Lobb expects track showdown with foe

Whangarei's Caine Lobb will line up in the second round of the Formula Suzuki Series this weekend at Taupo Motorsport Park, weary of rival Gene Rollinson.
Earlier this month it could have gone either way when Whangarei's Lobb and Aucklander Rollinson were tied a win a piece after the first two races at the opening round at Manfeild. But it was Lobb who headed back north the series leader after an unfortunate Rollinson suffered a DNF in race three.
"We were trading the lead in the final race before he [Rollinson] had trouble. His car is fastest in places and mine is faster in others," Lobb said.
Lobb believes the weekend showdown will provide exciting racing - and not just from the two favoured drivers.
"The field includes other classes with some different open wheeled cars and sports cars giving us over 20 cars in a race. Gene [Rollinson] will be keen to make up for last time so he'll be the one to watch."
The Formula Suzuki race cars are equipped with aerodynamic front and rear wings plus F3 slick tyres. Along with being lightweight at just 425kg, the 175hp Hayabusa powerplant provides an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 450hp per ton.
The Formula Suzuki Series drivers get underway with free practices today at Taupo Motorsport Park. After further practice sessions tomorrow morning the competition begins with race one in the afternoon followed by race two on Sunday morning and the third and final race that afternoon.
The weekend is hosted by the Independent Racing Classes who are providing plenty of exciting racing entertainment alongside the Suzukis with a variety of several other competitive racing series.
In just two weeks Lobb will be back under the tinned top of the Mark Cromie Holden Racing Team's V8 Racing Ute on November 5-7 for the season's opening round of the ENZED V8 Ute Racing Series.
He will make a committed attempt at reclaiming the title after finishing runner-up to Palmerston North's Chris Pither last season. Lobb was champion in the previous season.
This season the ENZED V8 Ute Racing Series joins Motorsport New Zealand's Premier Championship (Tier One) taking it's rightful place alongside headliner category the BNTV8s.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back into the ute and back into the tier one meetings which are always a lot of fun," Lobb said.