MOTORSPORT - Lobb to race in new series

MULTIPLE world jet boat champion Mark Cromie has recruited Caine Lobb and tossed the promising Northland teenager into the hot seat of a souped-up Holden V8 ute to contest the new ENZED V8 Ute series starting in Timaru this weekend.
Fresh from success in the MTA NZ Formula Ford championship this season, where Lobb finished runner-up to Dunedin's John Whelan, the 18-year-old was head-hunted by Cromie to drive the vehicle in a series that is expected to be a spectacular addition to the motor racing scene.
"I approached Caine because he is from Whangarei and I know he is a very good driver. He is also very fit, just the other day he did a one-hour enduro at the local kart track and finished about 20 laps ahead of every one else.
"Put any of the other ENZED V8 Ute guys in that situation and they would never make it," Cromie said.
The vehicle only arrived from Australia in the nick of time for the opening round at Timaru this weekend.
It is the first of a whirlwind series, which will move through all six New Zealand circuits ending with round six on June 15 at Manfeild Autocourse in Feilding.
Cromie said Lobb's success on a national level had made him the ideal candidate for the job of driving the ute.
"I believe that having the ute and running in the series will be good for the business and the way motorsport in this country is growing so quickly it seemed to be a good move." he said.
At Lobb's request Cromie has also called on the expertise of Christchurch based John Crawford who, along with his team at Motorsport Solutions, managed Lobb's campaign in the Formula Ford series.
Lobb was keen for Crawford's expertise to try and get the car up to maximum speed in a short time frame.
With the car only arriving at the last minute for this series, Lobb has not had any time on-track in the Holden, but is no stranger to the Levels International Motor Raceway in Timaru where just last month he took three wins from three races in the penultimate round of the national championship.
"I think that having John would just give us the edge we will need to be as fast or hopefully faster than the other drivers. Sometimes it can be all those little things that make the difference and John knows all of those. We also have Brian McLean who is very good and helps Mark with the jet boat," said Lobb.
Lobb will be competing against a mixed field of drivers and V8 fanatics, which include prominent Kiwis such as movie star Temuera Morrison and World Super Bike rider and British Touring Car Championship driver Aaron Slight.
After Timaru, the ENZED Ute Series heads for Invercargill's Teretonga Park for round two next weekend.
Mark Cromie says he is looking forward to the first race and in the future hopes to run another car which either he will drive or look at moving his son up from karting into the Holden.
The Holden utes for the series are built in Melbourne by James Brock, son of the late Peter Brock.