Bundy Red Racing today announced its driver pairings for this year’s L&H 500 at Phillip Island, which on the back of Toll HRT’s announcement last Friday, finalises Walkinshaw Racing’s 2010 enduro line-up.

Fabian Coulthard will be joined by fellow Kiwi, and experienced enduro specialist, Craig Baird while rising star, Nick Percat, will get his first start in the V8 Supercar main series pairing with Andrew Thompson in the #10 Bundy Red Racing Commodore.

Coulthard has had a slow start to the 2010 season but has shown signs of improvement over recent events and after taking time to re-group over the mid season break, Coulthard said he is ready to kick start the back half of his season.

“To be joined by someone with Craig’s experience in this sport is a massive boost for the Bundy Red Racing Team” Coulthard said.

“Craig is a great bloke who has been within the Walkinshaw Racing squad for a number of years now so he should settle in quite comfortably,” he said.

“We are of similar size, height, stature and ability, he knows these cars well so I am getting itchy feet now to just get out there and get the job done.”

“We have been working pretty hard over these last few weeks during the mid season break and I don’t think we should be counted out,” he said.

Baird has driven for the Toll Holden Racing Team for the past two seasons and this year shifts across to the organisation’s sister team. Having competed against Coulthard in various motorsport categories, this will be the first time the pair have driven together creating an all Kiwi combination.

“We have previously raced as rivals but now we will pair together as a team. Craig and I get on really well and he is highly respected, not only within V8 Supercars but motorsport internationally,” Coulthard said.

Baird is just as eager as Coulthard to get back behind the wheel at Phillip Island.

“I’m excited about teaming up with Fabian in the #24 Bundy Red Racing Commodore,” Baird said.

“I had the chance to get a few more miles under my belt at the Townsville event last month which has left me feeling confident heading into the L&H 500,” he said.

On the other side of the Bundy Red Racing camp, the youthful combination of Andrew Thompson and Nick Percat is likely to create an exciting partnership.

Thompson was enthusiastic about the Percat partnership with the 22 year old looking at re-gaining some much needed confidence from the forthcoming enduro events at tracks where he has had solid results in the past.

“There has been no-one more disappointed than me with our results to date, however, there are still a lot of races to run and I am confident we can have a better finish to the year,” Thompson said.

“Nick and I are great friends away from the track and we get along incredibly well so I think that has got to work in our favour,” he said.

“We have been training really hard over these last few weeks and we have been consciously focusing on developing that relationship. I am optimistic about our chances.”

At only 21 years of age, South Australian born Percat already has a glowing CV. He finished runner up in the 2008 Formula Ford Championship in his first full year in the category. He then went on to win the Championship the following year, and not only did he take home the silverware but he also surpassed Steven Richards in winning the most races in the one season.

The fast young gun is currently sitting third in the Fujitsu Series Championship and is thrilled to be partnering Thompson in the Phillip Island enduro in a couple of weeks time.

“This is a fantastic break for me and I am grateful to Walkinshaw Racing for the opportunity,” Percat said.

“I have been fortunate enough to have had a solid relationship with Walkinshaw Racing since 2007 and to get the call up for Phillip Island is an honour.”

“I sat down with Craig Wilson and discussed my options for this year and partnering with Andrew Thompson was an opportunity I had hoped would become a reality.”

“We are only a very young combination and we are competing against guys with a lot more experience but I think we have the potential to put together a strong result,” he said.

In addition to confirming its driver line-up, Bundaberg Red Racing also unveiled a striking new black livery that will debut at the Phillip Island event. The #10 and #24 Bundy Red Racing Commodores will run the livery for the rest of the 2010 season.

Bundy fans were given a taste of the “Make your Smooth” campaign at the Hidden Valley and Townsville events with both Commodores running a new bonnet and roof design before a sharper and more distinctive livery was revealed today.

The new livery is an evolution of the Bundaberg Rum label and reflects the company’s new brand legacy which drives a sense of industrial masculinity.

The livery features a predominantly black paint scheme and the new Bundy R Bear who stands taller and prouder on the side of Coulthard and Thompson’s cars.

The re-branding exercise has been rolled out across all of Bundaberg Rum’s brands and has now extended to their race team.  

“We’re excited about having the experienced Craig Baird within the team, as well as being able to give an up-and-comer like Nick Percat a chance in the enduros,” Bundaberg Rum Marketing Manager Matt Bruhn said.

“We love the new livery and hope it will encourage the team towards some great results in the back half of the season,” he said.

The new Bundy Red Racing Commodores as well as the team’s four drivers will participate in a test day tomorrow at Winton Motor Raceway before the Phillip Island event on September 10 – 12.