Careful start for Barker in Suzuki Championship

Softly, softly will be the approach for 2010 Castrol Suzuki Swift Sport Scholarship winner Tom Barker when the 2010-2011 championship gets under way at Pukekohe south of Auckland this weekend.

Christchurch-based Barker won a full season’s drive in a race-prepared Suzuki Swift Sport sponsored by Castrol to the value of $50,000, along with a unique mentoring prize that links him with leading NZV8 driver John McIntyre.

Since winning the hotly contested Scholarship, Barker says he has had an opportunity to test at Pukekohe, the fastest track the Suzukis will race at during the championship.

“Testing went really well and I am beginning to feel more comfortable with my Castrol Swift and the high-speed Pukekohe track.”

Barker says his plan is to gain some good experience in the cut and thrust of championship racing, keep his car straight and finish every race.

“Pukekohe is going to be tough, being my first Tier 1 event and all, but I am ready for the challenge. I have never raced there before and have only done one test day there but  I should be alright – I have a fantastic opportunity with Castrol and JMR to have two-times NZV8 Champ John McIntyre as a mentor for the season, I am very thankful for this and I will definitely make the most of this. Along with John I also have many other top drivers to give me advice, especially Ken Smith who will be racing a Formula Ford this weekend.”

“For the first few rounds I just need to bag points, that is what wins championships. By the end of the season I hope I can win some races, maybe even a round. That would be a good result for me, but mainly for now I am here to learn.”

The scholarship and championship also aim to develop the “whole” race driver, helping racers with tips on fitness, diet and on making sure they have the support they need.  Barker says he has spent a lot of time finding additional backers for the coming season ahead.

“I am very fortunate to have found a few great supporters and I am looking forward to giving them some solid results this weekend.”

Barker says he has already found the mentoring support from John McIntyre useful.

“I get on pretty well with Johnny, he is a great driver and a brilliant team owner. I hope to learn about all aspects of being a race car driver from John – everything from fitness, the business and corporate side and of course driving the car. I would like to spend the time going over in-car footage and track maps. That way I can show him how I drive around the track exactly, so he can steer me in the right direction”

The early cautious approach recognises the length of the championship season, which is part of the 2010-2011 “Tier One” premier motor racing series and will visit every major race track in New Zealand.

“Being a young driver I naturally want to win, but I need to finish every race and bag points where I can. Hopefully this philosophy will pay off come March/April 2011.  I know some of my opposition well from last year while I was working for Triple X Motorsport and also from the 2010 Castrol Suzuki Scholarship earlier this year. They all seem pretty cool and we tend to share the same goals. I am looking forward to racing these guys on the weekend, it is going to be mighty!”

The Suzuki Swift Sport Cup, a one-make car race class, kicks off for the 2010/2011 summer season with off-shore entries bolstering the number of New Zealand drivers chasing a national championship title, starting at Pukekohe this weekend (5-7 November).

Now entering its fourth season, the series for 1600cc road-legal Suzuki Swift Sport cars is contested across five months and six locations throughout the country.  This year, the series will also be launched in Australia, meaning young Australian racers are looking to gain valuable early experience by racing in the New Zealand series.

New South Wales-based Allan Jarvis is the first off-shore entrant to test the New Zealand competition, and will race at the first round.  He is expected to be joined by two more Australians during the season.

Many of those lining up to race this weekend are new to the series.

The Suzuki Swift Sport Cup is again part of the televised motorsport coverage provided by TV3 , with each Suzuki race broadcast on Gillette Motorsport fronted by Shaun Summerfield.  Sky TV provides additional coverage on its Fujitsu Motorsport NZ show from 25 November 2010.