November 22, 2005

This weekend’s BigPond Grand Finale marks the last round for Super Cheap Auto Racing’s Paul Weel as a fulltime V8 Supercar driver, the 26-year-old having announced earlier this month that he was standing down from driving to concentrate on his rapidly expanding PWR business, which includes PWR Performance Products and SCAR.

In amongst racing and business commitments we were able to get Paul to sit down for five minutes and ask him a few questions about the upcoming weekend, his racing career and future.

Paul, you are just a couple of days away from starting your last race for the Super Cheap Auto Racing team as a fulltime driver. Are you starting to feel a little sentimental?

PAUL WEEL: To be honest, with the amount of business and sponsor commitments I’ve had since Symmons Plains I really haven’t had too much of a chance to think about it.

I’m sure as the weekend gets closer I’ll think about it more but I’ve still got to get into the car and do the best job possible for the team and our sponsors.

I don’t believe I’ll be too sentimental about it, but being my last fulltime race it will be a little different, so I’ll try and enjoy it as much as possible.

It’s a big decision to hang up the helmet at the ripe old age of 26.

PW: Perhaps but we have a fabulous opportunity to grow PWR, which includes Super Cheap Auto Racing, so recognising that made it a lot easier for me.

I’ve had a great time over the last eight years, but now it’s time for the next step in my life.

Over those eight years, what do you see as the highlights of your career?

PW: The first time we went to Bathurst is still my favourite highlight; to go there as a small, privateer team and finish in the top 10 – we finished ninth with Neal Bates as co-driver – was very special.

We also backed that up the following year with Greg Crick, finishing eighth.

Adelaide in 2003 was also a highlight; it was our first race with Holden and I finished third, although I didn’t get to celebrate on the podium (Russell Ingall finished third on track but received a post-race penalty for a driving indiscretion, elevating Paul from fourth to third).

Also Adelaide the following year was good, finishing fourth again.

Outside of the car the one definite highlight has been the growth of PWR as a business and as a racing team.

Any disappointments or regrets in there?

No regrets, but Bathurst and Sandown this year were major disappointments.

To be in a position to be on the podium in each race only to watch it all disappear from the pits was hard to take. It’s fair to say we deserved better rewards for our efforts than what we got.

But that’s the business of motor racing and you can’t dwell on something that was out of your own control, you’ve just got to put the disappointments behind you move on. I think as a team we did that very well.

Tell us about growing from a small, single-car outfit campaigning under the PWR banner into what we now see as Super Cheap Auto Racing?

PW: Yes, well it is hard to believe how big it’s all become.

When we started we set out to just go racing together. As a family we had raced off-road and in stadiums and V8 Supercars were just another step for myself, my dad, Kees, and mum, Judy.

It has gone from one car operating out of the workshop at home to what it is today - two cars, lots of staff, and some great sponsors.

The growth has been extremely satisfying to watch and it is going to be even more exciting as PWR and our team continue to grow and develop in 2006 and beyond – I’m really looking forward to playing a major role in that.

Thank you Paul and good luck with both the weekend and the future of PWR.

PW: Thank you. I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their support over the years, it has been very much appreciated.

While I won’t be driving fulltime, I’ll still be attending as many rounds of the championship as possible and trying to help make PWR and Super Cheap Auto Racing grow. It’s going to be an exciting few years coming up!

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