The cobwebs are about to be blown off as the RYCO 24.7 V8 Utes Championship reloads after the festive break. Not that the teams have been taking it easy as the V8 utes have been prepped and some promising new entrants have joined the 2020-21 series to up the tempo.
While Glen Collinson and Andrew Porter take a step back from the series, two new drivers have stepped up including Shane Dias and Phil Ross. A successful campaigner from the BMW E30 Race Driver Series, Shane Dias has already impressed the more seasoned campaigners, storming home to a well-deserved 4th place in Round 1.
His turn of speed prompted some to speculate whether he had an unfair advantage. Yet since his vehicle has been certified squeaky clean by officials, perhaps it’s more his raw talent and fighting spirit that’s pushing his Holden VE towards the front of the field. Meanwhile Phil Ross’s 6th placing in Round 1 should serve as a warning shot over the bows to his rivals.
Inside the garages, it’s been fairly routine for Stoneman Race Tech who preps many of the utes. Careful workmanship in originally setting up the vehicles has ensured that between-round chores have been confined to routine pad changes, brake and clutch fluid bleeding and running a careful eye over the mechanicals.
This second round of the Championship will be a particularly momentous fixture as the working class heroes in the RYCO 24.7 V8 Utes are looking forward to being a part of the glamour event in NZ’s motorsport calendar, the 66th running of the NZ Grand Prix.
The utes will be racing for the first time on the full 3.8km Hampton Downs International Circuit, stepping up from shorter National Circuit they’ve raced on in previous rounds. With its challenging 10 turns – 6 right hand & 4 left handers including 2 hairpins – this fast-flowing track has caught out even the more experienced racers in other divisions.
The 800m back straight offers ample opportunities for high-speed overtaking, allowing the more aggressive V8 ute drivers to muscle their way through the field and into the points.
Gates open at 7am Friday 22nd January, with practice sessions for the V8 Utes at 11.45am and 4.05pm. Come Saturday, qualifying begins 11.20 am with Race 1 that afternoon at 3.29pm, a 6-lap affair. Sunday morning, the 8-lap Race 2 is at 11.29 with the final 6-lap Race 3 at 4.57pm.
Points table after Round 1 at Pukekohe:
1/ Paul Manuell 105 points
2/ Peter Ward 85
3/ Jake Stoneman 85
4/ Shane Dias 75
5/ Simon Ussher 64
6/ Phil Ross 63
7/ Stu Monteith 56
8/ Greg Kroeff 55
9/ Shaggy Lowe 51
10/ Paul Fougere 49
Comments