Lightfoot looks forward to Ruapuna
Auckland’s Mike ‘Buzz’ Lightfoot is raring to go for the third round of the Toyota Finance 86 Championship, which takes
place at Ruapuna this coming weekend.
Lightfoot is currently in his debut season driving the SEW Eurodrive Toyota 86 after six seasons behind the wheel of a
V8 Ute and is revelling in the extra performance of the sports car.
A steady improvement at each of the two rounds so far sees Lightfoot holding down a close fifth place, including heading
motor sport legend Ken Smith.
Heading to the third round, Lightfoot returns to the Ruapuna track on the outskirts of Christchurch, a circuit that
Lightfoot loves that has also been pretty kind to him throughout his days in the V8 Utes, with several podium finishes
Lightfoot would love to replicate this weekend.
“I really enjoyed the Christmas and New Year break but now I’m well and truly ready to get back behind the wheel of the
SEW Eurodrive Toyota 86 for another crack, it’s just such a fun car to drive,” says Lightfoot. “To be returning to
Ruapuna is fantastic too, it’s a great fun track and I seem to have gone fairly well there in the past.”
After practise sessions on Thursday and Friday, the serious work begins on Saturday for Lightfoot with qualifying just
before 10am and the opening race at 1.30pm. The following day sees a further two races, with a partial reverse grid at
10am followed by the longer final race of the weekend, covering 12 laps, at 3.40pm.
ends