Newly crowned 2007 Australian Thundersports champion Tom Drewer has been signed to race for the PVM Team in the American LeMans Series’ IMSA Lites in the USA next year (2008).
‘Signing to drive in the USA has really capped off a stellar 2007 for me. I had my first Fujitsu V8 Supercar drive, I won first time out in the V8 Giants category in Garry Wilmington’s car, we won the Thundersports title and now I have a full season next year in IMSA Lites in America’, an elated Drewer said this week.
Drewer said his drive in the USA had come about as a result of driving the Australian factory entered WEST car owned by Greg Steer in the Thundersports category.
‘The guys in the American factory have been keeping an eye on the results and the data from our car in Australia and this is how the opportunity arose’.
Drewer will be racing a brand new tunnel version of the WEST in the L2 division of the IMSA Lites Series for the Atlanta based PVM Team that has direct links with the factory.
‘I leave for the USA early January and the team have found me a place to live, so it’s all great. I will be shaking down the new car soon after I get there in advance of a three day official test at Sebring, where my first race will be in March at the American LeMans 12-hour meeting’.
Drewer said the decision to take the drive in America had been an ‘easy one to make’.
‘I was in line for a test for a main game V8 Supercar team and would still like to take that opportunity, but
I think racing in the USA can only help my career. The opportunity to race at circuits like Sebring, Road Atlanta, Lime Rock, and Laguna Seca doesn’t come along every day of the week and I will be going all out
to perform well in a totally new environment’.
‘I guess I will have to spend plenty of time on the PlayStation learning the tracks, but at least I know the car pretty well, although the chassis I will be driving in the USA will be a lot quicker with its high down force tunnel floor and it will also have a upgraded electronic paddle shift as compared to the Australian car’.
‘I have resigned my job as an Art Director at an advertising agency and sold up everything to go and live in the USA and while I am looking for sponsors both in Australia and the USA the drive is secured, so now it’s up to me to prove I am worthy of some commercial backing’.
Drewer said he had already received some support from individuals who would have their name on the race car in the USA.
‘Its been great that people who have followed my racing have said they would like to help and so every
time I step into the car over there I know there are people back in Australia who are supporting me with their name on the car. I can guarantee I will give it my best shot and won’t leave anything in the garage in my quest to succeed’.
Prior to racing the WEST in the AMRS Thundersports Championship, Drewer raced in the National Saloon Car Series coming 9th in the title chase in 2005 and was also the SA Formula Vee Champion and came 5th in the Formula Vee nationals in his rookie year. He began karting at the age of 7 winning numerous titles.
Drewer said he was extremely grateful to Greg Steer from WEST Race Cars in Australia and Terry Little for giving him the opportunity to drive for WEST in Australia and now in America.
Drewer to race IMSA Lites in USA in 2008.
Drewer wins 2007 Australian Thundersports Championship.
South Australian driver Tom Drewer is the 2007 Australian Thundersports Champion in the Australian Motor Racing Series that was decided at Sydney’s Oran Park circuit at the weekend. (November 24-25).
Driving the Oasis Systems sponsored WEST factory entry car, Drewer adopted a more conservative approach to the final round in order to secure his first Australian motor racing title.
‘I put the WEST on pole and won the first scratch race and then played a safe game for the two handicap events’, Drewer said after taking a fourth and third respectively despite starting race two 85 seconds behind the pole man and being given a full lap handicap in race 3.
‘All year we have proved we can win off the back of the grid with some mighty handicaps and its made for great racing having to push so hard and pass so many cars, but this was m y Championship round and there was too much at stake to go for a win in each race.
There was no way I was going to risk the trophy, given the effort that the team has put in all year. I might be driving but you don’t let down the sponsors and the guys like car owner Greg Steer who have given you the opportunity to take an Australian title by being rash at the last round’.
The newly crowned 23 year old champion said 2007 had been ‘the best’ of his motor racing career that began at the age of seven in karts.
‘I also had my first Fujitsu V8 Supercar drive with the Prodigy team and won first time out in Garry Wilmington’s V8 Supercar in the V8 Giants category, so it’s been pretty hectic but you wouldn’t have it any other way’.
Drewer’s success in the American built WEST sports racing car has seen four other examples of the marque already sold and racing in Australia with at least another three cars heading ‘down under’ for the 2008 season.
Drewer said that he was extremely optimistic that his racing program for next year would be finalised within the next couple of weeks.
‘We have been looking at several options and it’s a matter of making the final decision and getting the deal done, but I do know that its going to involve a lot more racing at a higher level again. Its going to be tough but that’s what its all about’.
