Rick76
20-11-2004, 12:03 AM
Garry Rogers Motorsport signs Konica-Minolta champion for 2005 drive
November 19, 2004
http://www.grmotorsport.com.au/files/SEOU21FUIQ/thumb_andrewjones1.JPG
Konica-Minolta V8 Series champion Andrew Jones will drive for Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2005 alongside Cameron McConville, it was announced today.
Jones, 24, the nephew of Albury-based veteran V8 Supercar driver Brad Jones, put his hand up for a full-time drive with podium finishes - including two round victories - in the last four rounds of the 2004 Konica-Minolta series, the strong feeder category to the V8 Supercars.
He has contested the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 races for the past two seasons with John Cleland, a 9th placing in the 2003 Bathurst 1000 his best "main series" result.
GRM team owner Garry Rogers said it had been a difficult choice to replace departing driver Garth Tander.
"I thought, where do we go?" Rogers said. "We looked at some experienced people but in the end we came back to Andrew, who has proven he can race well in the enduros and in the Konica-Minolta Series.
"I think he's old enough and experienced enough to do well in this category, and I'm very happy with my choice!"
Jones said he was delighted to sign a three-year deal to join a competitive team with proven race-winning ability.
"I'm rapt that it's worked out this way - until recently I thought I was going to be the first Konica-Minolta champion to go back and defend his title," he said.
"This is a huge step forward - not just into the main game, but into a highly competitive and well funded team and with a long-term structure in place. It's good for me to have that certainty, but also good for the team.
"I'm under no illusions that my rookie year is going to be anything less than challenging - there will be a few lows I'm sure, but hopefully there will be plenty of highs as well. I'm not going to make any predictions right now, I'm just going to do the best possible job and let the results take care of themselves."
Jones said he had no hesitation in signing for a Holden team, despite the Jones family's long-time association with Ford.
"I think red suits me," he laughed. "The aim was to get a drive in the main series, and anyone who knows me, knows I've been hunting pretty hard for that and it's never been important for me whether it was blue or red."
GRM Site (http://www.grmotorsport.com.au/?a1Z1D&yMn&UqJ&5Iq)
November 19, 2004
http://www.grmotorsport.com.au/files/SEOU21FUIQ/thumb_andrewjones1.JPG
Konica-Minolta V8 Series champion Andrew Jones will drive for Garry Rogers Motorsport in 2005 alongside Cameron McConville, it was announced today.
Jones, 24, the nephew of Albury-based veteran V8 Supercar driver Brad Jones, put his hand up for a full-time drive with podium finishes - including two round victories - in the last four rounds of the 2004 Konica-Minolta series, the strong feeder category to the V8 Supercars.
He has contested the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 races for the past two seasons with John Cleland, a 9th placing in the 2003 Bathurst 1000 his best "main series" result.
GRM team owner Garry Rogers said it had been a difficult choice to replace departing driver Garth Tander.
"I thought, where do we go?" Rogers said. "We looked at some experienced people but in the end we came back to Andrew, who has proven he can race well in the enduros and in the Konica-Minolta Series.
"I think he's old enough and experienced enough to do well in this category, and I'm very happy with my choice!"
Jones said he was delighted to sign a three-year deal to join a competitive team with proven race-winning ability.
"I'm rapt that it's worked out this way - until recently I thought I was going to be the first Konica-Minolta champion to go back and defend his title," he said.
"This is a huge step forward - not just into the main game, but into a highly competitive and well funded team and with a long-term structure in place. It's good for me to have that certainty, but also good for the team.
"I'm under no illusions that my rookie year is going to be anything less than challenging - there will be a few lows I'm sure, but hopefully there will be plenty of highs as well. I'm not going to make any predictions right now, I'm just going to do the best possible job and let the results take care of themselves."
Jones said he had no hesitation in signing for a Holden team, despite the Jones family's long-time association with Ford.
"I think red suits me," he laughed. "The aim was to get a drive in the main series, and anyone who knows me, knows I've been hunting pretty hard for that and it's never been important for me whether it was blue or red."
GRM Site (http://www.grmotorsport.com.au/?a1Z1D&yMn&UqJ&5Iq)