Dunlop Super2 Series regular Thomas Randle is the latest name to sign on for S5000 in this weekend’s outing at The Bend Motorsport Park as part of the Shannons Nationals.
The 23-year-old will join Briton James Winslow and Virgin Australia Supercars Championship driver Anton de Pasquale at Team BRM for the round.
Randle enters the weekend fresh off a sensational podium finish alongside Tickford Racing driver Lee Holdsworth at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500, as well as boasting the record of being the only Australian to win the Toyota Racing Series title, a feat he achieved in 2017.
Like his teammate Winslow, Randle also has an extensive amount experience in open-wheel racing in both Formula 4 in Australia as well as Formula 3, competing throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.
Ahead of his S5000 debut, Randle was eager to get to Tailem Bend and jump in the open-wheel cars.
“I can’t wait to get back to my single-seater roots this weekend,” Randle said.
“It’s been over two years since I’ve been in an open-wheel car and driving with the halo head protection will be something new and interesting.
“The cars look like real beasts yet fun to drive at the same time, but I’m confident I will be able to acclimatise to them quite quickly.
“I watched the S5000 races at Sandown with great interest having worked closely with Rubens Barichello, who used our simulator to learned the nuances of the Sandown Park Circuit and the show was impressive.
“I’m looking forward to teaming up with BRM who, over the years have actually been on-track rivals of mine, and more importantly having Marcus Koch engineer my #49 machine.”'
The S5000 will kick off its second race meeting for 2019 this weekend with a special test day on Thursday, before competitors have two practice sessions on Friday.
Qualifying and the first qualifying race will take place on Saturday, before the second qualifying race and main feature race wrap up the weekend on Sunday.
Fans unable to attend the round can catch the live stream on thenationals.com.au or catch TCR and S5000 on the live SBS broadcast.
The Shannons Nationals season finale at The Bend Motorsport Park on 15-17 November.