Motorsport: A Kiwi title challenge - with an Aussie in the box seat

Photo / Greg Bowker

While the main focus is on the big boys of international V8 racing, the V8 Supercars, it shouldn't be forgotten that as with all great sporting events there is an undercard.

This weekend at Pukekohe the support entertainment is being provided by several other categories and chief among them is the final round of the New Zealand V8 Touring Car Championship.

It's a trifle annoying that a former V8 Supercars driver - and an Aussie to boot - Jason Bargwanna, is in the box seat for the second year in a row and looks odds-on to grab the Kiwi version of a national V8 racing title.

Bargwanna leads the series by 69 points from Nick Ross with Lance Hughes a further 30 points back.

If he clinches his second straight title, it will be the first time Toyota - or any manufacturer apart from Ford and Holden - has won an official V8 touring car championship in this country.

Regardless of his points lead over Ross, Bargwanna plans to go all-out at Pukekohe.

"What tends to happen in my experience is that when you start driving conservatively you start making mistakes you wouldn't normally make," he said.

"If we go there to win the races, and win the round, we'll wrap up the championship as well.

"The car's got a very good high-speed balance, it's very strong under braking and its power-down is good. They're all things you need for success at Pukekohe.

"I love circuits with a bit of character and it's one of the old-school style of circuits. It's very demanding, it's got the hard braking, the high speed from the hairpin right down through turn one.

"It's very exciting; it's a driver's track. It separates the men from the boys. I've always had good success there so I'm confident we can go there and have a positive weekend."

His teenage teammate AJ Lauder is back now his car has been repaired after its crash at Manfeild in February.

"If AJ can get up there and take some points off Nick that'd make it even better for us, but at the same time AJ could take points away from me - there's no team orders," said Bargwanna.

Ross has challenged Bargwanna all season and has not given up hope of winning his first championship. The meeting will probably be the last time he races a Holden, as next season he'll be in a Nissan Altima.

"Working with the team on putting this car together and at the same time concentrating on winning a championship has been hard work but it should all be worthwhile in the end - especially if I can put that number one on the new car," he said.