Triple X chase Porsche penultimate round title
Tuesday 24 February 2009, 1:22PM
By Triple X Motorsport
869 views
The six-car Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge leading team of Triple X Motorsport head to this weekend’s penultimate round of the 2008/09 championship season at Manawatu’s Manfeild Park Raceway (27 February - 1 March).
Led by Queensland based Kiwi Craig Baird (Barrons RV Taupo – ZM – Porsche 997), he is 68 points ahead of Melbourne’s David Reynolds (Placemakers – Hampsta – Porsche 997) and Auckland’s Daniel Gaunt (Beef and Lamb – Radio Sport – Trinity Media Group – Porsche 997), securing the team atop the championship ladder.
Baird and Sydney’s Rodney Forbes (Hampsta - MPD Dairy Products – Porsche 997) are fresh from the Bathurst 12-hour race before returning to the Auckland based team and New Zealand championship scene. Forbes is currently placed fifth in the standings and makes his second return to the North Island circuit nestled adjacent to the rural township of Feilding.
Also extending driving duty for the team, Daniel Gaunt will double his weekend mileage as he contests the Toyota Racing Series round of competition aboard the VnC Cocktails/Mad Butcher Toyota Tatuus TT104ZZ wings and slicks car. With a further three races to his programme, it includes the prestigious New Zealand Grand Prix title up for grabs late Sunday afternoon.
Placed 11th in the standings behind team principal Shane McKillen (VnC Cocktails – Porsche 997), rookie Courtney Letica (Altherm - Porsche 997) says his first laps around Manfeild in the Porsche are part of his learning process: “I’m making sure I want to race at Manfeild with an open-mind. There is so much to learn from the other drivers in the team so I can use their hints and pointers to make me as fast as possible,” said the 21-year old.
“Obviously I haven’t got any championship pressure so I’m out just to keep it on the track and get a good solid run - my main focus is on keeping it straight.”
This weekend’s return to the banked turns that punctuate the 3.03km Manfeild lap distance, provide improved tyre performance and offer numerous passing opportunities. With 75 points up for grabs in each of the weekend’s three races, Reynolds has been the only driver to perfect point-score a round this season while four-time champion Baird has won three of the four events contested so far.
Starting with testing and hot-lap rides on the Friday, the competition action begins with qualifying Saturday morning and a 12-lap race in the afternoon. Sunday starts with a second 12-lap race before the results determine the top-six reverse grid starting order for the afternoon 16-lap race.