NZV8 podium for McIntyre in Timaru
John McIntyre put together a solid, consistent performance to earn his first round podium position of the season as the fourth round of the BNT V8s Championship concluded in Timaru.
The Nelson-based driver, with his Hawke’s Bay-based team, was rapt to secure second place for the round and move into third place in the championship standings.
 “It’s good news to come through a weekend of racing with no major dramas,” said the Blackwoods Paykels Protector Safety Falcon driver.
“It was a really consistent weekend for John McIntyre Racing and it feels like we’ve pressed the reset button on our championship. With two fourth places and then a third in what was a drama-filled reverse grid race, we’re delighted to have finished our best round of the series so far.”
McIntyre came through one of the closest-ever NZV8 top-ten shootouts with the fifth-quickest time. In Sunday’s first 12-lap race, McIntyre managed to get through the first corner complex without getting caught up in any other competitors’ panel-benders. The two-time NZV8 champion ran fourth most of the race, finishing in the same position after having to battle past early pacesetter Paul Manuell.
“I also had some great tussles with Craig Baird [who finished third in race one behind Angus Fogg, the winner, and Kayne Scott], and then in race two, it was pretty much more of the same with us top four finishing in the same order.
“The team made some worthwhile improvements to the #47 Falcon for the last race, which saw some pretty major issues for Craig, with a broken Watt’s linkage, and Kayne who, along with several others, was caught out in the oil spilled from Craig’s car. Having started 16th, we got through all of it relatively unscathed and after the race being re-flagged and restarted, we came home third.
“We’re simply pleased to have moved up the championship standings and have a really good car going into our next round at Manfeild in February. We’re now 105 points behind Angus in the lead and feel very confident of a good result at Manfeild, so let’s bring it on!”
McIntyre looking forward to action-packed Timaru NZV8s
In one of the closest top-ten shootouts ever to run in the BNT V8s Championship, John McIntyre is set to start the first of Sunday’s three NZV8 races from fifth position.
“We’re virtually splitting hairs here; the times of the top runners are so close now,” said the two-time NZV8 champion.
 McIntyre’s shootout time in the Blackwoods Paykels Protector Safety Falcon around the 2.4km Timaru International Motor Raceway was 1:06.224, just 0.224 seconds off pole-setter Angus Fogg.
Having set the second-quickest time during the 20-minute qualifying session for all competitors, McIntyre knows that he’s right there in terms of pace.
“We’re definitely on the pace and the car’s strong. There was a small gearbox issue during the second test session, so we lost some track time which didn’t help. But we’re in a similar position to what’s happened with other competitors in previous rounds, starting in the third row with huge potential to move forward.”
McIntyre says he’s looking forward to an action-packed day of racing on Sunday. “The JMR guys are putting the number one gearbox back in the car tonight and we’ll be giving it everything we’ve got – as we always do.”
JMR and the rest of the NZV8 field are on-track for two 12-lap races at 10:00am and 12:45pm, before the 11-lap reverse grid race at 4pm.
Appeal loss fuels McIntyre’s desire for even better performance
Leading NZV8 race driver John McIntyre has lost his appeal with MotorSport New Zealand against being disqualified from race one at round two of the BNT V8s Championship.
The two-time NZV8 champion says he simply has to put the decision behind him and look forward.
With round four of the NZV8 series running this weekend (22 and 23 January) at the well-supported South Canterbury circuit, Timaru International Motor Raceway, McIntyre says he’ll be drawing on his strong form to date to continue to push hard towards the ultimate goal – his third championship title.
“Of course we’re disappointed the appeal decision did not go our way – we would not have lodged the appeal if we didn’t think we had a very good case to get the disqualification rescinded – but all you can do is put that behind you and focus on this weekend’s racing,” said the Nelson-based driver.
The Timaru meeting marks the championship’s midway point and John McIntyre Racing aims to continue their strong form at what is sure to be one of the best-attended NZV8 meetings of the season.
“The fact is JMR has won four of the nine races completed to date – we’re the only team to win more than one race so far in this 2010/11 BNT V8s Championship season,” said McIntyre as the team prepared for three more intense races.
“We have all seen how quickly fortunes can change in this series, just like virtually any form of motorsport. We simply remain focused on delivering another top class performance this weekend in South Canterbury.”
JMR and the rest of the NZV8 field are on-track for testing on Saturday at 10:05am and 1:50pm before the super intense qualifying battle commences at 4:05pm. Sunday’s races are scheduled for 10:00am and 12:45pm, wrapping up with the reverse grid race starting at 4pm.
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