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By Roje Adaimy
SYDNEY, Sept 10 AAP – The man who famously branded angry Holden and Ford fans “a pack of arseholes” at Bathurst more than 20 years ago expects the favour to be returned when Nissan makes its Mount Panorama comeback next month.
“I’ll say when they’re going around, there’ll be a few people calling out the thing that I said,” a smiling Jim Richards told AAP on Tuesday.
Richards created history when he and Mark Skaife drove Nissan’s Skyline GT-R – nicknamed the Godzilla – to back-to-back Bathurst 1000 victories in 1991 and 1992.
But it was his victory speech in the latter that gained most notoriety, with the duo booed by fans for being awarded the win despite the race being stopped due to rain.
That was the last time Nissan made the mountain trek, the manufacturer swiftly exiting the sport soon after.
Richards said he will be watching on in earnest as a new generation of Altima V8 Supercars hit the Bathurst track in October.
“They’ll get a great reaction. Although a lot of it might be in jest,” the seven-time Bathurst winner said.
“Nissan is pretty close to my heart.
“It’s brought back some new enthusiasm for me, watching the V8 Supercars.
“I always watch it but it was a little bit processional for a while. Now we’re seeing different makes and slightly different shaped cars – that to me is of great interest.
“And it’s going to bring more fans as well.”
The October 10-13 event will also see the return of Mercedes, who last tackled the iconic endurance race in 1990.