THEY might consider themselves to be part of a family team, but this weekend father and son duo Gerrard and Jarrod Mabbitt will square off against each other for the chance to claim the Victorian Formula 500 Championship.
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The Mabbitt’s have been racing nearly every weekend in preparation for the titles, despite the start of the 2013-2014 Stampede Series being disrupted by poor weather.
The pair are self-sponsored by Gerrard’s earthmoving business, GT Earthmovers, and will travel to Simpson to contest the state titles tomorrow.
“It’s been nice to be able to race alongside Jarrod in a sport that is really family orientated,” Gerrard said.
“Pretty much all the Mabbitts are on the speedway these days – once it gets in your blood it’s in there for good.
“My daughter races in the junior division and I grew up with rally but changed to sprintcars so that I could race them with my son.”
Jarrod,17, is in his first season racing in the senior division but is yet to beat his father.
“He hasn’t beaten me yet and that’s the fun between us – but there won’t be a prouder dad anywhere once he does beat me,” Gerrard said.
“For myself – I’d love to finish inside the top five, and while he’s still learning he has showed some promise over the past few races and it will be interesting to see how we go against each other because our cars are almost identical in every single way.”
The pair aren’t the only Ballarat drivers entered in the 39-car event, with Ballarat’s Tyler Carter also having a crack at the title.
The Stampede Series commenced in November of 2013 and will visit Ballarat in on April 5 before wrapping up on April 26.