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race news 08 aug 2011 EDITION 08

Nick Ross Reflects on Top Ten Season BNT V8s driver Nick Ross enjoyed a spectacular 2010- Bargwanna and then McIntyre throughout the race which 11 Championship storming back from the bottom of the was an accomplishment not to be overlooked and a championship ladder in the early stages of the season turning point for the team. to a top 10 finish after blistering performances in Timaru, Taupo and at the prestigious ITM 400 in Hamilton. Signs of the team’s race winning potential were again evident at Taupo Park two rounds later when With the season over and a new one scheduled to get Ross was once again fighting over the lead position this underway later this year at Pukekohe Park Raceway time with past BNT V8s champion Andy Booth in another over the weekend of 4-6 November, it’s a good time to Commodore. reflect on the success of the 2010-11 championship and the indication of more to come from Nick Ross and the Booth was expected to be the quicker of the two but Concept Motorsport Team. it was only a missed gear change by Ross entering the long final Taupo straight which prevented him from “We just want to stand back and revisit the season to maintaining the lead over the Auckland driver. wrap it up before embarking on the new one and a new campaign. We had some ups and downs but it’s good to Scott McLaughlin’s internationally backed Holden be back inside the top 10 and we will be aiming to move eventually won the race but it was Ross holding on up from there.” said Ross. for third place and yet another podium which proved Concept Motorsport could build a race car capable of Driving the Total Lubricants Holden Commodore Ross mixing it. took his best race result of the season at Timaru International Motor Raceway placing second after looking “We started from the front and it’s nice to know that once to score his first win until the closing stages of the race. we’re there we can keep up with these guys.” said Ross Although narrowly missing a race win Ross had held off after the weekend.

The MotorSport Company 69 Hutt Road | Thorndon | Wellington PO Box 3793 | Wellington P: +64 4 472 9559 | F: +64 4 472 9558 nzv8s.co.nz [email protected] TMC 01 But the best was left until last with Ross and the team preparing to once again shine at the ITM 400 Hamilton Street Race, the final round of the BNT V8s Championship season and also home event for the Cambridge driver.

A rain soaked weekend brought with it exciting in all categories and even more than the usual carnage in the BNT V8s races. Ross had a relatively smooth weekend with three top ten finishes leading to sixth overall for the weekend and ninth overall for the Championship.

“Our thanks, as always, goes out to all of our sponsors who without them we wouldn’t exist; and of course thanks to the team who all work so hard.”

“I’m very much looking forward to the new season and seeing if we can improve on what we did in this one and get consistently inside the top five.” said Ross.

NIck Ross and Concept Motorsport are supported by Total Lubricants, ENZED Waikato & Pukekohe franchises, Porter Hire, Stingray Marine, Auto Ltd, Teng Tools, Waikato Car Rentals, C&R Developments, Classic Cover Insurance, Leamington Auto Electrical, Hotshot Signs, Strautmann Hopkins, TR Group.

UDC confirmed for V8 UTES The V8 UTES are thrilled to announce they have secured us having been an integral part of the V8 UTES and the a naming sponsor for the next two years. UDC was an development of the series over the past few years. associate sponsor last season who took the chance to take the next step up in the sponsorship chain when UDC has committed to a two year deal with us and we former sponsor ENZED decided to step away from the will be known from here on in as the UDC V8 UTES.” series. UDC is proud to support the NZV8 UTES series for the next two years, they see this as a great opportunity to share a that is enjoyed by many of their customers.

UDC has been encouraging NZ businesses to ‘think bigger’ for over 70 years, providing asset-based finance for transport, plant equipment and more. For more info call UDC on 0800 322 888 or visit www.udc.co.nz *UDC Finance Limited lending criteria applies.

V8 UTES category manager Lindsay Dodd is delighted with the agreement.

