June 1999

BAIRD TO CONTEST V8 TITLE IN 2000 ?

Despite rumors circulating around the Australian V8 Supercar trappings that Craig Baird is likely to pilot a second Stone Brothers Pirtek Ford Falcon in 2000, sources closer to home were adamant that it was news to them!

Since returning from the British Touring Car Championship Baird has been testing for the team and is expected to share the driving with regular Jason Bright in the upcoming 2 hour endurance race on 16th September at Willowbank Track, 15 km from Ipswich in Queensland.




PUSH TO SIGN EUROPEANS

NZRDC Boss Chris Abbott and consultant Brian Lawrence were recently in Europe tempting Group N Touring Car Teams to contest the Liquor King Drivesafe 500 in Auckland.

In a deal which would see a number of Group N cars remaining in the country after the November 1999 Event Abbott is confident of getting cars which could include Volvos, Hondas and Peugots to sign on the the dotted line.




RICHARDS RECEIVES TROPHY

At the recent NZ Motorsport Awards Dinner held in Wellington, Jason Richards received the spoils of his domination of the 2.0 litre Touring Car MANZ Summer Championship.

His name joins ex-BMW team mates Craig Baird and Brett Riley on the trophy that BMW seem to have made their personal property! Apart from teaming up with Craig Baird to contest the Liquor King Drivesafe 500 for International Motorsport, Richards says he has no other plans on the table.

However, with the Australian V8 Supercars going from strength to strength and his familiarity with Mount Panorama it would not be surprising to see Richards competing in the long distance race at Bathurst.

Richards Takes Home the Silver!




N.Z. SCHEDULE S TOURING CARS INCLUSION IN DOUBT

As the turmoil surrounding the 2.0 litre Bathurst 1000 Race intensifies it seems increasingly unlikely that New Zealand's Schedule S Touring Cars will be seen at the event.

In February NZTC Association President Geoff Short felt confident that 1999 would see the cars return to Mt Panorama, but changes within the Bathurst management have meant that the New Zealand Cars have been taken off their agenda.




BMW E46s TO BE BUILT ?

In addition to the late model Alfa Romeos that have entered the NZTC scene it is rumored that new versions of the very successful BMW 320i will be circulating by years end.

BMW launched its E46 model over a year ago. It has been racing successfully in the Italian N Plus championship and its appearance in N.Z. should provide an impetous for other teams to invest in updated equipment.



Back to the News Desk

Got something you'd like to share with us. Then drop us a line!

Email Us