It just shows that racing is really tough. I’ve experienced
that before in the past when I was in IndyCar. You can
be a pretty good driver but if you don’t have the funding
behind you it makes it that much more complicated.
Hopefully more companies get behind young girls and
I think there’s quite a few in go-karting right now that
are doing a really good job. And that’s the important
thing, getting a shot. I’ve been really lucky with Harvey
Norman giving me this shot here in Supercars.
Do you think you’ve got the car to deliver the
results you want in Supercars?
It’s hard to say. I think the team are not where we want
to be, to be honest. We want to be up the front, we want
to be in the top 10, all of us, all the time. And we’re
not quite there yet. The team is working hard on it and
that’s what counts. We see improvement every time we
go out there; that’s what’s important.
Are you happy with your progress at this stage of
your deal? Have you achieved your goals and how
much further do you want to go?
I think it has been okay this year. That’s what I mean
when I say that we’re starting a bit behind the eight ball
on the Fridays. We’re starting to think about the car
at the end of the Friday after the driver knows
where to put the wheels. Next year we
definitely have to be more consistent
- and that’s what’s important.
That’s the goal.
THE CO-DRIVER
VIEWPOINT
The 2009 Bathurst 1000 was the last time a
female and male pairing raced in Supercars. On
that occasion, David Wall drove alongside Leanne
Tander for Paul Cruickshank Racing. Eight years
on, David Russell partnered with Simona de
Silvestro at Nissan Motorsport in what is his sev-
enth season with the team.
“I’ve had a good relationship with the team;
there’s a good culture,” says Russell.
“We’ve been up and down at times and it would
be great to have some success with this team
because I know how hard everyone is working.”
The 35-year-old used his experience to assist de
Silvestro as she continues to develop in Supercars.
“We obviously don’t want to go off in the wrong
track with set-up,” he says.
“I guess my experience is useful. It’s been good;
she’s a professional, she’s learning the ropes very,
very quickly.
“You see guys come out of the Development
Series when they’ve had a few seasons and they
come in and they need 12 months or more. So
I think it has been pretty impressive for her to
come in and have some good performances.”“AS A DRIVER YOU JUST WANT TO GET
QUICKER, SO IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER
WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE BEFORE
YOU AS YOU JUST WANT TO FOCUS ONYOURSELF AND MOVE FORWARD.”
- SIMONA DE SILVESTRO
I e WITH SIMONA DE SILVESTRO