Simon Richards Powers Up For Round 2
Saturday 11 October 2008, 5:58PM
By Little Devil Entertainment
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Hamilton driver Simon Richards and the Ballistic Motorsport team felt comfortable with the first round of this season's BNT V8s held at Taupo Motorsport Park last weekend.
Richards placed 14th overall for the round and could have been higher but was hindered by an off track excursion in race two due to an oil slick on the circuit.
With a long seven round season yet to unfold the team look to the future with both driver and team secure in the knowledge they will have much more to give when Pukekohe rolls around next month.
"Yes we will have a new engine for the next round which we hope will be an improvement on what we have got in there now. We all have visions of granduer with the thought of getting the new one but the truth is we will just have to wait and see." says Richards.
Although the team had a successful first round of the season with the car looking quick and competitive there is more work yet to be done to the team's BA Falcon.
"We have a little bit more development on the car to do which we couldn't get done before Taupo so we are looking to up our game a bit more when we hit Pukekohe. It was a good start to the season but we can do better. We are all looking forward to getting to Pukekohe." he says.
Richards went off the track in race two after a fellow competitor blew his engine in front of him leaving oil on the circuit; the excursion knocked him out of a top 10 position.
After a very good race on Saturday finishing in 11th, the driver now in his fourth NZV8 season was on his way to match or better the result but instead found himself clawing back the lost time to eventually place 20th.
A 15th place on Sunday afternoon's race rounded out the weekend culminating in a moderate result of 14th overall but the team finished the event with a straight car and cards up their sleeves before heading to round two at Pukekohe next month.
With a new engine, the car showing it can be competitive at Taupo and more to come for Pukekohe the team looks ahead to the fast paced circuit in South Auckland where they aim to stay inside that elusive group up the front.
"As always we will be trying to get into that top 10 which is where we want to be." said Richards.
The next round for the BNT V8s will be at Pukekohe on the 7-9th of November followed by the teams heading to the South Island and the Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna on the 28-30th November for round three of seven.