Motorsport: Team Kiwi identify V8 problem

Team Kiwi Racing, New Zealand's sole entry in the Australian V8 Supercar championship, are focused on getting back in the top-10 club in the eighth round the series in Sydney this weekend.

The team are determined to regain a place in the top-10 after rectifying a small part that has proven to be disastrous for the Holden team.

An oil hose problem cost them a podium place and two top-10 spots at the Darwin and Queensland rounds of the championship, dropping them to 13th overall.

"The handling and speed have remained good but we had one small problem that has had such a huge affect on our results," team manager Martin Collins said.

"When it happened at Darwin we thought it was merely a faulty clipping on the oil hose that failed. We checked absolutely everything and found no other problems.

"When we suffered the same problem at Queensland then obviously there were other issues. We found that the hose was half a centimetre short. Under race pressures and heat, the hose had vibrated off allowing oil to spill out onto the engine.

"It was such a simple thing, and probably the cheapest part in the whole car, but it had such a profound effect. It's a very costly experience for us and shows that there is absolutely no margin for any error in this game."

Collins said driver Paul Radisich and his team were frustrated by the problem because it had halted their momentum after a podium finish in China and strong finish in Perth lifted them to eighth place in the championship.

Team Kiwi Racing are looking forward to the challenge at Oran Park in Sydney, a tight and technical circuit that should suit Radisich's driving style.

"It's a track that has been kind to us. We know we have a great chassis and that Paul is driving brilliantly," he said.

"So we are looking forward to reasserting ourselves as genuine top-10 candidates as we push forward to the major endurance races that follow at Sandown and Bathurst."

Practice is on Saturday along with qualifying and the top-10 shootout and two 54-lap races on Sunday.

- NZPA