Play nzherald.co.nz's rugby Pick the Score competition - go to: pickthescore.nzherald.co.nz
KEY POINTS:
Wanganui's Earl Bamber will return to driving duties for New Zealand in round five of the A1 grand prix at South Africa's Kyalami circuit next weekend.
Bamber replaces Chris van der Drift, who took the wheel for round four in Taupo at the end of last month. Plagued with braking problems, van der Drift finished fifth in the sprint race and 14th in the 50-lap feature event.
New Zealand currently lies sixth on the overall standings.
Team owner Colin Giltrap said the decision to put Bamber in the car took nothing away from van der Drift's performance for the team. Van der Drift had been unlucky that a number of technical problems with the car had plagued both his races.
"While Chris wasn't able to stand out at Taupo, we still believe he's a talented driver. The decision to put Earl back in the car has nothing to do with Chris' ability as a driver," Giltrap said.
"The decision to put Earl in the car was made between the engineering team and myself. We're confident he can do the job for New Zealand in South Africa."
Van der Drift also contested the A1GP's second round in Chengdu, China, finishing 11th in the feature race and seventh in the sprint.
It will be the third time Bamber, 18, has taken the wheel in the A1 grand prix. In October last year, contesting the A1GP opening round in the Netherlands, he took second in the sprint race and third in the feature event in his A1GP debut.
A month later, in the third round, Bamber finished third in the sprint and sixth in the feature race at Malaysia's Sepang circuit.
Bamber expects the Kyalami circuit, in South Africa's Gauteng province, will offer a real challenge with a combination of high altitude - 1700m above sea level - and high temperatures.
Bamber has spent the last three weeks in an intensive high performance training programme in England, designed to improve neck, core and upper body strength and endurance.
As a result, Bamber said he felt "the fittest I've ever been" and was confident of a good showing at Kyalami.
- NZPA
