Asian Motor Sports

The Hydraulink Racing Team, current leaders in the NZV8s championship, have shaken down in a final test prior to the season’s international feature event - the A1GP weekend at Taupo on January 18-21.

Heading in to the third round of the 2006/2007 season with a nine-point title lead, Australian-based driver David Besnard spent a day testing at the newly renovated Taupo circuit. Modified for the A1GP meeting, the team spent time ticking off a list of technical checks having fully rebuilt the car since the previous round.

The team spent time testing throttle cables from a variety of manufacturers. “It was a really really good day,” Besnard said.

“Everything we tried worked, so we made gains with the car. And with the new people to our team it was also great to see them all working well together - all we can do now is keep moving forward.”

Also running during the test day were the other two Tracer Motorsport-run Ford Falcons. Auckland’s Haydn Mackenzie tested a new pedal box fitted to the #20 car, while Taupo resident Pete Roberts shook down his rebuilt #33 Falcon.

The third round of the series starts early next week, with the team assembling on the Tuesday before heading direct for Taupo.

Track action starts on the Thursday with two test sessions and qualifying on the Friday. There is a 12-lap race shortly after midday on the Saturday with the remaining two races held on the Sunday - a 16-lap race scheduled for late morning, with the final meeting race, the full reverse-grid 20-lap feature, timetabled for 5pm.