NZ: International Motorsport Timaru preview

REID QUICKEST AS TEAMS GET SET FOR TIMARU

As the drivers gear up for the second half of the 2010/11 New Zealand GT3 Cup Challenge, the pressure points vary and the concentration levels rise, with the countdown of just nine races until the title is decided.

Triple X driver Daniel Gaunt has led the championship from the start and heads to Timaru this weekend for Round 4 with 600 points, a 96 point lead over International Motorsport team driver Jonny Reid on 504 points. Reid has kept Gaunt's mirrors full for the season having slotted into second at Pukekohe and has continued his charge from there.

Defending Champion Craig Baird has moved into third place with 466 points, 44 ahead of Reid's team mate Mitchell Cunningham. Although Cunningham is confident that he can keep the pace with the front three drivers, he is also very aware of Scott Harrison just 5 points back in fifth place.

Overcast but dry conditions are expected for the weekend's racing, and although all drivers will take what is handed to them, Jonny Reid is hoping the forecast will pay off and keep the track dry. Reid was quickest car in practice this morning (Friday) and is looking forward to the weekend's event. "We had the opportunity to put the car on the track yesterday before the rain came and learnt a few things. We managed to tune the car for dry conditions, and with today's practice which was a bit damp, has really given us the opportunity to capture some good data for whatever comes over the weekend." Said Reid.

International Motorsport will again run three Porsche's this weekend, two 997 GT3's in the hands of Jonny Reid and Mitchell Cunningham and Simon Evan's 996 GT3.

Simon Sceats is 'chomping at the bit' to get back on track in the Mondiale / Audi Dealer Network S3, having set third quickest in practice today. "We made some massive advances in Teretonga last weekend and the S3 is awesome now." Said Sceats.

Richard and Dan Bagnall are aiming to continue building on their pace in the BMW Minis and have again demonstrated in practice that they are 'right there' with their times.

Qualifying gets underway tomorrow morning with the Production Racing Series 10 Lap Race 1 and the GT3's 12 Lap Race 1 tomorrow afternoon. Races 2 & 3 are Sunday.

-source: internationalmotorsport