BNT V8s: Matt Lockwood Taupo summary

LOCKWOOD SECOND IN FINAL NZV8 RACE AT TAUPO

After a rough weekend Matt Lockwood finally got his chance and finished second behind Craig Baird in the last race, after an exciting battle with Baird, Paul Manuell and Dale Williams at the final round of the BNT V8s Championship at Taupo.

Lockwood started seventh and worked his way up to fourth, comfortably ahead of Andy Booth and trailing Manuell, Williams and Baird. Lockwood made his move on the last lap with a late-braking inside pass going into the tight left-hander at the end of the main straight. He slipped through into second place and Manuell and Williams made contact leaving Lockwood with a clear run to the finish line.

After car set-up problems in race one and a broken axle in race two, Lockwood was rapt with the result.

"What a great way to finish the season. It goes to show that if you've got a good team behind you even the oldest car on the track can still deliver a good result" Lockwood said.

Although he only competed in three meetings, Lockwood was the leading rookie in each of these meetings. "My objective was to gain a top ten finish in my limited time in NZV8's and I'm pleased that in the last two meetings I was ninth overall with two race podium finishes."

Lockwood's season has not finished however, as he has the Mazda Pro7 Plus final round 3/4 April at Taupo and a Trans Tasman Ute Challenge at the Hamilton 400 still to come.

"I had a terrible round at the "Legends" Ute Challenge at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide last weekend driving an Australian partner's ute. Our new motor blew up in the first race so I'm hoping for a better result in the supporting class at the next Supercar round at Hamilton. We're brushing the cobwebs off our VU Holden ute and giving it a run. I really enjoy street circuits so Hamilton should be fun" Lockwood said.

As for next season, Lockwood would love to be involved with motorsport in some form but recognizes that sponsorship will dictate his future direction. However whatever the outcome he is determined to finish this season on a high.

-source: matt lockwood