Gil de Ferran will replace Lucas di Grassi at the Armor All Gold Coast 600 race for V8 Supercars, organizers announced on Tuesday. The Brazilian, a two-time IndyCar champion and former Indy 500 winner, will return to the Surfers Paradise circuit, having raced there on seven occasions during his IndyCar career.
Di Grassi, Pirelli's Formula 1 test driver, had signed up for the event last month, but he will not be racing for unspecified reasons.
De Ferran, who was most recently involved in motorsport as team boss for his own IndyCar squad, will take his place in the Mother Energy Racing's Ford Falcon alongside Jonathan Webb.
"I have always enjoyed Surfers Paradise – it was the scene of my last championship victory and I will enjoy catching up and racing with a load of friends and feeling the adrenaline again," said de Ferran, who had retired from racing in 2009. "There is a great mix of drivers here from a range of backgrounds so the racing should be brilliant. I am looking forward to the challenge and currently getting myself physically prepared."
The Gold Coast 600 takes place on Oct. 21-23.