Connect with us

Intercontinental GT Challenge

Habul: Power “Wants to Do” Bathurst 12H With SunEnergy1

Kenny Habul hoping to put Will Power in SunEnergy1 Racing entry for next year’s Bathurst 12 Hour…

Photo: IndyCar

Kenny Habul is hoping to bring Will Power into SunEnergy1 Racing’s lineup by as early as next year’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, with the two-time NTT IndyCar Series champion having expressed interest in contesting both the 12-hour and a return to the Bathurst 1000.

Power, who was due to drive with Habul in last weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona in the team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, backed out at the last minute due to complications from his wife’s recent surgery.

Habul told Sportscar365 that the Daytona drive was set to serve as the foundation for additional races, including a future run in the Intercontinental GT Challenge season-opener.

“He wants to do it with me. So I don’t know, we’ll see, maybe next year,” Habul told Sportscar365. “It depends on his calendar and how much more IndyCar he does.

“He’s got nothing left to prove in IndyCar but he’s still quick. He’s probably at his peak, actually, at 41. That’s good to hear.

“When he frees up, we’ll definitely do more. We’ll do Daytona and [Bathurst] is something that’s big for him.

“That’s why he wanted to do Daytona, was to get a little bit of time in these cars and then come here and try to do the 12 Hour and the 1000.”

Power has one previous Bathurst 1000 start, coming in 2002, where he finished 18th alongside Mark Larkham in a Ford Falcon AU.

While both being U.S.-based Australians, Habul and Power have also been longtime friends, with the two having raced against each other in the junior national open-wheel ranks, including the Australian Formula Ford Championship.

“We raced together in 1998-99 and did a bit of F3 together in 2001-02,” said Habul. “It would be nice [to race again with him]. He’s a good friend; I’m proud of what he’s achieved.

“He has more poles than anyone in IndyCar. He just beat Mario [Andretti’s] record last year. It’s incredible. It’s a little bit of a shame he didn’t get a chance in F1 because I know he would have done the same there.

“On the other hand, look at what he’s won: Indy 500, [two-time] IndyCar champion…

“He’s one of those guys that doesn’t look backwards much and is not really that satisfied sometimes, which what makes him a champion.

“He’s always looking forward in what more can I do rather than say, ‘Hey I did a lot.’

“That’s what makes him special. There’s times when you look back in life and say, ‘What I’ve done is amazing. Look how much I’ve achieved.’

“But then he wouldn’t be a driver. No one ever looks back. You just look forward.”

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

Click to comment
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

More in Intercontinental GT Challenge