The Aussies Are Back!
After months of negotiations, Timaru International Motor Raceway Motorsport Manager, Karen Paddon is delighted to
announce that three top Australian Super Truck drivers have been confirmed to contest the NZ Super Truck Championship.
The Super Truck Championship, which has its first round on January 12th and 13th and concludes on April 5th & 6th 2008, is this year being run exclusively at Timaru International Motor Raceway.
“With Manfeild engaging in a resealing programme, our club (South Canterbury Car Club Inc – owners and operators of
Timaru International Motor Raceway) jumped at the opportunity to run Trucks exclusively here” Paddon said. “Because
Timaru will be the home of New Zealand Truck Racing this season, new opportunities were presented and bringing over the
Australians was one such initiative. “We are extremely grateful for the help and support given to the club by Hemisphere
Freight Services who are handling the freighting of the Aussie Trucks, the logistics of getting these rigs over here has
been mammoth and I am just so pleased that all the hard work has been worthwhile”.
Bob Middleton (Adelaide - Freightliner), Daniel Bajema (Sydney - Kenworth) and Peter Hewat (Melbourne - Kenworth) are
all extremely excited to be doing battle with the kiwi boys this season. Middleton comes fresh from taking out the
Australian Super Truck championship for 2007 a feat he has accomplished for a remarkable 3 years in a row.
The popular Bob (The Builder) Middleton’s last outing in Super Trucks here was 3 years ago, whereas Bajema hasn’t raced
in New Zealand for about 8 years and for Hewat, this will be his first outing on a New Zealand race track. A
Trans-Tasman Truck challenge hasn’t been held since 2004 and the Aussies currently hold the trophy. They of course, are
very keen to again take it home with them!
Around 9 Super Trucks will make up the kiwi contingent with a mixture of old and new faces filling up the field. Regular
Truck campaigner Malcolm Little (Freightliner), will be one competitor looking for top results this season. Little
certainly had the speed last season but suffered from reliability problems. Ken Rowe will be back for another season in
his Kenworth and looking to better his 3rd placing that he received in the 2007 championship. Les Plenzler is making a
welcome return after an extensive rebuild of his
Scania and Ashley Hey will again front in his International. Super Truck president Troy Wheeler’s Scania is also
expected to be on the starting blocks. Last years championship runner up Shane Gray will certainly be one to watch and
Gray has given the Kenworth an extensive rebuild over the winter. The field will be joined by newcomers Darren Thomson
(Western Star) and Terry Magee who now owns the ex Anderson Mack and comes from a background in Speedway. The McGinty
Kenworth is also a likely starter with the driver yet to be announced.
The Trucks South January Super Truck event, is being supported by the North/South OSCA Championship, the North/South RX7
Championship, the Super Six NZ Championship, Sports Saloons and a 1 Hour race that will conclude the event.
Tickets for the first round are now on sale and are available from the Timaru, Ashburton and Oamaru i-Sites or by
phoning 0800 484 6278. Marquee and Curtain-sider sites, which are a popular and enjoyable way of viewing the racing, are
also available by contacting Kevin Ryan on 0275 714 073.
ENDS