Motorsport: Super Black Racing daring to dream at Bathurst

Chris Pither during practice for the Bathurst 1000. Photo / Getty Images

They are rank outsiders but Super Black Racing Kiwi combination of Chris Pither and Richie Stanaway is daring to dream of Bathurst glory.

Pither shocked the Supercars field when he put his Ford on pole position for a sprint race at Queensland Raceway back in June while Stanaway was the talk of the Sandown 500 with a masterful drive in treacherous conditions during his category debut.

Despite those performances few people are tipping the Kiwi outfit to be a serious contender at the Great Race on Sunday but Pither knows stranger things have happened.

"With this race anything is possible," he tells herald.co.nz. "You have got to aim high. We have had glimpses throughout the year where we have been really competitive.

"It is just a combination of getting everything right - the race car, the qualifying car, the strategy and a whole lot of other things too.

"We'll definitely be aiming at the top - anything is possible."

While Pither has been tasked with learning most of the tracks on the Supercars calendar in his debut season Bathurst is an exception to that rule. The 29-year-old New Zealander has competed at the track for a number of years as a co-driver and in other categories and is familiar with the iconic circuit.

"It is my favourite track," he says. "I have had a great time here in different categories like the utes and the Dunlop Series. It is a circuit I enjoy and I think that is a reason why I have had some success here in the past.

"This year will be a little bit different. I have only come here before as a co-driver so coming to the event for the first time as the main driver will introduce some new aspects for me - with potential to do some longer runs during the race and obviously qualifying the car as well."

It is a venue that he expects to have better success at too.

"Here at Mt Panorama the circuit suits our car a lot more being faster and more flowing and obviously being on the hard tyre is not a bad thing for us so I am pretty excited.

"My experience here in the past tells me you need to chip away during the day and be there to race in the last couple of stints with a straight car.

"I am pretty confident we are in good shape."

Plenty of focus will be on Pither's co-driver this weekend. Stanaway, who has spent a number of years racing various categories in Europe, has hinted he would like a fulltime Supercars drive in the future.

His impressive display at Sandown certainly attracted interest and his performances at the mountain over the weekend could lead to job offers.

"Richie did a great job in those challenging, changing conditions at Sandown when we were on the slick tyre and everyone else was on the wets.

"He is a real talent."