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Triple X Toyota drivers keen on Timaru

Tuesday 19 January 2010, 1:26PM

By Triple X Motorsport

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TIMARU

Last weekend’s opening round of the Toyota Racing Series has Wanganui’s Earl Bamber, New Plymouth’s Stefan Webling and Brisbane’s Chris Wootton confident of their performance at this weekend’s second round at Timaru (23-24 January).

The three Triple X Motorsport run cars have endured an opening weekend that shook a lot of issues from the open-wheel category ahead of the three-race programme at Levels International Motor Raceway in the South Canterbury region.

With each of the E85 biofuelled Toyota FT40 cars equal in performance, setup and driver ability are the two ingredients in separating the field during a race. While Bamber showed early front-running promise, re-learning the car and how it adapts to changes, allowed the former A1 Team New Zealand driver to work his way to the front after the opening race weekend at Teretonga near Invercargill.

“We’ve got a much better car; the car has improved ten-fold over the weekend so the team has done a fantastic job,” said Bamber having finished second in the final race last weekend.

Heading for Timaru, the 19-year old says race placings at the 2.4 kilometre Timaru circuit will again be dictated by qualifying.

“It’s tight and twisty with no passing opportunities – so qualifying is going to be even more crucial.”

For 21-year-old Webling, a series rookie, he’s looking forward to the tighter Timaru circuit.

“I’ve always enjoyed Timaru when I raced it in the Formula Ford. Again there will be a bit of learning being my first time in the Toyota but with Greg Wheeler and the team they will engineer a good car to improve my first season results even more. “

Brisbane’s Chris Wootton says the tough Teretonga weekend contradicted his early progress.

“Obviously I’ve never been to Timaru before but we’ll see what we can achieve. The lead-up to the opening round was going well – I just hope for a good run,” said the 21-year-old.

With two test sessions on the Friday, the all-important qualifying on Saturday morning precedes the afternoon 12-lap race. On Sunday morning there is the 20-lap Timaru Herald trophy race, followed by a 12-lap finale mid-afternoon.