WATCH: CHARLIE SCHWERKOLT DRIVES THE TEAM 18 KENWORTH T909

The boss gets behind the wheel of his new Kenworth T909 prime mover.

Image: Mark Nelson/Team 18

Team 18 owner Charlie Schwerkolt enjoys getting behind the wheel of a B-Double race transporter when he gets the chance, and today he was pulling gears in the 18-speed Eaton manual transmission for the trip from Devonport to Symmons Plains.

It was Schwerkolt’s first opportunity to drive his new Kenworth T909 to a racetrack, hauling the team’s B-Double trailer set carrying the DEWALT Racing and IRWIN Racing Supercars of Scott Pye and Mark Winterbottom to the northern Tasmanian circuit.

Check out some video footage of the trip thanks to Team 18.

The truck was driven by the team’s regular driver, Mark Nelson, from its home base in Mount Waverley to the SeaRoad shipping dock in Port Melbourne yesterday, before Schwerkolt flew to Tasmania to pick it up when it docked at Devonport this morning.

“It’s only about a 100-kilometre trip from the port to the track on the southern side of Launceston, but this is one of my personal favourite trips to do,” said Schwerkolt.

“Our regular truck driver Mark Nelson won’t be happy as it was bucketing down rain for most of the day. It’s a bit cold and fresh down here, but hopefully we look like having a dry weekend ahead.

“The Kenworth T909 is an iconic truck, It’s a beautiful truck and my pride and joy in the race team.”

Charlie Schwerkolt behind the wheel

The Kenworth brand shares a long personal history with Schwerkolt, with more than 20 Kenworths currently running in his Waverley Forklifts transport fleet.

We’ll be posting lots more Supercars content over the next few days as the trucks rumble to and from the northern Tasmanian circuit.

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