Motorsport: Reid in Black Beauty confident of good show at 'fast and flowing' Sepang track

New Zealand's Jonny Reid. Photo / Alan Gibson.

The A1GP title chase resumes this weekend at Sepang, Malaysia after a six-week lay-off.

The nation versus nation championship takes to the long 5.54km circuit for the third round of the title chase.

Championship leader New Zealand, with Jonny Reid piloting Black Beauty, will be determined to at least defend the one-point advantage they have over South Africa, if not repeat the success they had in Brno.

The double win in the Czech republic in October, Reid's fifth win in 22 A1GP races, now makes the Kiwi the driver to beat. Last year Reid scored his first podium in the sprint race, and gained an extra point for setting the day's fastest lap. But the team chose slick tyres for the feature race and the heavens opened.

Reid did well to keep the car on the track throughout the race and slipped and slid to eighth place.

"Last year it was like a swimming pool for the feature race," said Reid.

Reid is a big fan of the circuit and expects the lap record to be put under pressure given the increased competitiveness of the cars this year.

Reid said: "It starts to get really busy in the New Year, especially in New Zealand with so much interest in the Taupo round.

"Personally, it's been good to take stock of where we're at and also have time to reflect on our start to the championship.

"It's obviously pleasing to be leading the championship and our goal, as always, is to target maximum points.

"I feel confident at Sepang given we qualified on the front row last year and the track is fast and flowing, I love it."

The two rookie sessions are to be driven by 17-year-old Wanganui student Earl Bamber and Reid will take over for the two official practices, qualifying and both the sprint and feature races.

New Zealand on 31 points, leads South Africa, 36, with Great Britain on 31.