The Aussies Are Back!
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