Motorsport: Kiwis battle for first A1 start

Young Aucklander Jonny Reid has laid down a challenge to team-mate Matt Halliday as the two vie for the honour of driving the New Zealand entry in the first A1 Grand Prix race at Brands Hatch next month.

Reid yesterday set the fourth fastest time among the 20 teams testing at the Paul Ricard circuit in France.

His best lap of 1m 24.590s was bettered only by American Scott Speed (1m 24.177s), France's Alex Premat (1m 24.392s) and Brazil's Nelson Piquet Jnr (1m 24.574s).

Trailing the 22-year-old Kiwi were the highly experienced Ralph Firman in the Irish car and Jos Verstappen in the Dutch entry. Both have had Formula One experience.

New Zealand manager Bob McMurray said Reid's superb driving had given the team a real boost.

Reid left for Japan at lunch-time to fulfil a racing commitment in Formula Three, leaving Halliday at the wheel. But with temperatures rising sharply in the afternoon, making fast times difficult to achieve, Halliday focused on testing different set-ups.

He will have the chance to try to match or better Reid's time in the final day of testing, for which the team have saved two sets of tyres. Reid had driven for the whole of the first day, setting the seventh best time.

Reid and Halliday are competing for the first drive at Brands Hatch on September 25.

Options are open for the remaining 11 rounds, with the prospect of Scott Dixon or Greg Murphy being called up when they are available.

The 25 teams will use identical Lola cars but drivers can be changed between races.

The A1 Grand Prix features 25 nations battling in cars with no electronic aids in order to create a level playing field and ensure tight competition.