HE WON THREE CHAMP CAR races, competed in Formula One, finished on the podium at LeMans and has won the Daytona 24 Hour – but charismatic Italian driver Max Papis now has his sights set on a start in the 2012 Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour.
The 42-year-old, now racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, is a noted Sportscar ace and after chatting with his many Australian friends during a visit to this years’ Bathurst 1000 decided a trip to actually compete on the Mountain was a target for his immediate future.
As such the US-based driver presents as one of the best possible co-drivers on the open market as teams look to finalise their driver line-ups for the February 24-26 race.
Papis raced in Australia five times at the Gold Coast Indy Event in the late 1990s and early 2000s – finishing second for Team Rahal in 1999 – and is well known by Aussie motorsport fans.
Papis’ interest in the growing Event shows the rapidly increasing internationalisation of the race with teams and drivers from around the globe now with a realistic opportunity tackle the famous 6.213 km circuit in New South Wales.
“It would be a dream of mine to be able to participate in the Bathurst 12 Hour,” Papis said.
“I heard from my friend, Paul Morris, that it was something that I couldn’t miss in terms of something to add to my CV. After visiting the Bathurst 1000 this year with my friend James Courtney I felt that after I saw the track it was something I really wanted to do.
“I have run 22, 24-hour races and had the opportunity and the luxury to win Daytona twice and win Sebring and other endurance races. It would be a great, great feeling (to race at Bathurst) and an opportunity for me to be part of the 12 Hour.”
Papis regularly follows the Australian V8 Supercar scene and says that regardless of the vehicle, Bathurst presented an immense challenge for drivers.
“The Bathurst 12 Hour is not an event where you can run the V8 Supercar, but from what I have heard it is one of the unique opportunities and challenges to be able to be on the race track that is not really used often. It presents amazing challenges,” Papis explained.
“It would be a great opportunity for me to be able to run for the first time in Australia after my Gold Coast experience with Champ Car and I am looking forward tremendously to get an opportunity to get a good reason why to come down there. It would be definitely something that would stand super high in my priorities.”
Words: Richard Craill Image: www.maxpapis.com