“We are really pleased that UDC has come on board now as our full naming rights sponsor. Last year they were a very active associate sponsor within our family of sponsors. When the opportunity arose to take over as the main sponsor when ENZED decided not to renew our contract, they immediately jumped at the opportunity. However we were sorry to see ENZED leave

TMC 02 Event Director’s Season Briefings

A big part of the Championship season is the The briefings are planned for September as follows: management of the sporting aspects of each event for both experienced and new competitors. Hamilton – Tuesday 20th 7pm Auckland – Wednesday 21st 7pm Event Director, Graeme Robertson (Robbo) is planning to Palmerston North – Saturday 24th 10am run a series of pre-season briefings to help Competitors Christchurch – Sunday 25th 10am and Team Managers understand the series rules, formats and race management expectations for all categories The venues will be advised once we have some both Championship and non Championship. indication of numbers attending.

The sessions will be approximately two hours in Please email intention of your attendance to duration and will cover all aspects of event management [email protected] and let us know which (Schedule CH and Event Directors Written Briefing) and category you are from and which session you would like the important sporting regulations. to attend.

The Boys from the Bush are Back! The term “the boys from the bush” conjure up visions new engine etc... more new Motec goodies...and lastly of late 80’s WWF superstars Luke and Butch known as some new paint. “The Bushwhackers”, but no we are talking about the very accomplished team of Northlanders that run Carl Hansen’s Carl said he and the guys have been chipping away on monster TVR Tucson. the rebirth of the TVR for the past two years. Carl jokes as the TVR is so small and confined everything has had to be Carl and his TVR are well known in the motor racing scene moved or modified, “Dimo said he thought it would have in New Zealand and after two seasons off are back bigger, been easier to build a whole new car!” brighter and hopefully faster than ever, raring to go in the GT category!

After taking away all of the silverware at the end of 2009, Carl and the team decided the car needed a freshen-up! Freshen up.... Huh... why? Well Carl said ‘’the car in its old configuration was a little tired and was starting to develop small niggles that needed “sorting”.

The niggles consisted of the legendary 700 odd horse, The guys are continuing to work hard to get the car ready 351 CUI Rover V8 which had come to the end of its for this year’s rounds but it will be tight! Meanwhile Carl is development capabilities, the 5 speed Hollinger needed back in the gym working hard to get fit enough to squeeze freshening or replacing, the brakes were good but needed back in the seat. to be bigger and better, the suspension did a great job but new technology meant there was a few more tenths to I have included some shots of the car to keep you all be had and lastly the boys needed to lift the bar again in interested... (despite the guys asking me not to) Fingers engineering design and development with the chassis. crossed 2011 should be a great season...

After twisting Carl’s arm here is a sneak preview of the Cheers TVR’s new configuration. First up front, 401 CUI Ford V8 Hansen Racing custom everything! Block, crank, cams, pistons, rods, intake, exhaust, so you get the picture...

Carl was playing down rumoured upper 800 horse power numbers, he simply said “we are not going dyno racing, we just want to get back out there on the track and see how the new engine performs under race conditions”... Obviously the new Engine needed a new box, 6 speed Hollinger, new brakes, some new bits on the suspension, a number of chassis mods, a few more carbon body mods to fit the

