McLennan Rallies Support From Capital City

Rookie New Zealand Mini Challenge driver Simon McLennan heads off from his hometown of Wellington this week for his first race at South Auckland's Pukekohe Park Raceway.

Coming along for the ride is an entourage of fellow Wellingtonians including sponsors, family, friends and a mechanic, all who will aid the driver in various ways over the weekend.

Importantly for McLennan an integral element from his karting career will be added to his NZ Mini Challenge season with some mechanical support joining the team this weekend.

"I will have my old friend and mechanic Dean Williams from karting coming up with me. He has seriously helped me out over the years not only mechanically but with also with keeping me calm for races." he says.

The Pukekohe circuit seems simple enough on paper but can be tricky in parts and with some bumpy sections can catch an unaware driver out at times.

"It will be my first time racing at Pukekohe so over the weekend I will be looking to find as much information as I can about it from friends of mine that will be there at the weekend and already have plenty of experience on it." said McLennan.

"I have heard it can get tricky coming up the hill so that's one part I will be looking out for while racing there." he said.

The 21 year old karter had his first ever run in the Metro On Willis Mini Cooper S just last month at the opening round of the season at Taupo Motorsport park.

Despite becoming involved in a tangle at the first corner of the first race in his first season, McLennan went on to show he can stay close to the front runners and achieved a podium place in his second race and finished the round in fourth position.

Over the break between rounds the car has been locked away awaiting it's next chance to be driven in anger and McLennan is looking forward to making the trip up from Capital City to Auckland for the weekend's racing.

"I can't believe it has rolled around so quickly to be honest,suddenly we are heading off on Wednesday! But I am looking forward to getting on to the circuit and getting the car down that long back straight to see how fast she will go." he says.

On Friday the drivers will have two 20 minute practice sessions with qualification Saturday morning and the first race in the afternoon followed by two more races on Sunday.

At Taupo the young driver found he had plenty of time on his hands between sessions but this could well change this weekend with main sponsor Kimball Thomson from New World's Metro on Willis attending the race.

"This weekend is certainly going to be a lot more sociable especially with Kimball being there because he's right into his cars and racing so between times on the track we'll be having coffees and talking a lot." said McLennan.

His family support will also grow with his uncle and cousin also attending the weekend - no doubt they will find themselves quickly put to work in the team's garage where they will help to prepare the car and driver for the three races.