Motorsport: Sam Barry prepares for V8 series

Central Hawke's Bay's Sam Barry ponders his step up from the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup class to the New Zealand V8 Utes Series. Photo/Warren Buckland

Whenever Central Hawke's Bay motorsport whiz Sam Barry won a race in the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup series his thoughts turned to his late father Peter.

"Dad would have been watching down on me and he would have loved it ... he'll definitely be proud," Barry, 19, said.

His father, the popular Central Hawke's Bay farmer and businessman who died from head injuries received when racing for the Kihi Kihi Kings Superstock team at Palmerston North in 2009, would be even prouder to hear his son is moving up into the New Zealand V8 Utes Series which begins next month.

"I can't wait to get into it. I've had three seasons racing the Suzuki and the utes series is a natural form of progression for me ... it suits my budget and my rugged style of racing," Barry, a former Hawke's Bay speedway ministock driver, explained.

The Stevenson & Taylor Ltd engineer in Waipukurau was stoked to finish third in his last season in the Suzuki series which ended earlier this month. In his first season he was 10th and in his second seventh.

"There were some pretty good drivers in the series."

Barry, who will race a Ford, will be one of the youngest drivers in the 16-driver utes series and hopes his youth, fitness and stamina will give him an edge over some of the older drivers. With a practice round, qualifying race, a short race and three normal races at each round it can often come down to the survival of the fittest.

Barry has a handy stamina base from his gym work and games with the Central colts rugby side which won the Hawke's Bay championship this year as a flanker before a dislocated shoulder ended his season. Another plus is the fact he has raced at all the tracks the series will run at during his time in the Suzuki.

"Cromwell, Taupo, Pukekohe, Invercargill and Hampton Downs ... I've been to them all. It's a pity the series won't have a round at Manfeild as that is the closest track to home," Barry said.

"Depending on how well I go I would like to tackle a couple of rounds in the Aussie series towards the end of next year. Obviously it would be a big ask to win the series in my first season but I would like to finish in the top five and get a couple of race wins at least."

Barry is a big fan of Cantabrian Scott McLaughlan who races in the International V8 Supercar Championship at the age of 20. As a 17-year-old in 2011 McLaughlan became the youngest driver to race and win in the New Zealand V8 Touring Car Series.

Like McLaughlan, Barry, is an ambitious youngster with talent. What he doesn't have is the necessary sponsorship to fund his $100,000 campaign.

"I'm still looking for a major sponsor. Mum is helping me out through her Bel Group business but I'll accept anything in the way of sponsorship deals from a grand up to $12,000," he said.

The Central Hawke's Bay College product is equally as handy behind a microphone as he is behind a steering wheel and is never slow to give his sponsors recognition. As he listed his highlights in the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup series he regularly pointed out he would not have achieved them without the support of his sponsors Middle Hills Contractors, Neville Earthworks, Farmlands and Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd.

Whoever supports him next year will get similar treatment and no doubt the thumbs up from a proud dad monitoring his progress from above.