NZV8 Utes Round 5 Timaru 13-15 March 09
MEDIA RELEASE
2008/2009 ENZED V8 UTE SERIES
Date: 12 MARCH 2009
Embargo: none
Race: ROUND 5 TIMARU INTERNATIONAL MOTOR RACEWAY, TIMARU - PREVIEW
KIWI STAR JOINS V8 UTES FIELD AT TIMARU
New Zealand international Chris Pither, formerly of Palmerston North but more recently resident in Australia, will make things even more difficult for the four leading drivers in the 2008/2009 ENZED V8 Utes Series at Timaru this weekend. The 22-year-old will appear in the series for the first time but he is no stranger to V8 Utes. 'The Kid' as he is known across the Tasman has raced them successfully in Australia and has also competed in the Australian V8 Supercar Series, both in the main game and the Development Series. Pither's presence will add another potential frontrunner to the mix this weekend as the series four leading drivers continue a championship battle that looks set to go all the way to the final race.
This weekend's round is the fifth in the series and to emphasise just how competitive the racing has been there has been a different winner at every round to date. Defending champion Matthew Lockwood 'The Phantom' won the opening round in his H20 Sola Holden before Mack 'BOMBA' Peach took out his home round in The Barn Company Holden at Pukekohe. After a trying start to the series Ford's top runner Simon Beirne 'Jnr Burner' of Christchurch took his Team McDonald's Ford to victory at Taupo and just last weekend Caine Lobb 'The Ginja Ninja' was dominant as he took a clean sweep at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch in his Mark Cromie Holden.
The addition of Pither in the Cairns Bins Falcon adds even more spice to an enthralling series this weekend.
Lockwood leads the series as it arrives in Timaru with 542 points. He began the championship strongly at his former home circuit of Manfeild and has never been headed since as he has consistently gathered points with strong finishes. Lockwood won the round at Timaru last year, the first ever ENZED V8 Ute round in New Zealand, and feels that his older VU model Holden will have more chance of a victory on the tighter Timaru circuit than at some of the other tracks the series visits.
Lobb of Whangarei is second in the championship and fresh from a superb showing last weekend at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch. That dominant performance has seen him accelerate into second in the points, just 25 behind Lockwood. At the conclusion of last week's round Lobb was looking forward to carrying that momentum to Timaru and the final round at Teretonga the following weekend.
Aucklander Peach is currently third in the standings while last year's runner-up Christchurch driver Simon Beirne is fourth. 'Jnr Burner' had a horror start to the championship this season after being t-boned at the opening round and then suffering engine problems at the next.
Outside of the top four there is plenty of talent and close racing. Dunedin driver Craig Paterson has done well this year in his BP2GO Falcon. So too has Graham Beirne 'Snr Burner' in his John Jones Steel Falcon. Frank Van Shaijik 'Shrek' is fresh from his best ever result last weekend in his John Jones Steel Holden while well known Christchurch businessman Mike Pero scored his first podium at Ruapuna.
Others expected on the grid this weekend are North Islanders Geoff Spencer, David Kernohan, James 'Huggi' Urquhart, Peter Robb and Bob Grove.
Timaru is always a popular stop on the championship trail. The friendly atmosphere and the enthusiasm for motorsport in the beautiful seaside town make it a favourite with competitors.
Other categories on an exciting programme this weekend are New Zealand Super Trucks, Hatton Horsefloat OSCA Saloons, Firestone Super Six Saloons, Kumho Sport Saloons, Paul Smith Earthmoving Classic Invitational, Toyo Tyres Pro 7, Kumho Pre 65 Saloons and Mini 7 South.
ENZED V8 Utes are powered by The Rock and fuelled by Demon Energy.
The series commercial partners include ENZED, The ROCK FM, Yokohama - the official tyre supplier, Penrite Lubricants - the series official oil and Demon Energy.
