Island a first for Owen

By Justin Robertson
STEVE Owen will be revving up his V8 Holden for the first time at this week’s Phillip Island 500 endurance event.
Owen, who has been driving for 11 years, will go into the race brimming with confidence after a series of successful test days at the Queensland Raceway in the past few weeks.
“It’s looking good at the moment for Phillip Island and it will be challenging, of course, but I’m confident of a good result,” he said.
“With Bathurst and the Indy also coming up, I’m hoping things go well at the Island.”
With major team sponsor Vodafone on board, as well as new personal sponsor, Barry Bourke Holden of Berwick, the 36-year-old said he’d had to adjust to being in a bigger team.
“I used to be a full-time driver with a middle-of-the-road team and now I’m a part-time driver with Vodafone, which are the best,” he said. “It’s still a big change for me being in a much more competitive team.”
Owen won his first race of the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series at Townsville this year, but is excited at joining defending V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup at the Phillip Island and Bathurst endurance events.
“It’s going to be very competitive, but I’m definitely up for the challenge,” he said.
“James Courtney and Will Davison will be up there, but hopefully we can cross the line first.”
Even after more than a decade of driving, for Owen there’s nothing he’d rather be doing.
“This year has been great to get on board with big sponsors and the massive events,” he said.
“Driving is what I do … and I love doing it.”