first year is an excellent opportunity, one that I'm very grateful for.

"It has been a big year so far with the debut in the Fujitsu Series at Adelaide as well as competing with the main series drivers at the Grand Prix and now the endurance events."

Perkins thoughts were echoed by teammate Shane Price, a son of Australian karting figure Drew. Price currently sits inside the top ten of the Fujitsu Series and is looking forward to hitting the legendary Bathurst circuit for the first time.

"Going to Bathurst we know we have a good car and we're going to get plenty of laps around there in both the Jack Daniel's car and our regular cars in the Development Series," Price said.

"We'll just go about learning the circuit and building up our knowledge as we go. We won't be breaking lap records or racing for a podium - that's not a realistic expectation at all. We want to keep the car straight, finish the race and do a solid job."

Jack Daniel's Racing will compete at next weekend's Hidden Valley round whilst both Price and Perkins junior will feature at the Queensland Raceway support races in over a month's time.