KEY POINTS:
Racing driver John McIntyre reckons he's in an ideal situation - he's the owner and driver for a professional race team that's made up of friends and family.
It's the first time he has had his own team in the Parker ENZED NZV8 championship, and he's relishing being
able to call the shots.
"It's hard work and rewarding," says McIntyre, 29. "I've always had an idea how I wanted to run a team and I think it also helps my driving because I have more input overall."
McIntyre has been winning races since he got behind the wheel at 13. He first drove an NZV8 in 2000, when he came fifth.
He has raced in V8 Supercar events in Australia and this year went to Germany to compete in a 24-hour race at the Nurburgring circuit.
This is his fifth season in an NZV8. He spent the previous two seasons driving for the Hydraulink-sponsored Tracer Motorsport team.
The NZV8s have completed two rounds of seven for the 2006-07 championship and McIntyre is second, behind Australian driver David Besnard, who took over the Hydraulink Ford this season.
"I was David's co-driver at Bathurst in 2004 in the WPS Ford," says McIntyre. "I stayed with him; he's a great guy and a very quick driver."
McIntyre's team - John McIntyre Racing - has transformed a fairly old Ford race car into one of the series' quickest cars. "We rebuilt this car from the ground up," says McIntyre, who works alongside Hawkes Bay engineers Craig and Perry Field and their father Richard.
McIntyre has several key sponsors, including high-profile BP Ultimate, which allows him to work through a planned series of improvements to the car as funds allow.
"Now that I'm the guy signing cheques for the panelbeater, I definitely gave serious consideration to whether it would influence my driving, slow me down at all.
"I'm still obviously prepared to mix it and pass a lot of cars. But if you look at my results, a combination of technical issues and knowing that I'd want everything repaired to my high standards, culminated in me driving better."
McIntyre says it has been fantastic setting up his own team. "It's a much better situation for my family. Previously I was selling cars six days a week. Now I have one focus; it's my sport, my passion and my business."
McIntyre's goal is to achieve a podium finish in each round. He rates Besnard and fellow Ford driver Angus Fogg, plus defending champion Kayne Scott, as his biggest competition. These four lead the series.
"If I had to pick the strongest in that group, I'd pick Kayne, particularly now that his team has had a sniff of success when they won the second round.
"David is a threat for other reasons. I know he's quick. Angus is also just as quick. He's a talented driver, but has already had two crucial spins this year when he didn't need to."
McIntyre is focused on improving the speed of his Ford. "We worked to build a reliable package to start and bank some solid points, which we've done. Now we can work on the speed and best possible set-up."