Baird knocked to third at V8 championship finale

Defending 2009/2010 NZ V8s champion Craig Baird has finished third overall for the 2010/2011 NZ V8s championship after being knocked from his secure second placing during the three-race Hamilton V8 Supercar weekend.

The seven-round six month race season saw the Gold Coast based Kiwi take to his former Hamilton home-town streets in the United Video Racing Ford, needing to overturn leader Angus Fogg for the title. Trailing by 32 points, Baird initially made the weekend harder for himself after hitting part of the concrete lined wall during the early Friday race qualifying. Scraping through to enter the top-ten shoot-out, Baird’s team returned the #1 United Video Racing team Ford to the track in the nick of time where he finished eighth fastest.

Saturday afternoon’s opening 12-lap race was Baird’s first chance at reversing his fortunes, finishing third overall to maintain his championship placing and overall title chances.

Ever changing weather added another element to the team’s weekend strategy. Making a late change to wet-weather tyres for the Sunday morning race, forced Baird to start from pit lane. Having worked his way through the 23-car field to 15th Baird was then hit heavily on the entry to the first turn of the 3.4 kilometre circuit, spinning him in to the escape road.

Regaining control, Baird resumed racing, but had been dropped down the order, to finish a disappointing 18th at the end of the 12-lap race.

“It was another one of those cannot believe it situations,” said an exasperated Baird. “As I’ve said before, if you do end up running down the field you’re far more likely to be taken out by a weekend warrior who’s only chance of getting somewhere is by taking others out.”

Throwing the dice to improve his championship situation, Baird says the decision to again use wet tyres was always a gamble that minutes after the race, would have paid off.

“Sure it was a risk we took by starting on wet weather tyres. The biggest problem was not being able to get out in time to take to the starting grid and having to start from pit lane. That puts you in a negative odds situation.”

“Then we got pummelled resulting in the biggest crash we’ve ever had in that car – in terms of structural damage. It bent the seat mounts, throttle mounts, as well as visible panel damage – it was a huge hit body wise.”

“The team had to work even harder to try resurrecting what they could of the car for the final and championship sealing race. They got it aligned best they could, it wasn’t days’ away but was close in terms of handling.”

For the Sunday afternoon season finale, Baird had been again running in the top group before a safety car incident resulted in the race being cut short.

“Had it been restarted I reckon we could have got there to pass for another podium finish – it would have been a great end to the season. It’s a cliché but that’s motor racing, what if, the weather, the actions of other drivers.”

With the team now having every aspect of their car measured for technical clearance to finalise the results track-side at Hamilton, they will then return to their Auckland base and ponder plans to contest the forthcoming summer season.

The United Video Racing team would like to acknowledge the support from United Video, John Andrew Ford, TRN Radio Hauraki, LeasePlan, WD 40, Redline Signwriters, Marsh Motorsport, Bluebridge Cook Strait Ferry, Performance Friction Brakes, Koni, Fusion, GER, Dunlop, PWR Eastern Automotive, VnC Cocktails and the Mad Butcher.

BNT V8s championship points after round seven (of seven) – top-four.

Pos, Car No, Name, Car, Hometown, Total
1, 47, John McIntyre, Falcon, Nelson, 1148
2, 6, Angus Fogg, Falcon, Auckland, 1122
3, 1, Craig Baird, Falcon, Gold Coast, 1064
4, 23, Andy Booth, Commodore, Auckland, 996

2010/2011 BNT V8s championship calendar
Round Date Venue Inviting Club
1 5-7 November 2010 Pukekohe NZIGP Inc
2 26-28 November 2010 Ruapuna Canterbury Car Club Inc
3 14-16 January 2011 Teretonga Southland Sports Car Club Inc
4 21-23 January 2011 Levels South Canterbury Car Club Inc
5 11-13 February 2011 Manfeild Manawatu Car Club Inc
6 11-13 March 2011 Taupo Taupo Car Club
7 15-17 April 2011 Hamilton MotorSport NZ