Motorsport: Jamboree win tops big year for Rotorua petrolhead

Rotorua's Robbie Ward (right) and team mate Warren "Spook" Harvey alongside the modified R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R on Eat St yesterday. Photo / Stephen Parker

This year keeps getting better for Rotorua petrolhead Robbie Ward.

Ward, and his motorsport team, recently returned home from Australia after winning their class at the big Jamboree drag racing event near Brisbane.

The victory comes after they broke a world record in March in their modified R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R, posting the quickest quarter-mile in a 4WD of any type (7.32 seconds).

Ward said it had been a great season and winning the modified compact class at Jamboree capped it off nicely.

"We just got back from Australia from the Jamboree which is the biggest import drag racing meeting in the Southern Hemisphere. It was our first time over there.

"We had so much hassles over there it was unbelievable. Every possible hurdle that could be thrown at us was thrown at us ... so it was a pretty big deal to win our class."

Ward and his team were down at Eat St yesterday enjoying lunch while showcasing their drag racing car in front of Ambrosia Restaurant and Scotty's Bar.

A good crowd gathered around the impressive machine to hear Ward start it up. He said the modified R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R had about 1900 horse power and had cost about $250,000 to build.

Ward said he was now turning his focus to other projects and cars, but would be prepared to improve his world-record time if someone broke it. "We got the world record off a friend, who is also from New Zealand, and heard that he's ready to go again. If he beats the record then we will definitely try and get it back."

Ward is based in Ngongotaha and owns Rotorua Import Pro Shop (RIPS) Racing.