NZV8 Utes Round 6 Timaru 22 March 09
MEDIA RELEASE
2008/2009 ENZED V8 UTE SERIES
Date: 19 MARCH 2009
Embargo: none
Race: ROUND 6 TERETONGA PARK, INVERCARGILL - PREVIEW
SCENE SET FOR SHOWDOWN
The scene is set for a showdown of epic proportions when the final round of the 2008/2009 ENZED V8 Utes Series takes place at Teretonga Park in Invercargill this weekend.
Matthew Lockwood leads the series as it rolls into Invercargill for a winner-take-all final. Lockwood - 'The Phantom' - is the defending champion and has led the series since the first round of the championship at Manfeild in November.
However Lockwood's lead has been eroded over the last two rounds since the series arrived in the South Island. At Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch two weeks ago Caine Lobb - 'the Ginja Ninja' - of Whangarei took pole position and won all four races to jump from third in the series to second. Another strong performance at Timaru last weekend where he won three of the four races has now propelled him to within one point of Lockwood. Lockwood has 670 points and Lobb 669. The scene is set for a battle royal at Teretonga.
Lockwood will be at the wheel of his trusty Sola H2O Holden, a VU model that is older than those of his rivals. However despite the fact he has an older ute and that he arrived unheralded and inexperienced into the inaugural series last season he has been the man to beat. Meanwhile Lobb has a newer VE model at his disposal, his Mark Cromie Holden. He is also a very experienced competitor, having finished runner-up in the National Formula Ford Series last season.
Lockwood was the runner-up at last year's Teretonga round. "I went well there last year on my first visit. Realistically though it's a VE track - it's long, fast and flowing. There's just one point in it though - it's pretty close." Lobb is pleased that the final will be fought out on the fast Teretonga circuit. "That's perfect, I love the place," he said after his successful outing at Timaru last weekend. 'It should suit the VE's. There is one point in it and I will be going hell for leather!"
Two other drivers have been involved in a titanic four-way battle since day one of this series. Mack 'BOMBA' Peach of Auckland in The Barn Company Holden won the Pukekohe round and is currently third in the series on 617 points. The other member of the leading quartet is last year's championship runner-up and the winner at Taupo this season, Simon Beirne, 'Jnr Burner', of Christchurch. Beirne won the Teretonga round in his Team McDonald's Ford last year.
While no locals feature in the field Craig 'Paddy' Paterson of Dunedin in the BP2GO Falcon has been upholding southern pride this season with some fine results. He is fifth in the championship after the penultimate round.
Extra spice will be added to the mix this weekend with the expected appearance of kiwi international driver Chris Pither, formerly of Palmerston North but more recently resident in Australia. 'The Kid' has raced successfully in the Australian V8 Utes Series as well as in both the Australian V8 Supercar Championship and the V8 Development Series across the Tasman. His presence in the field will make things even more difficult for the four leading drivers as they try to maximise their points haul.
Others expected on the grid this weekend include well known business identity Mike Pero 'The Loan Ranger' in the Mike Pero Mortgages Holden. Pero comes from a successful motorcycle racing background and is a former NZV8 competitor. Another prominent racer is Simon Beirne's father, Graham Beirne - 'Snr Burner'. He, like his son Simon, has been seen on Teretonga in the past in South Island Pro 7 racing. Snr Burner is currently sixth in the series in his John Jones Steel Falcon.
Others expected on the grid this weekend are Geoff Spencer (Spence), David Kernohan (Dirty Dave) , James 'Huggi' Urquhart, Peter 'Rocketman' Robb, Bob 'Sly & Dirty' Grove and Frank Van Shaijik - 'Shrek'. All have had their moments of glory in the series and while the leading foursome have pulled a gap on the rest the battles are no less intense down the field.
The ENZED V8 Utes Series competitors will take part in qualifying at the circuit on Sunday morning before four races later in the day. The first will be of 8 laps duration from a grid based on qualifying times. The second, over 10 laps, features a marble draw grid with a reverse of the marble draw grid to follow, also over 10 laps. The championship will be settled late in the day when the final race of the 2008/2009 ENZED V8 Utes Series lines up in order of the aggregate points they have scored at the round to that point.
The Teretonga circuit, the oldest in the country, is a favourite of many drivers. Other classes on the programme this Sunday are Pre 65 Saloons, Super Six Saloons plus local Sports and Racing Cars and the final round of the Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloons.
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;
MEDIA RELEASE
2008/2009 ENZED V8 UTE SERIES
Date: 21 MARCH 2009
Embargo: none
Race: ROUND 6 TERETONGA PARK, INVERCARGILL - PREVIEW
BIGGEST DAY OF V8 UTES SEASON TOMORROW
Tomorrow (Sunday) is the biggest day of the season for competitors in the 2008/2009 ENZED V8 Utes Series. After five rounds throughout the country since last November the new champion will be decided at the country's southernmost circuit, Teretonga Park near Invercargill, tomorrow as the final four races of the series are fought out. Spectators are guaranteed to be treated to a truly exciting conclusion to the championship.
Defending champion Matt Lockwood (The Phantom), originally of Palmerston North but now resident in Auckland, has led the series since the opening round, but that lead has been cut to just one point as competitors ready themselves for the finale. Lockwood won last year's series in his Sola H2O Holden after leading throughout the series but momentum is currently with Caine Lobb, 'The Ginja Ninja' of Whangarei. Lobb has won seven of the last eight races in his Mark Cromie Holden. Other leading competitors from throughout the series have been Mack 'BOMBA' Peach in The Barn Company Holden and Simon Beirne 'Jnr Burner' in his Team McDonald's Falcon. Beirne was the round winner at Teretonga last year and in testing at the circuit this afternoon he unofficially dipped into the 1 minute 9 second mark, believed to be the only competitor to do so.
