Suzuki Swift class heads south

This weekend’s second round [26 to 28 November] of the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup one-make car race class heads south to Christchurch’s Powerbuilt Raceway with 17 teams set to tackle the early series lead established by Auckland’s Mike Turley.

Dominating the opening weekend of the six round season, 23-year-old Turley will have to prove all over again why he should be the series favourite. With a ten point lead over Auckland’s Dane Fisher and 26 points ahead of Turua’s AJ Lauder, Turley faces fresh challenges and the possibility of reversed fortunes on the tight, technical circuit.

It’s a point Suzuki New Zealand motorsport manager Darren Stevens says could well see the South Island drivers shine this weekend.

“Going by the first round at Pukekohe, we’re going to see some pretty close racing.  It will be interesting to see how Castrol scholarship winner Tom Barker (15, Christchurch), Chris Cox (18, Rangiora) and new-comer Ben Erikson (18, Christchurch) go with the advantage of running on their own home track. I’m sure it’ll be a different story.”

With most of the field having never raced the South Island venue, series veterans Lauder (16), Marc Spring and Grant Ryan also have to be considered, adds championship co-ordinator Paul Burborough.
“We saw at Pukekohe some very consistent results from those who have raced the series before, so while the new drivers will be out to claim some glory, we can’t be surprised if the veterans dominate at the Powerbuilt circuit.”

At 3.33 kilometres in length, its flat nature affords easy spectating.  With the 1600cc cars so equal in performance, running three to four wide through the turns will add to the atmosphere says Burborough.
“They are all competition hungry and, with the number of turns at Powerbuilt Raceway, we expect to see the cars bunched a lot more closely – it’ll be very exciting to watch.”

Australian Allan Jarvis will also be amongst the debutants on the circuit set in the western outskirts of Christchurch. Jarvis is contesting the series as a precursor to the Australian season scheduled to start in 2011 and took a measured start to his New Zealand campaign finishing all three races at the opening round.

But it’ll be Turley who will be under closest scrutiny, having only been to the Canterbury circuit once before. “I had a lot of fun there last year, but it was our first year and I struggled a little bit.  I think this year I’ll be closer to the front – especially if we’re to keep to our plan of leading the championship,” said the automotive technician.

The Suzuki drivers get their first look at the circuit on Friday, with two test sessions before an opportunity to treat sponsors and guests to a hot-lap ride.  Qualifying for the first of three races over the weekend takes place late Saturday morning with an eight-lap race scheduled to start at 2:20pm.  Sunday features two races, the first one of eight laps in the morning, followed by a full reverse grid ten-lap race due to start at 2:40pm.

Building up to the Powerbuilt Raceway weekend, Stevens can now announce the premier Powerbuilt tool brand joins the one-make car series as a sponsor for the remainder of the season.

“We’re thrilled to have Powerbuilt Tools on-board as a partner for what is a more than an exciting start. We’re still running a very strong field of 18 cars, which adds to the competition and coverage we can provide for Powerbuilt. Now we can look forward to another fantastic weekend of racing on Powerbuilt’s home circuit.”

The Powerbuilt Raceway is located 13 kilometres west of Christchurch city and 24 kilometres from the epicentre of the 4 September magnitude 7.1 earthquake.  The solid circuit base of river stone has left no track surface scarring to unsettle the small 1125kg cars.