Daniel Ricciardo hopes his move to McLaren will lead to opportunities to drive in Bathurst and IndyCar.
The UK team has stepped up its involvement in IndyCar in recent years, while CEO Zak Brown is a supercar enthusiast and part of the Walkinshaw Andretti United Supercars team, which is often a wildcard entry in the Bathurst 1000.
The American has previously stated that he would like to see his F1 drivers compete in other categories and Ricciardo, who has been joining since 2021 and beyond, is very ready to do so in the future.
“I have to ask Zak. I have to drive a supercar around Bathurst – even if I don’t make the race, ”he told GP Racing according to Motorsport.com.
“Whether it’s a private test or the actual race, I have to do it. And I think now I have a good opportunity with Zak as a friend and boss.
“He really wants to try to get us into the other open-wheelers in the USA, the IndyCars. So there is a lot to do. “
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We might take a year off, but Australia’s international enduro will return in 2022.
The Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour will be back!
NEWS: https://t.co/cpy4XsrPMv # B12hr pic.twitter.com/0D3lQQqujC
– Bathurst 12 hours (@ Bathurst12hour) October 18, 2020
The Bathurst 1000 is the most famous race on the Mount Panorama circuit in Australia.
However, the 2021 edition comes up against the Japanese Grand Prix and for most years falls on the same weekend as a Formula 1 race.
Ricciardo wouldn’t be ready to do what Fernando Alonso has done in the past and would miss an F1 lap to drive in a different category. Hence, the 12-hour on-track event, which usually takes place in February, seems like a bigger option.
“When I signed with him [Brown]In the early part of last year we had these conversations and it was thrown in there, “We should get you to do the Bathurst 12 Hours,” he added.
“If he asked me and it works logistically, I would say yes.”
A former McLaren The driver will return to the team for the upcoming Indy 500 with Juan Pablo Montoya at the wheel, who works with the Mexican Patricio O’Ward.
“I’m very excited to see Juan return to the McLaren family and return to the Indianapolis 500 with Arrow McLaren SP,” said Brown.
“He is a hard-fought, versatile driver with many years of experience at the highest level in motorsport and a large fan base.
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