Back-to-back race weekends in the Suzuki Swift Sporting Cup will intensify the 2010/2011 championship as the series starts the New Year with a journey to Invercargill’s Teretonga this weekend (14-16 January) followed by a further three races the weekend later (21-23 January) at Levels near Timaru.
The three-race weekend at the world’s most southern race circuit marks the half-way point in the six round series. The 18-car field will be further challenged by a 30-lap endurance style race on the Saturday evening, as organisers and competitors make the most of Southland’s long twilight conditions.
Opening the 2011 leg of the season with a 42 point title advantage, current series leader Mike Turley from Coatsville, Auckland, will make his second start at the circuit. Second placed A.J. Lauder fromTurua has more experience around the 2.61 kilometre track; the 16-year-old nephew of Paul Radisich will make his fourth start at Teretonga. With the series since its inception, Lauder says he and younger brother Brad are under strict instruction for the Saturday afternoon double-points endurance race.
“There is very much a lot at stake. Both of us have been told we’ve got team points to consider as well, so finishing that race is very important, that we’re not to go mad at the start. You want to keep right up there but not to get in to a situation where we don’t get to finish,” he said of the instructions from his grandparents Frank and Robyn Radisich.
The high school student is also keen to enjoy the chance to holiday in Queenstown between the two race weekends: “It’s a nice break – you’re not going straight home after the race and waiting for the next one. Instead we have a few days of rest and relaxation in-between.”
Turley has the advantage of four race wins from the six races contested so far, as well as having slightly more experience at the Teretonga circuit than many of his competitors, as the 18-car field is dominated by rookies. Visiting Teretonga for their first time in the 1600cc Suzukis, Castrol $50,000 scholarship winner Tom Barker (15, Christchurch) and LG scholarship entrant Jamie Gaskin (16, Wellington) are among the 13 who are on the steepest learning curve at the circuit.
The high number of first timers is a statistic Suzuki category manager Paul Burborough says illustrates how the series is positioned as an entry-level category, helping develop tomorrow’s race champions.
“Most of the Suzuki Swift Sporting Cup drivers have long-term goals and they see the series as the best value for money in getting to the next level. Kids with a karting background that want to go car racing now have a competitive and affordable way of getting the exposure. Through our television coverage and series publicity they can entice serious sponsorship to help them along the way at being championship winners,” said Burborough.
Another draw-card has been the growing international interest. Australian-based Allan Jarvis has joined the series ahead of a mirror championship starting in Australia later this year.
“Allan has brought his Australian-prepared car to New Zealand to learn about the series before their inaugural season. And that’s the first of several we’re expecting during the coming months,” said Suzuki New Zealand’s motorsport manager Darren Stevens.
“We’ve worked closely with the Australians and there’s potential to create a new trans-Tasman series.”
With the weekend programme beginning on the Friday, two test sessions give teams a chance to learn and fine-tune the cars’ suspension setup. Late in the afternoon teams have an opportunity to take corporate guests for a hot-lap ride using the mandatory passenger race-seat. On Saturday, the Suzuki crews have a morning qualifying session before waiting until 5:15pm for the 30-lap endurance-style race start. Sunday’s first race, of 10-laps, starts at 10:45am and is followed by the full-reverse grid 12-lap race beginning at 2:20pm.
Saturday’s endurance race is worth 150 points for the win, with 75 points available for each of the second and third Suzuki races on Sunday.
Suzuki Swift Sporting Cup points – after round two of six.
1 6 Mike Turley Auckland 369
2 87 A.J. Lauder Turua 327
3 35 Mark Gibson Taupo 302
4 41 Jamie Gaskin Upper Hutt 291
5 91 Dane Fisher Auckland 283
6 11 Grant Ryan Lower Hutt 256
7 5 Rex McCutcheon Waiuku 236
8 89 Marc Spring Auckland 224
9 14 Shaun Lawrence Hamilton 209
10 12 Chris Cox Rangiora 197
11 23 Daniel Liemburg Timaru 188
12 4 Tom Barker Christchurch 172
13 15 Brad Lauder Turua 171
14 71 Sam Barry Takapau 169
15 27 Allan Jarvis Brisbane 151
16 34 Rob Gibson Taupo 140
17 22 Amy Vincent Papakura 138
18 7 Ryan Bailey Auckland 135
19 10 Ben Erickson Christchurch 80
