Pitstop: Ambrose set on a win for team bosses

Marcos Ambrose has more reason than other Australian V8 Supercar drivers to make a strong showing at Pukekohe this weekend.

The defending champion wants to deliver victory to his team bosses, Ross and Jimmy Stone, who grew up at nearby Onewhero and made their first visit to the track as 12-year-olds to watch the New Zealand Grand Prix.

Ambrose managed to win one race last year and he came close to a round victory in the first year at Pukekohe, but time is running out as the Tasmanian intends to head for the United States and try his hand at Nascar racing next year.

"If I can deliver one thing to Ross and Jimmy for everything they've done for me over the past four years, it would be to deliver them a round victory at their home track," said Ambrose.

"It's one title that's eluded us and there'll only be this final opportunity in 2005 before the New Zealand round is switched elsewhere."

Records galore

Pukekohe has had its problems tidying up after the huge drainage works completed over the summer, but the track has been cleared for action and it should be faster than ever.

Drivers who tested there on Sunday found their times dipping under the class records and there are predictions of records galore if the good weather continues and the track surface holds up over the weekend.

Ford driver John McIntyre believes the NZ V8 record, set by championship leader Wade Henshaw last November, could be cut by as much as one second.

Gone are several of the bumps for which Pukekohe was notorious, and the resealing work, with a few minor glitches, has produced a very quick surface. There was some concern, however, at the crumbling edges that need to be curbed.

Whether the Supercars return is a moot point, but local racing seems assured of a home for some time to come.

In remembrance

All Fords in the Supercar races at Pukekohe for the Placemakers meeting this weekend will carry a special decal in memory of New Zealander Louise Teesdale, the Ford public affairs manager, who died last month.

Japan beckons

Aucklander Jonny Reid, who competed in the European Formula 3000 series last season, has switched to Formula Three in Japan this year.

The former national Formula Ford champion had been seeking a budget for another single-seater season in Europe, but has opted for Team Inging in Japan. He impressed the team when he was second-fastest in his first test session at Suzuka on a circuit he had never seen.

Reid was named along with fellow Aucklander Matt Halliday as potential drivers of the New Zealand entry in the inaugural off-season Grand Prix series.

Out of step

Should Rally New Zealand be concentrated at one venue, cutting out the two-district format with stages in Northland and the Waikato?

Organisers were pondering that conundrum after strong pressure from teams and organisers of the world rally championship, who say New Zealand is out of step with the rest of the world, where events radiate from one service point.

Rally boss Morrie Chandler has been arguing the case at the international Rally Commission, insisting that what suits other venues doesn't work here and variety should be a strong point.

Timo Rautiainen, Marcus Gronholm's experienced and articulate co-driver, put the opposing view: "This rally should be more centralised. We are running fantastic stages up in the north and some wonderful stages in the south, but it's too spread to fit the format of modern WRC rallies."

Students of the sport point out that Rautiainen's own Finnish Rally, whose stages are favourites particularly for the Scandinavian drivers, has one service base but requires long touring stages for its use.

And cynics would ask how long it will be before rallying is concentrated round a circuit like Pukekohe, with a burn down the Meremere dragstrip as a Superspecial?

Jordan calling

Competition for a place on the world rally championship calendar continues to grow, with a strong bid this year from Jordan.

Checking New Zealand's facilities and glad-handing important people last week was Prince Feisal Al-Hussein, brother of King Abdullah and chairman of Jordan Motorsport, which is mounting the bid.