Richards Targets Another Top Result at Pukekohe Opener

A new season and all to play for as the country's toughest motorsport contest the BNT V8s head to what will no doubt be another exciting and aggressive opening round at Pukekohe Park Raceway this weekend.

Hamilton battler Simon Richards scored high this time last year at the South Auckland circuit claiming a top 10 qualification and two top 10 race finishes putting a glossy sheen to the start of his season's campaign in ninth place.

"We want to start the season off with a top result just like we did last year and keep it going from there." said Richards.

Richards held a top 10 spot throughout the first half of the season and remained on target until a large crash at Timaru opened the door for other drivers to overtake him in the standings in what became an incredibly tight battle for championship placings over the final two rounds.

Once the dust had settled from the aggressive Ford vs Holden battles he eventually placed 14th, but refreshed and with a clean points board Richards believes he and the team are capable of better than that and is ready for another crack at a battle from within the top 10.

This year improvements made to the SEW Eurodrive BA Ford include the installation of a new brake package from Performance Friction Brakes introduced into the series this season. With larger rotors on all four wheels and thicker brake pads all round the upgraded package now standard for the BNTV8s should instill confidence in the drivers of the ability to pull up their race cars as needed.

"We put the package on and so far we are pretty happy with how it is going. We had one day on them but really need one more just to be sure and to fine tune them to the rest of the car." he says.

"We are all really looking forward to Pukekohe and hoping to have another good run and start to the season. It will all come down to qualifying, it's not getting any easier and there are more good drivers coming into the series this season." he says.

This will be Simon Richards' sixth season in the BNT V8s where he has competed against the best drivers of New Zealand and several from Australia. This season will be no different with two Australian V8 Supercar drivers entering the series, young 17 year old Scott Mclaughlin from the development series and veteran Jason Bargwanna bringing his experience from the big game over into the NZ series.

Of course there is no shortage of local talent including defending champion Craig Baird and fresh from stepping onto the V8 Supercars podium twice at Surfers Paradise last month John McIntyre. Not to mention past champion Kayne Scott and multiple race winner Angus Fogg.

The first round of the season promises to be aggressive and exciting taking place over two days at the Pukekohe Park Raceway on the 6th and 7th November.

BNT V8s qualifying session followed by a Top 10 one lap only shootout takes place on Saturday afternoon with all three races being held on Sunday.