Coulthard to drive with Rat and TKR.

By Matthew Agius

Team Kiwi Racing, the V8 Supercar Championship's original New Zealand operation, has revealed that Kiwi star Fabian Coulthard will join team regular Paul Radisich in the #021 Commodore for the 2006 long-distance races.

The team, which prides itself on strong New Zealand-based roots, will acquire the services of Coulthard from technical partners Paul Morris Motorsports for the Betta Electrical Sandown 500 and Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000. For selected 2006 sprint rounds, Coulthard has been driving for Paul Morris Motorsports' driver development car, on a rotational basis with fellow junior Alan Gurr.

However it appears as though Fabian Coulthard's heritage will allow him to step into one of the most popular cars in the paddock, alongside one of the most experienced Bathurst runners in the field.

Team Principal David John was excited about the confirmation of the co-driver for the #021 All Black Holden in the enduros, and is confident that first-year major sponsors Makita and 3M New Zealand will be rewarded with a reliable driver combination.

"The pairing of Kiwi drivers Radisich and Coulthard will be the strongest driver pairing Team Kiwi have gone into both the Sandown and Bathurst endurance races with to date," said John.

"Both drivers have V8 Supercar experience with Radisich driving the TKR All Black Machine in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship currently and Coulthard doing many of the teams test and Hot Lap days while also driving a V8 Supercar in every second round of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship this year which will ensure both drivers are race ready for this years enduro events".

Team Kiwi Racing will also seek to continue their push not only to the front of the V8 Supercar grid, but also in their Mount Panorama results. The team has previously finished tenth at Bathurst, but have been always challenged by the tough task that 'the Mountain' presents.

In the meantime, Paul Radisich will continue to drive for TKR at Oran Park in three weeks time, and also in the four sprint round following the enduros in spring.