Provisional Points to date: Matthew Lockwood - 542; Caine Lobb - 517; Mack Peach - 494; Simon Beirne - 470; Craig Paterson - 432; Graham Beirne - 394; Geoff Spencer - 390; David Kernohan - 356; Frank Van Shaijik - 355; James Urquhart - 346; Mike Pero - 341; Peter Robb - 283; Peter Ward - 224; Bob Grove - 156; Ash Cairns - 107; Mike Lightfoot - 92; Steve Elliott - 62; Dayne Running - 27; Miles Worsley - 0;
MEDIA RELEASE
2008/2009 ENZED V8 UTE SERIES
Date: 14 MARCH 2009
Embargo: none
Race: ROUND 5 TIMARU INTERNATIONAL MOTOR RACEWAY, TIMARU - DAY 1 REPORT
CHAMPIONSHIP BATTLE TIGHTENS
The battle for the 2008/2009 ENZED V8 Utes Series got even tighter after the first race of the fifth round at Timaru International Motor Raceway this afternoon.
Caine Lobb won today's race, continuing his winning streak from last weekend's round in Christchurch. However he was under pressure all the way in a bumper to bumper battle with Christchurch driver Simon Beirne. Lobb of Whangarei, had qualified second fastest in his Mark Cromie Holden but the 'Ginja Ninja' got the jump on Beirne at the start and the duo cleared out to battle all the way to the flag. Lobb set a new lap record early in the race but Beirne 'Jnr Burner' dropped the mark still further later in the race in his Team McDonald's Falcon. Lobb crossed the line just .3 of a second in front of Beirne, with defending champion and current championship leader Matthew Lockwood in third place in his H20 Sola Holden. Lockwood 'The Phantom' is struggling for pace at this stage of the round but continues to rack up points in his title defence.
Craig 'Paddy' Paterson of Dunedin was fourth in another successful outing in his BP2GO Falcon while Graham Beirne 'Snr Burner' was fifth in his John Jones Steel Falcon with Mack 'BOMBA' Peach sixth in The Barn Company Holden.
Bob "Sly & Dirty' Grove made a welcome return to the series with an eighth placing in his Freightliner Falcon.
Unfortunately the keenly anticipated appearance of kiwi international Chris Pither 'The Kid' did not eventuate when engine parts did not arrive in time for his Cairns Bins Falcon.
Today's result means the championship points battle has narrowed even further. Lockwood still leads but the gap between he, Lobb, Peach and Jnr Burner is just 68 points.
Tomorrow competitors face three more races in this the penultimate round before the finale at Teretonga Park next weekend.
ENZED V8 Utes are powered by The Rock and fuelled by Demon Energy.
The series commercial partners include ENZED, The ROCK FM, Yokohama - the official tyre supplier, Penrite Lubricants - the series official oil and Demon Energy.
Provisional Points to date: Matthew Lockwood - 573; Caine Lobb - 556; Mack Peach - 521; Simon Beirne - 505; Craig Paterson - 461; Graham Beirne - 422; Geoff Spencer - 414; Frank Van Shaijik - 378; David Kernohan - 378; Mike Pero - 367; James Urquhart - 366; Peter Robb - 304; Peter Ward - 224; Bob Grove - 181; Ash Cairns - 107; Mike Lightfoot - 92; Steve Elliott - 62; Dayne Running - 27; Miles Worsley - 0;
MEDIA RELEASE
2008/2009 ENZED V8 UTE SERIES
Date: 15 MARCH 2009
Embargo: none
Race: ROUND 5 TIMARU INTERNATIONAL MOTOR RACEWAY, TIMARU - EVENT REPORT
CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR EPIC SHOWDOWN
Whangarei driver Caine Lobb 'The Ginja Ninja' stormed to within one point of championship leader Matthew Lockwood when he won three of the four races at the penultimate round of the 2008/2009 ENZED V8 Utes Series at the Timaru International Motor Raceway this weekend.
