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Nathan Pretty to race jetsprint boat this weekend

Wednesday 18 January 2012, 2:51PM

By JetPro Ltd Media/PR

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V8Supercar driver Nathan Pretty will race at this weekend's Jetpro Jetsprint Championship event being held near Featherston as a build-up to the World Series in mid-February.
V8Supercar driver Nathan Pretty will race at this weekend's Jetpro Jetsprint Championship event being held near Featherston as a build-up to the World Series in mid-February. Credit: Lance Hastie

FEATHERSTON

V8Supercar driver Nathan Pretty from Melbourne Australia will be one of the entries to the Whitepointer Boats Group A category contesting Sunday’s third round of the Jetpro Jetsprint Championship at Featherston’s Tauherinikau race course.

Entered to the two-round World Series event starting at Featherston on 11 February, Pretty says he jumped at the opportunity to visit New Zealand and race a jet sprint boat.

“Absolutely, well and truly excited about returning,” says 38-year-old Pretty about the Sunday 22 January event. “Andrew (Guthrie) and I have managed to put a package together so that I can have a drive of his boat.

“I’m very excited about it because I know it is a good boat and they are a great family. It’s the same sort of situation I had here in Australia when I was racing for Phil and Louise Dixon, because they have the same family run team. It was just unfortunate they weren’t coming out to New Zealand this time. With the jetsprints being something I really enjoy driving I was more than happy to put something together with Andrew.

“I’m serious about the world title, so that’s why we’ve managed to get the boat entered for that round so I could have the chance to come over and see what we’re in for. Plus it’s a chance to get used to the boat, make a few changes and see how it all goes.”

Following Sunday’s third round of the Jetpro Jetsprint Championship, Pretty will depart early to catch connecting flights home before he heads for Europe.

“I’ve got to get organised to get back to Wellington on the Sunday night to arrive back in Melbourne Monday morning before flying out to Germany in the afternoon.”

Needing to memorise 22 turns that will make up the racing course, Pretty will get four qualifying runs to learn the circuit. Elimination heats begin in the afternoon, starting with the top-12 fastest from qualifying, which will cut to eight, then top-five with the final three shooting out for the podium.

Spectator entry opens at 11am, tickets are $20 for adults, children 5-15 years $5, under five years are free. The Tauherinikau race course is sign posted for spectator entry and is located 4.5 kilometres north of Featherston on SH2.