Fourteen utes have entered the final round of the series with successful kiwi international star Chris Pither of Palmerston North making his series debut in the Cairns Bins Falcon. Craig 'Paddy' Paterson of Dunedin who is currently fifth in the championship upholds southern pride in the BP2GO Falcon.
Others on the grid tomorrow include Graham Beirne and Frank Van Shaijik of Christchurch in their John Jones Steel Ford and Holden respectively along with fellow Cantabrian Mike Pero. Meanwhile a strong North Island contingent has made the long trek south for the final round. Representing Holden are Geoff Spencer 'Spence' of Palmerston North, James 'Huggi' Urquhart of Auckland and Peter 'Rocketman' Robb of Wanganui. Driving Ford's are Turangi's 'Dirty Dave' Kernohan plus 'Sly & Dirty' Bob Grove of Auckland.
The pressure will be on the championship contenders tomorrow with qualifying and four quickfire races packed into a day where the title is at stake. The grid for the first race will be based on the morning's qualifying times and will be of 8 laps duration. The second race, over a 10 lap distance, features a marble draw grid with the third race grid a reverse of the second race grid. That race will also be over 10 laps. The championship will very probably come down to the very last race of the season, another 10 lap event, with a grid based on the aggregate points scored at the round to that point.
Also on tomorrow's programme are Pre 65 Saloons, Super Six Saloons plus local Sports and Racing Cars and the final round of the Noel McIntyre Drainage Clubmans Saloons.
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;
MEDIA RELEASE
2008/2009 ENZED V8 UTE SERIES
Date: 22 MARCH 2009
Embargo: none
Race: ROUND 6 TERETONGA PARK, INVERCARGILL - EVENT REPORT
LOBB WINS V8 UTE TITLE
Caine Lobb of Whangarei won the 2008/2009 ENZED V8 Utes Series when he won the final round of the championship at Teretonga Park near Invercargill today. Lobb made a storming finish to the series in his Mark Cromie Holden, winning every one of the South Island rounds held over the last three weekend's. The 'Ginja Ninja's' barnstorming finish saw him win nine of the last twelve races in the championship.
Last year's champion, Matthew Lockwood 'The Phantom', of Palmerston North had led the series all the way until today in his Sola H2O Holden. However Lobb's relentless charge since the beginning of the month saw the margin cut to just one point as the duo arrived at Teretonga Park where Lobb continued on his winning way to clinch the title. Lobb took pole position today and then won two of the four races, adding a second and a fourth place to his tally to win both the round and the championship.
After leading the point standings all the way Lockwood qualified fifth and then scored a second, two third's and a seventh in today's races - good enough for third overall for the round.
The championship ended with Lobb on 811 points and Lockwood on 793. Mack BOMBA Peach of Auckland was third in The Barn Company Holden on 730 points with Simon 'Jnr Burner' Beirne of Christchurch on 721 points in his Team McDonald's Ford.
The other major factor in today's round was former Palmerston North driver Chris Pither, 'The Kid', now based on the Gold Coast in Australia. Pither showed the experience gained in Australian V8 Utes and V8 Supercars to place second for the round, winning two of the four races in his Cairns Bins Falcon.
Beirne was fourth overall for today's round in his Team McDonald's Ford, setting a new lap record of 1 minute 09.46 seconds, his fourth lap record of the series. Meanwhile Craig 'Paddy' Paterson of Dunedin completed an excellent season with fifth overall in the round and also took fifth in the championship points in his BP2GO Falcon.
Lobb was rapt with his championship win. Qualifying on pole was important he said. "It made the first race pretty easy. There are a lot of fast people there and if you qualify somewhere like third and you are behind some of those fast people it is really hard." The final round, indeed the last three rounds, all went pretty smoothly he said. "We haven't had to replace a panel in the last three weeks." Lobb could not explain his strong finish to the championship. "If you don't expect things you don't get let down. We just plugged away - we have got the car working really well. It wasn't that good earlier on."
The win is an important one for the Whangarei driver. "To win something always looks good on your CV. I would love to do some Australian rounds in their ute series as long as I can get the money together." Lobb's ultimate goal is Australian V8 Supercars and the Ute Series is certainly a viable path towards that goal.
Prior to today's racing the ENZED V8 Utes Series held their annual prizegiving in Invercargill where the following awards were made:
Best Personality - Craig Paterson 'Paddy'
Best Presented Team - David 'Dirty Dave' Kernohan
Best Promoted Team - Mike Pero Mortgages
Most Entertaining Driver - Simon 'Jnr Burner' Beirne
Great Sport Award - Frank Van Shaijik - 'Shrek'
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: Caine Lobb - 811; Matthew Lockwood - 793; Mack Peach - 730; Simon Beirne - 721; Craig Paterson - 655; Graham Beirne - 601; Geoff Spencer - 553; David Kernohan - 538; Mike Pero - 512; Frank Van Shaijik - 507; James Urquhart - 503; Peter Robb - 466; Bob Grove - 327; Peter Ward - 224; Chris Pither - 135; 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 - 22 March 2009 - FINAL
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