Porsche Championship in the balance for Gaunt

With half a hand on the 2010/2011 NZ Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge title, Auckland’s Triple X Motorsport driver Daniel Gaunt says he will treat this weekend’s 11-13 March final round of competition at Taupo like any other.

The sixth event on the summer series calendar, three races stand between Gaunt and another New Zealand championship. Leading the six-car team based in Penrose, Gaunt is also poised at handing a fourth successive title to the operation in what is its fourth season of competition.

Adding pressure to the 26-year-old North Shore based driver’s championship chances, the first race of the weekend includes a pit-stop. Covering 30-laps of the 3.5 kilometre circuit east of the Taupo township, the Saturday evening race will be his greatest risk at upsetting his title chances.

“There is a lot of added pressure obviously but its important not to think about that and just do the best job you can on the day. If it’s anything like how we’ve been going then we’ll be good,” said Gaunt, who drives the MPD VnC Cocktails Porsche 997.

“I think what we’ve seen in the enduro races so far – a lot of it comes down to the pit stop. So far we’ve done well – that keeps my faith in the team to again do their best, while I’m doing my bit. And although I’ll be treating it like any other weekend – I need to go well.”

Third in the points, a mere 38 behind Gaunt, Gold Coast based Kiwi Craig Baird has made up massive ground to re-enter the title chase realm following bouts of bad luck early in the season. The first time he hasn’t led the title chase in to the final round, his ploy is to again take points from each race and let the championship sort itself.

“I’m hungry for results, so am keen to go wheel-to-wheel and see who pops out ahead after each race. The enduro events are a little bit of a lottery and although we run a very professional team, I’d much prefer to be in the drivers’ seat than doing the tyre change. But it’s part of our race so has to be part of our strategy and is part of the entertainment we give back to the fans,” said Baird, driver of the #1 ZM Mad Butcher Porsche 997.

Although in the hunt for championship titles, Baird, Gaunt and the rest of the Triple X Motorsport team have been affected in one form or another by the recent devastation in Christchurch.

“There are a number of our team who come from the South Island, including driver Paul Kelly, who has a prominent presence in the Christchurch business community. While we are lucky to be able to account for all our Christchurch based crew, we realise they are somewhat distracted at this time. At the coal-face, they have reminded us all how we must treat every day as a gift – the present. That we must carry on; do what we do, for it’s a normal routine that will get their economy revolving – to rebuild Christchurch,” said team principal Shane McKillen, who won’t be able to attend the Taupo finale. Away on business with his VnC Cocktails operation, he will hand his business branded Porsche 997 to Hamilton’s Ant Pedersen.

Mad Butcher CEO Michael Morton will again drive his Outlaws Bar Porsche 997 with Whangarei’s Scott Harrison entering his last round as a series rookie in the Mad Butcher Carpet One Porsche 997.

Solid results despite having only competed at two of the five events so far this season, puts Auckland’s Hugh Gardiner in a precarious position. Against professional drivers, the Auckland technician has recorded two fourth placings in his short time driving the newer 997 Porsche.

“I am looking forward to racing the final round at Taupo, and naturally I am hoping for a podium result next,” said the 28-year-old. “It’s a tough game, especially being a non-professional, trying to compete with professionals. My dad has always said to me, ‘Ace, nothing beats time in the chair!’ And he is absolutely right.”

“Also a large part of my philosophy involves finishing three races, at all costs. It seems like such a simple idea but at every round this year somebody’s hitting somebody else, damaging cars, not finishing races and wasting money. So avoiding any form of carnage at Taupo is high on my list as well.”

“I obviously look forward to seeing our motor-racing friends and family from Canterbury on and at the track this weekend. Kiwis are tough, life goes on, Christchurch will be the friendly garden city that we all love and I especially look forward to racing down there every November!”

With the team arriving in Taupo on the Wednesday they will have the VnC Cocktails Porsche on display at Liquorland, in the afternoon with driver Daniel Gaunt signing a limited edition poster. The car will be on display again on Thursday at Grantleys Liquor.

Action for the weekend starts on the Friday with two test sessions early in the day before they get to treat hospitality guests to a hot-lap ride late in the afternoon. Following qualifying to decide the start grid on Saturday, the team will be steadfast focussed on the 5pm 30-lap pit-stop race. Sunday morning 11:14am is a ten-lap race with the season concluding top-six reverse grid race of 14-laps to start at 3:14pm.