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Surfers Paradise: Hi-Tec Oils Racing preview

ROOKIE MCNALLY SET FOR BIG GOLD COAST CHALLENGE Hi-Tec Oils Racing driver Mark McNally has his sights set on arguably the biggest challenge of his young V8 Supercar career as he hits the streets for the Nikon SuperGP on the Gold Coast this ...

ROOKIE MCNALLY SET FOR BIG GOLD COAST CHALLENGE

Hi-Tec Oils Racing driver Mark McNally has his sights set on arguably the biggest challenge of his young V8 Supercar career as he hits the streets for the Nikon SuperGP on the Gold Coast this weekend.

With even veteran drivers sighting this weekend's four-race format as one of the toughest in V8 Supercar history, the West Aussie says that a smart and measured approach will be required this weekend when he steps into the #16 Hi-Tec Oils Racing Holden Commodore.

McNally, making just his sixth V8 Supercar Championship Series start, has never raced at the fast, concrete-lined Surfers Paradise street circuit, or even seen it first-hand, and is one of four Gold Coast V8 debutants in Queensland this weekend.

But the Hi-Tec Oils driver is taking confidence from he and co-driver Tony Ricciardello's performance at Mount Panorama two weeks ago, where the pair set out with a clear race plan and stuck to it all day, coming tantalisingly close to a top 10 finish as a result.

Due to the withdrawal of the A1GP, the V8 Supercars will now race over four 150-kilometre races at the Nikon SuperGP this weekend.

WHAT MARK HAD TO SAY ...

Mark McNally - #16 Hi-Tec Oils Holden Commodore:

"It is going to be a tough old format," said Mark McNally

"I haven't raced at the Surfers track or even seen it first-hand before. Clearly, the weather is usually quite warm up there and street circuits are very tough, so I'm expecting this weekend to be a tough one for everyone.

"600 kilometres of racing in two days is definitely going to take it out of you so you need to play it smart and look after everything.

"You've got to break it down and know where you can and can't push on a street circuit, as there is virtually no run-off anywhere.

"Learning the track, clearly I will be erring on the side of caution, especially at the start of the weekend.

"It makes it tough to learn a new track when you are out there with 28 other guys who have all been there before.

"I'm tipping it's going to be hard so the key is to just be steady. With four races it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

"In the lead up to Bathurst we had a clear strategy and we stuck to it and nearly snuck into the top 10.

"So I will have a similar approach with clear objectives on the Gold Coast and stick to that the whole time.

"I will get more out of finishing every race than trying to be a hero, so I've just got to be consistent and smart."

-credit: h-tor

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