So far, the initial 40 drivers in the inaugural series have put on a great show after just two rounds. As we know though, only the top 20 get through. So for that one person in 21st, there will be heartbreak at being so close… yet so far. After each round we sit down and talk to that driver. This week, it’s Evolution Racing Teams Marcello Rivera!

Marcello, you are our driver “On the bubble”…….21st, the top 20 get through, have you been happy with how your series has gone so far?

So far i'm happy with how my series is going because ive got a lot of positives to take from it. unfortunitly i had a slow start to the series as well as missing a round due to being overseas has held me up a bit on the standings.

Before the start of the series, what were your goals? What does success in this series mean for you?

My goals at the start of the series was to have some top 10 finishes. so ive certainly accomplished that and i'm now looking to aim higher. I've now hit the 12 month mark since returning back to the sim after a number of years off. so i think that i still have a little bit of improvement left in me with the v8 supercar.

You have been very fast at a number of rounds, Pole at Spa and leading the first portion of the race was a huge indication of your potential, but you have also been caught up in some on track clashes, what is the secret to being able to avoid those incidents and bring the car home with a great result?

One thing that I'm slowly learning race after race is that its really important to know how to pick your battles. We are all hard racers in this series including myself, however there have been times when ive reflected on my raced and wished that i had of done a few things different. Like battling other drivers for too many laps therefore jeopardising our race either from damage caused by contact or overheating the tyres.

We head into the first endurance race for the Sandown 500, is your approach any different to usual or do you think you have a better chance of success in the enduros?

My approach is much the same as all the other rounds. just focus on myself and getting the most out of the car without focusing too much on what lap times other drivers are doing. being a endurance race doesn't affect me too much, just simply means ill have to stay focused for longer and if we can put it all together i think we can aim for a top 5 finish.

How important is it for you to make the top 20 so that you don’t have to go through the qualifying series?

I dont really want have to the qualifying series so ill be doing my best to finish off the season well with the endurance races.

And finally what are your thoughts on the series?

I've thorougly enjoyed the series from a driver perspective. I'm a really competitive person so the challenge of racing against the best v8 drivers in australia is just what i've been looking for.

Thanks for the chat Marcello, we wish you luck for future races and hope that you can get “off the bubble”