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McIntyre gunning for top NZV8 result in Hamilton John McIntyre is looking forward to the trophy races for the New Zealand V8s during the V8 Supercar ITM400 event on the streets of Hamilton this weekend. “Being non-championship races, there’s a little less pressure on the team, but we always want to win, so the focus to do well is always there,” says the Nelson-based two-time NZV8 champion. McIntyre and former NZV8 champion Kayne Scott are the only two drivers to have ever won NZV8 races on the 3.4 km Hamilton street circuit, which has been used twice before. McIntyre and Angus Fogg were the pole-setters at these two rounds. “We’re running a different setup in the Talleys Ford than we did here last year and we hope to be on top of things quickly during testing on Friday morning.”
McIntyre says the whole John McIntyre Racing team is focused on a strong performance. “This is our last race as a team for six months, so we want to make it a good one.” Johnny Mac and the 23 other NZV8 competitors have a half hour practice session on Friday morning, followed by qualifying at 12:45pm. Saturday features just one NZV8 race of 12 laps at 11am. Race two, also 12 laps, is at 9:15am on Sunday with race three – with the starting order not the usual reverse grid format, but based on finishing places in race two – starting at 3:15pm and running for 16 laps. “We have quite a contingent of sponsors coming to the event and we’re looking forward to seeing them as we take on the streets of Hamilton for another year.” McIntyre welcomes three new sponsors to JMR: NZ Ceiling, Drywall Supplies and Uniden, and extends his thanks for the ongoing support of Talley's, Castrol Edge, Protector Safety, Prime Explosives, Amcor Packaging, Ford NZ, The Rock FM, Ideal Electrical, Websters Hydrated Lime, Avon City Ford, BP Ultimate, Dynamic Fluid Systems, Speedshow, Cookes Wirerope, Colorfast Signs, and Squawking Magpie Wines and City Collision Repairs Napier. overage of the ITM400, including the NZV8s, screens on TV3 from midday to 6pm, both Saturday 17 April and Sunday 18 April. McIntyre to start third in first Hamilton NZV8 race John McIntyre lines up third on the starting grid for the first New Zealand V8 touring car race in Hamilton, one of the support races for the V8 Supercar ITM400. “We didn’t have a top ten shootout as officials needed to access the circuit to clean up an oil spill. That was disappointing, but it’s just one of those things,” says McIntyre, a two-time NZV8 champion and owner of John McIntyre Racing. “We just have to make the most of being third, on the inside line.” Johnny Mac was fastest during the morning’s official test session, setting a time of 1:32.2260 on the 3.4 km street circuit. He says although the Talley’s Ford was the quickest of the 25 NZV8s in Hamilton, the team knew exactly what they wanted to do to get more speed on the unforgiving street circuit. The NZV8s headed out for their first early afternoon qualifying session, where McIntyre was again the fastest.
Tim Edgell has pole with a time of 1:31.3, Kayne Scott is second with 1:31.6 and McIntyre’s time is just a fraction slower, 1:31.7. “Although we aren’t on pole, it’s actually better to be third on the grid than second or fourth because of the nature of the first corner. Tim and I can keep the inside line, whereas Kayne and Angus Fogg, who’s fourth, are outside us around two sharp bends.” Race one for the NZV8s is at 11am on Saturday features, 12 laps. Race two, also 12 laps, is at 9:15am on Sunday, and race three – with the starting order not the usual reverse grid format, but based on finishing places in race two – starts at 3:15pm and running for 16 laps. As always, McIntyre thanks Talley's, Castrol Edge, Protector Safety, Prime Explosives, Amcor Packaging, Ford NZ, The Rock FM, Ideal Electrical, Websters Hydrated Lime, Avon City Ford, BP Ultimate, Dynamic Fluid Systems, Speedshow, Cookes Wirerope, Colorfast Signs, Squawking Magpie Wines, City Collision Repairs Napier, NZ Ceiling, Drywall Supplies and Uniden for their support. Coverage of the ITM400, including the NZV8s, screens on TV3 from midday to 6pm, both Saturday 17 April and Sunday 18 April. McIntyre takes first NZV8 race win in Hamilton John McIntyre scored the 49th win of his NZV8 touring car career on the streets of Hamilton during the second day of the ITM400 V8 Supercar event this weekend. “I’m really stoked to get the win, and the car’s really good. On a circuit like this, with concrete barriers and intense competition, it’s about not making any mistakes,” says ‘Johnny Mac’ who started third.
The win puts McIntyre on pole for the NZV8’s second race of the weekend at 9:15am on Sunday. The NZV8 races in Hamilton are non-championship races, with competitors contesting a one-off trophy with their three races. The weekend’s final NZV8 race, of 16 laps at 3:15pm, has the starting order determined by the finishing places in race two, not the usual NZV8 reverse grid format. “This is John McIntyre Racing’s 28th race victory as a team, so I’m delighted for the whole team to score another win. “The small changes to the circuit haven’t really provided the passing opportunity we expected, so I’m looking forward to being on pole tomorrow and having the advantage of a clear track. McIntyre will be joined on the front row of the grid by Scott, the only other NZV8 driver to have won races on the Hamilton circuit. McIntyre extends his thanks to Talley's, Castrol Edge, Protector Safety, Prime Explosives, Amcor Packaging, Ford NZ, The Rock FM, Ideal Electrical, Websters Hydrated Lime, Avon City Ford, BP Ultimate, Dynamic Fluid Systems, Speedshow, Cookes Wirerope, Colorfast Signs, Squawking Magpie Wines, City Collision Repairs Napier, NZ Ceiling, Drywall Supplies and Uniden for their support of John McIntyre Racing. overage of the ITM400, including the NZV8s, screens on TV3 from midday to 6pm, both Saturday 17 April and Sunday 18 April.
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McIntyre says the slight change to the circuit layout creates a passing opportunity, under brakes, going into turn five. “Any improvement to the circuit which offers another chance to pass has to be good.”
“I got carved up into the first corner, and was pushed back into fourth by Andy Knight. Tim Edgell and Kayne Scott had the lead and it took three laps to get passed Andy at turn one, so they had a bit of gap on me. I managed to catch them up, then with three laps to go, Tim’s brakes went and Kayne went into turn one too deep and I managed to get passed them both to lead for the final two laps.”
