29 Aug BOWE, LAWRENCE READY FOR GT4 AUSTRALIA EXCITEMENT
More new faces have signed up to join the Monochrome GT4 Australia ranks, with Australian motor racing legend John Bowe and racing newcomer Jacob Lawrence set to share the #32 Randall Industries/Southern BM BMW F82 M4 GT4 at upcoming events on the category’s 2023 calendar.
Under the watchful eye of his mentor ‘JB’, Lawrence will drive solo for four x 30-minute sprint races next weekend at round four of the 2023 Monochrome GT4 Australia series at Sandown Raceway (September 8-10), before the pair will team up for the enduro-based rounds five (The Bend, October 13-15) and six (Bathurst International, November 11-13).
“I can see that the GT4 Australia category has a lot of potential to grow, and I wanted to be a part of that as early as I could. The cars are like nothing else and I can’t wait to compete not only at Sandown but also for the rest of the season, with a goal of completing the full championship in 2024,” Lawrence said.
“I have always been a BMW enthusiast and am excited to drive my F82 M4 BMW GT4 that I imported from Europe earlier this year. Developing and testing the car at various race tracks around Victoria has been a highlight for me this year, as has been having Randall Industries, Southern BM and my family and friends support me.
“I first got into motorsport with my Subaru WRX, enjoying track days occasionally. I then progressed to a BMW M4 and am now loving driving the M4 GT4, starting to drive competitively this year. This will be my first national-level race, so getting through the weekend cleanly will be my highest priority while learning as much as possible.
“I have been training hard the last few months to give myself the best chance, and of course working with John, with who I have been driving and developing the car over the past few months. JB has been pivotal in getting myself and the car up to speed and I am looking forward to sharing the driving duties with him at The Bend and Bathurst International rounds,” concluded the Structural Steel Business Owner from Melbourne.
An indisputable legend of Australian motor racing, Bowe says he is looking forward to getting behind the wheel in the Monochrome GT4 Australia category alongside Lawrence.
Image at top and above, credit to Simon Shiff.
“I met Jacob through mutual friends at Southern BM and I have done some coaching with him and put him in touch with some good people to be his support crew – an engineer who doubles as a data engineer (James McCabe) and a race mechanic (Liam Hill) so we have a good little organisation put together,” Bowe said.
“I am transiting to retirement, but I am not retired, if you know what I mean! I have been racing since I was a child and I still love it, and when we went testing with the BMW, I was pleasantly surprised at how well Jacob drives – he drives really well.
“I will be racing with him more as a mentor and a helper than a star; I don’t need to be a star, but I like being involved and really everything that I ask him to do, he does, so (mentoring Lawrence) has been quite rewarding to be honest. I am excited about it, seeing someone develop is quite satisfying.
“It has been great so far. I love racing with people that I like; as you get older you get a bit fussier! Jacob and his dad Peter are great guys, the Southern BM guys are great, and James and Liam are good guys, and there is a young apprentice from Southern BM who will be assisting as well. It is really good.
“GT4 Australia seems like it is getting some steam up too. I am actually really looking forward to it, this is my last year doing Touring Car Masters, but I love motor racing and I guess I am a lifetime lover of it. I still love doing it, and I still seem to be able to do it at a reasonable level. I hope I can keep going for a bit longer before they put me out to pasture.
“I will be doing The Bend and Bathurst races with him; he will do Sandown on his own as they are only short races. I will be doing TCM at Bathurst as well so that one will be a juggle – I will have to remember which side of the car I am sitting on, so I don’t splat the wall!” he joked.
Round four of the 2023 Monochrome GT4 Australia Championship will be held at Sandown International Raceway as part of the latest Shannons SpeedSeries event across September 8-10, featuring four x 30-minute races alongside Mobil 1 Australian Production Cars. Entries close on Friday 1 September at www.ausprodcars.com.au
For further information about Monochrome GT4 Australia and Mobil 1 Australian Production Cars, please contact admin@ausprodcars.com.au or visit www.ausprodcars.com.au.