The RYCO 24•7 V8 Utes championship season shifts into top gear this weekend with the opening round of the championship at Taupo International Motorsport Park February 10th – 12th. With several talented new drivers entering the championship along with the return of several big names, Saturday’s qualifying will be a particularly heated session.
Brad and Greg Kroef will be keen to improve on their 3rd & 4th placings in last year’s championship. We’ll also see newcomer Jeremy Hunt in action, driving the potent Holden ute that David ‘Shaggy’ Lowe raced so successfully last season. Taupo will be the first outing for the immaculately presented RYCO 24•7 team of David Lowe, Brent Main & Simon McLeod – all racing Ford BF Utes.
David Lowe is also Round One’s winner of a full set of Yokohama tyres. Each round, Yokohama NZ distributor ‘Radial Imports’ will be awarding four race tyres to one lucky driver – keep an eye on the RYCO 24•7-backed ute with the Yokohama signage on the rear tailgate.
Pre-season activity for the RYCO 24•7 V8 Utes championship has been more like a game of musical chairs. D1NZ drift sensation Blair Gribble Bowring has stepped into Rogers Nees’ Ford BF ute while a proven winner from several seasons ago Glen Collinson is back in a fresh ute, though some last-minute tweaks have prevented them both from making it to Taupo. Expect to see them ready for action in Round Two at Pukekohe in March. Last year’s champion Peter Ward was all set to race at Taupo, but his Ward Demolition business is ‘swamped’ with work as a result of the Auckland floods forcing a change of plans.
Taupo is one of NZ’s more picturesque destinations in the series typically attracting plenty of motorsport fans. For those who can’t manage the trip, the Saturday and Sunday races will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, while the Sunday afternoon races will screen live on CRC Motorsport. For those across the Tasman, races will screen live on Fox Sports, while the popular Speedweek will also feature V8 Utes action during its regular time slot on SBS.
It will be an event-filled weekend for the RYCO 24•7 V8 Utes with practice sessions at 11.20 am and 3.25 pm on Friday. Qualifying is scheduled for 10.30 am Saturday morning with Race 1 at 2.53 pm in the afternoon. On Sunday, Race 2 is 10.30 am with Race 3 (screening live on CRC Motorsport) at 2.30 pm.
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