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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. |
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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. |
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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! | |
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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. |
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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. |