TMC 03 Kids’ duathlon key part of Suzuki race series

The increasingly popular Grid Kids Duathlon Series has Suzuki New Zealand motorsport manager Darren received a boost from Suzuki New Zealand’s premier Stevens says it’s part of a broader association that race car championship, the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup, for ultimately involves the whole family in a day out. the 2011/2012 summer season. “It’s about backing our youth and being part of an Suzuki New Zealand is providing a brand new APV van organisation to motivate getting outdoors and being to move the Grid Kids programme to each of the six involved. rounds from Auckland to Invercargill contested by the Swift Sport Cup racing series. The Grid Kids Duathlon “The kids get to register at the local Suzuki dealership, Series is contested on the Sunday morning of the motor where we can bring greater awareness to the race class race weekend by kids in the 6 - 7, 8 - 9, 10 - 13 age and brand. We then hope the family makes the Sunday groups. They can enter the duathlon event as individuals morning duathlon a day of it at the car racing. It’s a great or in teams. opportunity for kids and parents to see the race teams before their racing. They get the chance to mix and Added incentive includes a $500 sports gear package for mingle, seeing what goes on before the cars head out on the school with the highest number of entries compared to the track. to their school roll. “The kids’ parents are people who are likely to buy The Grid Kids programme is headed by Taupo’s our new cars, so seeing them in competition is a way Shanelle Barrett, a two-time New Zealand Elite of reinforcing their durability, reliability and ultimately, Champion. Having represented New Zealand value for money while they’re having fun. It’s also the internationally in triathlon for nine years at world cup and atmosphere of being at the premier race series, the end world championship level, Barrett says Grid Kids is aimed result is a win for everyone - we all go home fulfilled. at motivating the next generation of potential competitors. “Plus the kids get a kick out of being part of the race “The Grid Kids Duathlon Series main aim is to provide action: ten finishers are picked out for the opportunity to an opportunity to encourage the children of New Zealand be driver name holders at the front of the race car grid, to take part in physical exercise. It provides children which gets a lot of photo and television publicity. Its with a chance to achieve something and be proud of further reward for being involved.” themselves as well as teaching healthy habits that will last a lifetime,” says Barrett. Barrett will have the use of a Suzuki APV van to move the programme from Pukekohe south of Auckland “Being part of the motor race programme gives us the starting 6 November, to Christchurch on 11 December, ideal environment to hold the competition, using the pit- Invercargill 15 January, Timaru 22 January, Feilding lane for the leg and the race track for the cycle 12 February and returning to Taupo for the final on 11 leg. It’s a ready-made venue we can easily manage March. before the car racing starts for the day. And having the support of Suzuki means we can piggy-back each other’s The Grid Kids Duathlon Series takes place on the marketing campaigns to attract people to our respective Sunday morning before the motor racing, with each age events.” group starting at timed intervals, returning for a 10:00am

TMC 04 prizegiving. Each finisher receives a medal and certificate along with an additional two admittance tickets for the motor race programme.

“Shanelle does a great job mentoring and inspiring these kids with her triathlon experience. And we also see it tie in with our 2XU (two times you) clothing partnership and our joint Triathlon New Zealand association,” added Stevens.

Upper Hutt 16-year-old Jamie Gaskin will be one Suzuki Swift Sport Cup driver who will compete with the kids at each event.

“He’ll be in the starting line-up to help motivate them and be an ambassador for what hard work and determination can turn in to. Other drivers will join in during the season – as from what we’ve seen, there is a lot of fun behind the sense of achievement.”

Suzuki Swift Sport Cup category has two races on the Sunday, where the 1600cc cars chase for points toward the six-round championship title. The road legal, identical specification cars are fitted with additional safety equipment (roll-cage, seats, belts, and fire extinguisher), performance suspension, brake pads and front differential. Utilising the standard engine computer, they produce 92kW power at 6800rpm with 148Nm torque at 4800rpm from the 1600cc engine (1586cc).

With a minimum weight of 1125kg, the cars have no other modifications, with teams only able to make minor adjustments to suspension alignment to optimise handling and performance for the track and/or conditions.

Series Calendar Rd 1: 04-06 Nov 2011 Pukekohe Park Raceway Rd 2: 09-11 Dec 2011 Powerbuilt Tools at Ruapuna Park Rd 3: 13-15 Jan 2012 Teretonga Park Rd 4: 20-22 Jan 2012 Timaru International Motor Raceway Rd 5: 10-12 Feb 2012 Manfeild Park Rd 6: 09-11 Mar 2012 Taupo Motorsport Park

2012 Int. Toyota Racing Series calendar Rd 1: 12 - 15 Jan Teretonga Park Rd 2: 19 - 22 Jan Timaru Raceway Rd 3: 26 - 29 Jan Taupo Motorsport Park Rd 4: 02 - 05 RODFeb Hampton Downs Rd 5: 09 - 12 Feb Manfeild Park

The MotorSport Company 69 Hutt Road | Thorndon | Wellington nzv8s.co.nz PO Box 3793 | Wellington P: +64 4 472 9559 | F: +64 4 472 9558 [email protected]

TMC 05