Youlden and Powerbuilt Racing primed for Championship opener

Australian driver Luke Youlden returns to New Zealand this week to commence his third assault on the N.Z. Truth V8s Championship with the Powerbuilt Racing Team. The opening round takes place at Pukekohe Park, south of Auckland, this weekend and Youlden is ready for a strong season at the wheel of his Powerbuilt Falcon.

"It's good to be back," said Youlden today. "It's encouraging also to have Powerbuilt Tools back on board for another season."

The Melbourne based driver arrives in New Zealand after a successful outing at Mount Panorama, scene of the Bathurst 1000 last month. Youlden scorched to two wins and the overall round win in the V8 Development Series at the daunting New South Wales circuit and then drew much praise for his efforts behind the wheel of the Stone Brothers Racing Falcon he shared in the main race with Russell Ingall.

A full season in the Development Series in his home country has given Youlden his best preparation to date for the New Zealand series. "Two years ago I did the Porsche Series in Australia and last year I was only doing a couple of races here and there so doing a full championship this year has been good. I feel like I am on top of my game and driving well. The wins in the Development Series and my miles in the main race at Bathurst have given me a lot of confidence."

Youlden is happy after a recent test in the Powerbuilt Falcon at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch. "The Powerbuilt Falcon is a good chassis and there has been some good engine work carried out over the winter so it is a matter of marrying the packages and doing the job. We struggled a little with an engine problem last year but in testing the problem seemed to have been ironed out and it ran cleanly and properly."

After testing at Pukekohe Park Raceway on Friday Youlden and the rest of the field in the NZ Truth V8s Championship will face a new qualifying format on Saturday. The cars receive a 20 minute qualifying session with the fastest twenty progressing on to a further 15 minute session. Once that session concludes the ten fastest cars proceed to a 15 minute shootout to establish their grid positions for the opening race of the weekend over 14 laps later that afternoon. The following day will feature an 18 lap race in the morning with the final race of the round, a reverse grid event over 22 laps, on Sunday afternoon.

This year's championship will be fought out over six rounds throughout New Zealand between November and March of next year. Following the conclusion of the championship a Trophy Race will be held in Hamilton as part of the Australian V8 Supercar support programme at the new Hamilton street circuit. 

NZ Truth V8s Championship

Date Circuit Event
1 2-4 Nov 2007 Pukekohe Fujitsu Pukekohe 200
2 23-25 Nov 2007 Ruapuna GT Radials 200
3 17-20 Jan 2008 Taupo (A1 GP event)
4 15-17 Feb 2008 Manfeild
5 29 Feb - 2 Mar 2008 Timaru
6 7-9 Mar 2008 Teretonga Hydraulink 200 Finale

Trophy event 18-20 Apr 2008 Hamilton (non championship)

The 2007-08 NZ Truth V8s Championship website: www.nzv8s.co.nz