Lockwood has led the championship since the first round of the series in November but Lobb has made huge inroads in the last two weeks, winning all four races at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch last weekend before winning three of the four on offer at Timaru. The end result of his late season burst is that he will arrive at the final round of the series at Teretonga Park next weekend with 669 points while Lockwood will begin the round with 670 points.
Lobb won Saturday's race, the first of the round, in his Mark Cromie Holden from Simon 'Jnr Burner' Beirne in the Team McDonald's Falcon after a great dice all the way to the flag. The pace was on as Lobb broke the lap record early in the race before Beirne lowered it still further. The following day, on Sunday morning, Mack 'BOMBA' Peach won the second race in The Barn Company Holden. Peach led across the line from Lobb and Lockwood - 'The Phantom', in his H20 Sola Holden. Frank Van Shaijik 'Shrek' of Christchurch had led for most of the race in his John Jones Steel Holden only to be turned around near the end of the race. Beirne lowered his own lap record during the contest and ended the race in fourth place. The top six was rounded out by James 'Huggi' Urquhart and Mike Pero - 'The Loan Ranger'.
Lobb came back to win the third race of the round although he took a long time to get past Matthew Lockwood who eventually finished second. Beirne took third after an awesome battle with Craig 'Paddy' Paterson of Dunedin in the BP2GO Falcon. Peach was fifth, followed by Peter 'Rocketman' Robb of Wanganui. Pero struck problems during the race while Van Shaijik was hit by 'Huggi' Urquhart at the hairpin while sideways across the track. The incident ended his race.
Lobb also won the final race, leading home Beirne, Lockwood, Peach and Paterson.
Lobb said his Timaru victories were not as easy as those at Ruapuna last week. "I had to be a little defensive but it was good clean racing." Meanwhile Lockwood said he struggled for pace saying it was partly down to him not driving as well as he could and partly down to the older VU Holden.
Kiwi international driver Chris Pither, 'The Kid', did not make his much anticipated appearance at this round when engine parts did not arrive in time for his Cairns Bins Falcon. He should be on the grid for the final round next weekend.
The evenly poised series now moves to Teretonga Park in Invercargill for a massive final round showdown.
ENZED V8 Utes are powered by The Rock and fuelled by Demon Energy.
The series commercial partners include ENZED, The ROCK FM, Yokohama - the official tyre supplier, Penrite Lubricants - the series official oil and Demon Energy.
Provisional Points to date: Matthew Lockwood - 670; Caine Lobb - 669; Mack Peach - 617; Simon Beirne - 600; Craig Paterson - 542; Graham Beirne - 493; Geoff Spencer - 486; David Kernohan - 448; James Urquhart - 440; Frank Van Shaijik - 426; Mike Pero - 415; Peter Robb - 377; Bob Grove - 253; Peter Ward - 224; Ash Cairns - 107; Mike Lightfoot - 92; Steve Elliott - 62; Dayne Running - 27; Miles Worsley - 0;
For more information please utilise the following:
www.nzv8uteracing.co.nz
* Jamie Kett Category Manager jamie@nzv8uteracing.co.nz 027 443 0800
* Gordon Legge PR & Media gordon@leggework.co.nz 021 944 985
Lindsay Beer
on behalf of NZV8 Ute Racing
021 351 499
Phone numbers for individual drivers involved in the series for the purposes of interviews and photographs of some competitors can be obtained via - 021 351 499 or lindsay.beer@xtra.co.nz
ENZED NZV8 Utes Calendar 2008/2009:
Round 1: Manfeild Park, Feilding - 21-23 November 2008
Round 2: Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland - 5-7 December 2008 (Thunder In The Park)
Round 3: Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo - 23-25 January 2009 (A1GP World Cup Of Motorsport)
Round 4: Powerbuilt Tools Raceway, Ruapuna, Christchurch - 6-8 March 2009
Round 5: Timaru International Motor Raceway, Levels, Timaru - 13-15 March 2009 (Truck Race Meeting)
Round 6: Teretonga Park, Invercargill - 20-22 March 2009 - FINAL |
