News
Josh Fife to join 88Racing for S5000 debut
JOSH FIFE will join 88 Racing to make his S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship debut at AWC Race Tasmania this week.
The Canberra-born driver joins the championship fresh from several seasons in Supercars competition, progressing through the ranks from Super3 to Super2, where he drove for Brad Jones Racing and more recently, Matt White Motorsport.
Prior to his career in cars, Fife was a two-time Australian Karting Champion and also represented his country in international karting competition; spending time living in Italy prior to his Aussie return.
Fife will join Blake Purdie in a two-car 88 Racing Squad driving the ACM Finance #88 entry, piloted last year by Cooper Webster and Jordan Boys.
Fife’s entry to the Tasmanian event is at this point a one-off, however both team and driver plan to investigate a longer-term campaign following the event at Symmons Plains this week.
While AWC Race Tasmania will mark his first time racing a 560hp Rogers AF01/V8 S5000 entry, he has driven the cars before – having tested for Garry Rogers Motorsport late last year.
More recently, the 21-year-old has remained sharp by spending time in his kart at Melbourne’s Todd Road circuit, in preparation for the upcoming Australian Karting Championship.
Fife will be on track from Thursday at Symmons Plains with practice (Friday), Qualifying and Race 1 (Saturday) and two further races on Sunday to complete the opening round of the Australian Drivers’ Championship this year.
Qualifying and all three races will be shown live on Stan Sport, while two races will also be broadcast on the 9Network.
JOSH FIFE
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to race this weekend in Tasmania – my first time racing there,” Fife said.
“It’s really cool to be taking on a new track and a new car and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“Thanks to 88 Racing for the opportunity and hopefully this is the start of something longer term, I’d love to do more in the future.
“I had one day in a car with GRM last year and I loved it. The biggest thing I noticed was the acceleration, which was crazy. I’m usually a right foot breaker so had to adapt to braking with my left foot again, which is something different.”
ALBERT CALLEGHER – 88 Racing Team Owner
“We’re very pleased to have been able to put together what has been a quite last minute deal to get Josh in the car for this weekend,” Callegher said.
“Despite the fact the deal has only come together recently, we’re very confident that he comes to 88 Racing in a position to contend from the first session he is in the car. As well as having driven the cars previously in testing, his recent experience in Supercars means he is race sharp and should adapt quickly.
“We’re excited to have a driver of his calibre and with his track record in international karting and Supercars competition join the team. He’s the perfect fit for S5000.”