A healthy field has been assembled for the opening round of the 2007/2008 Kumho Sport Saloon Series which takes place at Powerbuilt Tools International Raceway at Ruapuna near Christchurch this weekend.
Based on his form at the end of last season Timaru driver Neville Stowell in his Nissan Skyline GTR will be the man to beat. Stowell debuted his new car at this circuit in January - midway through last year's series - and promptly won every remaining round setting new lap records at each circuit along the way.
Some of Stowell's toughest opposition this weekend will come from some of his fellow South Canterbury drivers. John Hepburn returns for his second season in the series after an impressive debut last year in his Mitsubishi EVO and is bound to be close to the pace. Meanwhile Mike Small, a contender for last year's championship until mechanical problems ended his challenge at the final round, is involved in a race against time to be on the grid this weekend. However, whether or not Small races his son will be in the field. Twenty - one year - old Chris Small will make his series debut in a Mitsubishi GSR.
Chris has just two starts at club events to his name but he has already shown plenty of potential. On his first outing he won the best performance of the day award and at his second he won outright. Mike Small says he is proud of the fact his son has saved to get into the sport and done it all by himself.
Others from the area include Stowell's partner Sharon Wood, who will compete in the Subaru Legacy which Stowell raced last year until the new Skyline was ready. Wood last raced two seasons ago and improved rapidly throughout the season as she gained experience. Others in the South Canterbury contingent are Raymond Hart (Nissan Skyline), Nathan McAuley (EVO), Ron Shelton (Nissan Silvia), Jared Parmenter (EVO), Grant Waters (Mitsubishi GSR) and Matt Dunn (Toyota Corolla Turbo). Dunn finished just one point behind Wanaka driver Matt Edgar in a similar car last year in the T2 Class. Edgar is also racing again this weekend so a resumption of their battle looks likely.
One welcome returnee for this round is Kaikoura driver Phil Hood. Hood had a wretched season in his Mitsubishi EVO last season with bad luck plaguing him every step of the way. When he is able to show his true pace he is a frontrunner.
Another father and son combination will take to the track this weekend. Motueka driver Noel Parish will be at the wheel of his Nissan 300ZX while his son Bryce debuts in a Nissan Skyline.
Others on the grid will be Garreth MacKenzie of Christchurch in a Toyota and Allan Ransom of Twizel in a Mitsubishi.
Unfortunately two drivers who will not be on the grid are the past two champions in the category. Neither reigning champion Kerry Bartlett of Ashburton nor Dunedin driver Arron Black will be racing, although Black may do some rounds later in the series.
The Kumho Sport Saloons will fight out three races - the first race based on qualifying times, the second a top six reverse grid race and the final race a handicap event.
