Team Kiwi Racing aim for V8 Supercar success
17/3/2005 17:42 (Press Release) -
Team Kiwi Racing, buoyed by an ambitious campaign led by former world champion driver Paul Radices, are firmly fixed on breaking into the big time of the Australian V8 Supercar Championship this year.
The only New Zealand-based team in the championship which is dominated by the big budget Australian teams have high expectations of consistently running in the top-10 of the series which begins with the non-championship event as part of the Melbourne Grand Prix this weekend.
TKR expect to roll-out their significantly revamped package for the second round at the PlaceMakers V8 International at Pukekohe Raceway on April 15-17, made more significant as it is likely to be the final time the event will be held at the raceway.
Team Kiwi Racing believe after four years in the series, they have sufficient experience to get serious about their championship hopes. Their team is now experienced, they have attracted some key new personnel, and invested in a joint development programme with Paul Morris Motorsport to allow them to compete against the two-car teams.
They have lifted their financial invested three-fold to an estimated $3 million. And they have attracted the services of Radisich.
Team kiwi Racing want to roll out the new VZ Holden and the new Aurora engine for the Pukekohe round with team boss David John keen for a top showing on the home track.
''This is going to be potentially the last time V8 Supercars race at Pukekohe which has been such a traditional circuit for New Zealand Motorsport,'' John said. `We hope to have everything in place to race the new package in New Zealand"
"And we desperately want to do well for the final time at Pukekohe. I really hope it's not the final time the series races in New Zealand. That would be a real tragedy for motorsport in this country. But if that's the case, we want to go out on the best possible note at Pukekohe in April.''
John said his whole team is excited about the new season.
"It's as if we've done our apprenticeship. We've had to learn everything from scratch, and now we know about V8 Supercars and what's needed to do well in such a competitive championship.
"We've attracted Alan Draper to the team, regarded as the V8 guru for engine building who plays a key part in our new arrangement with Paul Morris and his team on technology development sharing, which will be absolutely invaluable.
"And we've invested well now on the very best and competitive machinery.The time was right. It was no point earlier because we needed to learn about V8 Supercars, gather the data and learn the ropes.''
John said one of the keys was attracting Radisich to the team.
"He had some serious offers to go back to the UK and from other Holden and Ford teams. The fact that he has come to us, and moved to Holden for the first time says a lot for the total package that we have put together.
"It's given us tremendous credibility and in many ways Paul's move to us was an endorsement that we have put in place the support that is needed to succeed in such a competitive Championship.
"He will take some time to get use to driving a Holden - there are differences between them and a Ford and his first time with significant laps will be this weekend in Melbourne with the car only being finished a couple of days ago. But he is going to add so much to our programme as a driver and also his input off the track.''
John said it is especially exciting for the group that have been with TKR since the beginning.
"For people like Team Manager Martin Collins from Auckland and our Number One Mechanic Mike Sentch from Christchurch and our loyal sponsors who have been there through the tough times and the criticism, this is finally their chance.
"We want to break into the top-10 in the championship and force our way on to the podium this year.''
John believes there will be no better time to do that than at the home
track of Pukekohe in April.
The 13-round championship begins at Adelaide on 17-20 March, with the
second round at Pukekohe on 15-17 April.
Release Date: 02/03/2005
Team Kiwi Racing
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