The talented Sloan Cox has confirmed his entry for next month’s Repco Battle of Jacks Ridge and will take on WRC-winner Hayden Paddon at the pointy end of the field.
Cox will bring his Mitsubishi EVO X dedicated hill climb weapon to the purpose-built WRC-calibre stage on former national champion Andrew Hawkeswood’s Whitford property and will immediately be one of the favourites to win the elimination-style event.
“I’m really excited about it – I wanted to commit earlier but we just had to put our plans together first,” Cox said.
“I haven’t been in the car competitively since Ben Nevis [the Golden 1200 event in March]. That was a new event and we had to learn the road.
“Like Ben Nevis – outside of the Hawkeswoods – no one really knows much about this event either.
“We are definitely going there to win it.
“We only really take that car out now when we think we can win or if we can break records.”
Cox’s battle with Hyundai star Paddon will be worth the price of admission alone. The pair battled at Paddon’s Golden 1200 event with the ex-WRC star coming out on top.
But Cox believes he has the ability and weaponry to take it to Paddon at the Repco Battle of Jacks Ridge given that neither driver has driven the stage before.
“Our final run at Ben Nevis was my quickest, even in the rain,” Cox said. “Each run we were getting closer and closer to Hayden.
“We know we are on par with his speed and so we will be going to Jacks Ridge with the aim of beating him.”
Cox joins a star-studded field for the November 15 event, that includes Bathurst 1000 winner Shane van Gisbergen, Supercars legend Greg Murphy, drift kings Mad Mike Whiddett and Darren Kelly and leading speedway racer Michael Pickens.
The event is broadcast live on Sky Sport. Tickets are selling fast and must be pre-purchased via Ticket Fairy with no gate sales on the day.
