Launceston's Tim Shaw will realise a boyhood dream this weekend when he joins the growing rank of Tasmanians to contest Australia's greatest car race at Bathurst this weekend.
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Following a successful testing programme at Queensland's Lakeside International Raceway last weekend, Shaw will co- drive the ex-Pirtek Ford EL Falcon that won the Bathurst 1000 last year at the hands of defending champions Jason Bright and Steven Richards.
``It's going to be fantastic,'' Shaw said.
``It's the experience of it _ and at the end of the day there's nothing bigger in the country. This is a big as it gets.''
Following a successful national season that included finishing second in the Australian V8 Commodore Cup championship series for the second year in a row, Shaw will join Queensland circuit racer Craig Harris in the City Automotive Group Racing Falcon.
Harris ran the Falcon in three rounds of last year's Shell V8 Supercar Series, finishing 6th, 11th and 3rd in the privateer ranks.
Shaw is currently negotiating with a potential Tasmanian sponsor to ease the financial burden of his Bathurst debut.
``I was going to put a couple of maps of Tassie on the car, but I think we've got a sponsor who's pretty keen,'' he said.
``I'm going there regardless, because it's too good an opportunity to miss, but it would be great to have something else from Tasmania on the car besides my name.''
Shaw has previously raced at Bathurst in different classes, including a fourth place in the Suzuki GTI Cup in 1995, and last month in his Commodore Cup car.
He will join fellow Tasmanians John Bowe, David Parsons, Greg Crick, Dean Crosswell and Scott Taylor in the race for the nation's most- coveted racing trophy.
``Tasmanians have traditionally performed very well at Bathurst, and I hope I can continue that tradition,'' he said.
``You've got a good chance of finishing in the top 15 if you don't have any dramas.''
Shaw flies out today to join with Harris for the qualifying sessions that start tomorrow.