Famed Australian Olympian John Steffensen will join the V8 SuperUte Series in 2023, campaigning a full season with Western Sydney Motorsport starting at the opening round next week in Perth, Western Australia (April 28-30, 2023).
The 40-year-old West Aussie, who currently lives overseas, will fly back home for each of the six rounds on the 2023 calendar, beginning at CARCO.com.au Raceway which will also be the first time he’s raced in front of a home crowd.
Steffensen will run the #99 Western Sydney Motorsport Toyota HiLux which was previously campaigned by Ben Walsh last year, finishing third outright in the series. The SuperUte’s livery will be unveiled next week in Perth.
“I’m super pumped to take on the V8 SuperUte Series this year; it’s an insane race car to drive,” said Steffensen. “I really was blown away with the SuperUte setup when I had my first test a few weeks ago. It handles really well, it’s light in the rear which adds a bit of excitement and the calibre of racing drivers in the category means we’ll definitely be putting on a proper show.
“I actually grew up going to Wanneroo [Raceway] with my dad to watch his friend race when I was younger, so to now make my debut there racing myself is surreal. I’m super excited to fly back home get into the season next week.”
The former track and field athlete is best known for winning silver at the 2004 Olympics in Athens as part of the 4 × 400m relay. He then won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, for both the 400m as well as part of the 4 × 400m Australian relay team.
Steffensen made his motorsport debut in 2017 in Porsche 997 GT3 Cup in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge series where he finished eighth outright before moving into Porsche Carrera Cup in 2018 driving for the Porsche Centre Melbourne.
Since then, the Olympian has raced with Western Sydney Motorsport in the Aussie Racing Car series and will step up to the V8 SuperUte Series for the first time having tested the #99 SuperUte in Sydney earlier this month.
“I can’t thank Craig [Thompson] and Western Sydney Motorsport enough for this chance to be part of a fantastic team. They finished second and third outright last year and I’ll be doing my best to help them get the championship title in 2023,” concluded Steffensen.
Steffensen is supported by Thrive Lending, Nexgen Cabling and Western Sydney Motorsport.
Round 1 of the 2023 V8 SuperUte Series season kicks off from 28-30 April 2023 at CARCO.com.au Raceway in Western Australia, in support of the Repco Supercars Championship.
