MOTORSPORT - Lobb all fired up for ENZED V8 Utes season opener

Caine Lobb is ready to reignite the flames at the opening round of the ENZED V8 Ute Series 2008-9 season at the Manfeild track in Feilding this weekend.
As a rookie driver last season, Lobb managed to pick up a podium placing in every race he finished but one. Manfeild is where Lobb cut his teeth competing and winning winter series championships in Formula First and Formula Fords before moving to the Mark Cromie Holden Racing Team earlier this year.
"The circuit is one of those where you can go really well or you can just not do well at all. We will just have to wait and see but I can't wait to get back into it," Lobb said.
Lobb and team principal Mark Cromie are heading to the Manfeild Autocourse for the weekend's racing.
Throughout his first season in the race car, a series of mishaps plagued Lobb's progress in the championship standings.
Battling throughout the six-round season with leaders Matthew Lockwood and Simon Beirne earlier in the year, Lobb eventually finished in fourth place just one point behind Mack Peach with Lockwood claiming the title ahead of Beirne at the final round in June.
At this stage, it seems as though the battles of that season will be rekindled this weekend with the same fast drivers coming back for more in the new season which stretches through to May 2009.
Although Lobb is mostly interested in getting back into the cockpit of the NZV8 ute, he will also be celebrating his 20th birthday tomorrow.
After getting started in karts at the local Whangarei track in 1996, Lobb could now be considered a veteran driver with a 12-year career in motorsport.
After Manfeild this weekend, the season will continue with round two at the historic Pukekohe Park Raceway south of Auckland, before taking a break over the Christmas season.
The third round will be held as part of the A1GP event at Taupo Motorsport Park on January 23.
From there, the Holden and Ford battle will head to the South Island for three rounds at Powerbuilt Raceway Ruapuna, Timaru International Motor Raceway and Teretonga Park Raceway, all held in March.