KEY POINTS:
Drivers in the New Zealand V8s racing series are excited about the opportunity to race on the new street circuit that is the hallmark of this weekend's Hamilton 400 V8 Supercar event.
About 28 Kiwi V8s are expected to line up for three races on the support card for the V8 Supercars, with leading drivers saying the desire to race on the new circuit, in front of thousands of fans, has encouraged them to contest what is a non-championship round for the class.
A Hamilton local, Kayne Scott, will have the dual experience of driving his Team Kiwi Racing V8 Supercar and his Fujitsu-sponsored NZV8 Ford at the weekend.
"I'm looking forward to racing on the track," says Scott, who expects physical and mental fatigue to be a factor as he runs from one V8 to the other because of back-to-back sessions for the two V8 classes.
"Street circuits are different, obviously. Adelaide is a great track and I think Hamilton will be a great layout too, with some high speed aspects and some slower parts," Scott says.
"But the real making of the event will be how the community gets behind it. Adelaide does it so well. It will be great to see Hamilton embrace this."
Having secured the title of 2007-08 New Zealand V8 champion when the six-round championship concluded at Invercargill's Teretonga racing circuit in March, John McIntyre is also excited by the prospect of racing on the new circuit.
"It looks wide, open and very fast; from everything I've seen. The organisers have done a fantastic job designing this circuit," says the now two-time V8 champion, who will pilot his BP Ultimate and Squawking Magpie Wines supported Ford for the last time _ the championship-winning car is up for sale.
"We want to win at Hamilton. There's a lot of pride at stake. Our major sponsors will be there and it's a fantastic opportunity for New Zealand sponsors to get the exposure with the V8 Supercar audience."
Many drivers will agree with Andy Booth that it's an important weekend for the Kiwi V8s, whether or not it's a championship round.
"We're looking forward to putting on a good show for our sponsors," says Booth, a former two-time V8 champion who races the Big Ben-Tasman Motorsport Holden.
"It's the big home event for Tasman Motorsport with Greg Murphy and Jason Richards running in the Supercars and me in the New Zealand V8s, and our new sponsor Big Ben pies will have a big presence."
Booth spent time at the circuit with Murphy and also believes the design is "brilliant", being wider on the corner exits than expected.
However, Booth cautions others driving in the support classes not to be over-enthusiastic on the street circuit.
"Lots of local drivers haven't driven on a street circuit before and it's vital to allow for a larger margin of error on these tracks, with no run-off areas and concrete barriers everywhere," he says.
"If someone crashes and our practice is red-flagged while their car is lifted off the circuit by crane, we don't get to make up the lost practice time."
While the Hamilton 400 races are not part of the local V8s championship, the races will be run under normal regulations.
However, the Kiwi V8s' third race will revert to a fastest-first starting grid, rather than the full reverse grid format they have run all season. Points from the first and second races will be added together to determine the order in which drivers start the third race.
A competitive trio of races is what is in store for fans as drivers such as Angus Fogg, Paul Radisich, Paul Manuell, Clark Proctor, Dean Perkins, Luke Youlden and Paul Pedersen battle it out.
- NZ HERALD
