Wellington driver Brock Cooley fired an early wanring shot across the bow of the top three drivers in the NZV8 Touring Cars TL Championship today in the first testing session at Taupo Motorsport Park.
Cooley who sits in fourth place in the championship was over a second faster than his closest rival,, Turua's Brad Lauder, at Taupo this morning set a time of 1:38.695.
The official map for the 2014 Otago Rally has been released by organisers, with a great mix of old and new stages, and plenty of spectator opportunities.
Day one of the event, Saturday, May 10, sees the event head sound of Dunedin for six special stages, with two service points in the town of Lawrence in Central Otago.
The longest stage of the day is the monster 50km Manuka Hill test, which along with the first two stages, is new to the Otago Rally, with another two stages over 20km in length.
Invercargill driver Jamie Conroy heads to Taupo Motorsport Park for the final round of the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship this weekend with a 97 point lead in the series.
Conroy has had a remarkable run in his rookie season in the championship, winning thirteen of the fifteen races and four of the five rounds held to date. Engine problems hampered his Mygale during Round 4 at Hampton Downs in North Waikato costing him the opportunity of a clean sweep.
This weekend’s final round of the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship is the last chance for Christchurch’s Michael Collins to secure the 2013/14 title. Taupo Motorsport Park hosts the sixth round and series leader Southland’s Jamie Conroy’s has an 89 point lead and is on target to collect the trophy.
However with a maximum of 225 points on offer, any slip ups by the leader will allow Collins to take his chance at the title.
Last weekend Jason Bargwanna was the chief judge for V8 Supercars; this weekend he could be the one being judged in the New Zealand V8 Touring Car races at Taupo.
However it is unlikely that Bargwanna, who leads the championship, will fall foul of the Kiwi officials as he has a reputation of being a forceful but clean driver – which is acknowledged by his main rival, Cambridge driver Nick Ross.
With the NZV8 Touring Cars TLX Championship battle heating up Nick Ross can't wait to get back into the Total Lubricants Holden Commodore this weekend at Taupo Motorsport Park and do all he can to regain the lead from Jason Bargwanna.
"I want to go down to taupo and take back my lead, we managed to get in a little bit of testing there so hopefully this weekend we can get ahead of the Australian." said Ross.
Subaru ace Leigh Hopper turned out to be the driver to beat in this year's Ecolight Targa Rallysprint at Pukekohe on Sunday. But not before he and runner-up pair Glenn Inkster and Spencer Winn (Mitsubishi Evo 8) were given a run for their money by tarmac rally rookies Carl Ruiterman and ChanelleWalsh.
Not in anyone's wildest dreams would anyone have thought a normally parochial Holden crowd would erupt with a standing ovation for a Kiwi who finished second in a Volvo.
In extraordinary scenes after an extraordinary final lap 20-year-old Scott McLaughlin brought the 80,000-strong crowd to its feet and punters opening stating 'now I'm going to go buy a Volvo'.
McLaughlin upstaged reigning Champion Jamie Whincup with a grandstand finish, for second from Craig Lowndes, by losing second-place with four turns to go only to snatch it back on the final turn.
Lockwood Racing's Fabian Coulthard leaves the streets of Adelaide second in the championship after another haul of points in the third race of the Clipsal 500 on Sunday.
Fourth place was the reward for a cool, calm, performance amidst scenes of chaos.
Following two 5th place finishes in the 125 kilometre races on Saturday, Coulthard was confident leading into qualifying for the traditional 250 kilometre race.
The excitement not only continues but is set to increase this weekend when the NZV8 Touring Cars hit the Taupo Motorsport Park for the penultimate round of the top level series.
The title chase was turned over last month when both the TLX and TL classes long standing championship leaders were replaced by new contenders.
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