McIntyre secures 55th NZV8 race win at Teretonga
John McIntyre has achieved his goal of scoring his 55th race victory in New Zealand’s popular and intensely competitive New Zealand V8 touring car class.
McIntyre started the first NZV8 race at Teretonga, outside Invercargill, in third position and made the most of having the inside line advantage going the circuit’s notorious opening left-handed sweeper. With Kayne Scott starting from pole and heading around the sweeper in the lead, second-placed Craig Baird took a wider line which gave McIntyre the gap he needed to power the #47 Talley’s Falcon through into second.
 Just a few laps later McIntyre was able to produce a similar manoeuvre over Scott, allowing the two-time NZV8 champion to comfortably complete the 12 lap race – albeit interrupted by another competitor rolling off the circuit, bringing out the safety car for two laps – and take his 55th race win.
“Every win is hard in this class; the top cars and drivers are so close,” said McIntyre. “Every victory is a success to celebrate.”
The Nelson-based driver is the only competitor in this 2010/11 BNT V8s Championship season to have won more than one race. Of the nine races now completed, McIntyre has won four.
The balance of Sunday’s racing at Teretonga was more challenging for John McIntyre Racing. Looking comfortable in the lead in race two, McIntyre didn’t see oil on the circuit from another competitor’s car.
“We had the race under control before I was the first to hit that oil and it put me right off the circuit,” explained McIntyre. “I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the car – I thought it was something else not quite right – but it allowed first Kayne [Scott] and then Craig [Baird] past.
“Then, in the third, reverse grid race, it was raining pretty hard. From the back with Craig and Kayne, I was taking a conservative approach, working my way up through the field. It’s something of an understatement to say it was extremely disappointing to then be taken out by another competitor on turn one. I dropped right back and had to fight back again to finish as high as possible, which was 13th.
“Every weekend the whole team is putting in an excellent performance, but in motorsport there are always circumstances outside your control.
“We’re doing everything we can to stay in the running with this championship – we have the positive news that JMR has scored the most points at this round of any round so far this season.”
McIntyre heads to the South Canterbury Levels Raceway next for the fourth BNT V8s Championship round over the weekend of 22 and 23 January.
McIntyre qualifies third by a whisker for NZV8s at Teretonga
One thousandth of a second was the time difference between John McIntyre and Craig Baird during the top-ten shootout for the third round of the BNT V8s Championship in Invercargill today.
 Baird secured the tiny advantage over McIntyre to take the front row position beside Kayne Scott, who set the pole-winning time for the first of three races on Sunday.
“We’re really happy to be in the top three,” said McIntyre. “The pace at the front of the field is very intense and we’re anticipating a full-on battle in all three races tomorrow.”
Third on the starting grid at Teretonga means an inside line for McIntyre and the #47 Talley’s Falcon into Teretonga’s infamous opening left-handed sweeper.
“Our mindset is to build on three solid races and the inside line definitely preferable for the first race.”
On Friday night McIntyre presented data and statements to the MotorSport New Zealand court of appeal following disqualification from race one at Ruapuna after allegedly hitting Andy Knight’s car.
“The hearing was held last night and a decision is coming in due course. That’s all we know and can say at this point.”
Conditions for Sunday’s three races look fine and windy at the world’s southern-most race circuit. McIntyre lines up on track at 10:20am and 13:05pm for two 12-lap races before the afternoon’s final race, a 22-lap reverse grid affair.
McIntyre looking for next NZV8 win in Southland
John McIntyre, a two-time NZV8 champion, is looking for his 55th race victory as the BNT V8 Championship series heads to the world’s most southern motor racing circuit, Teretonga Park, outside Invercargill on 15 and 16 January.
McIntyre lines up for the third round of the 2010-11 BNT V8 series with the singular goal of repeating his success at last season’s Teretonga round where he secured pole position and two race wins.
“John McIntyre Racing is looking for our first win of the New Year at Teretonga,” says the Nelson-based professional race driver.
“We’re third in the championship at the moment, only 79 points – or just over one race win – away from the series leader Angus Fogg. However our position going into the Teretonga round could change subject to the MotorSport New Zealand appeal against our disqualification from race one at Ruapuna; the appeal is being heard on Friday evening in Invercargill.
“We have every reason to be confident of a great performance at Teretonga. We love racing in front of the passionate Southland race fans and with the #47 Talley’s Falcon demonstrating great car speed at the first two rounds, we’re in a strong position to repeat last year’s dominant performance at Teretonga.”
McIntyre says he has an added edge this year, with the car’s setup already delivering much of the performance he’s looking for.
“Last year we came to Teretonga with a less than ideal setup – we had to work really hard during practice and qualifying to get things right. Now, with the car already in good shape, we can concentrate on fine tuning the Talley’s Falcon for those extra few tenths of a second of speed that can make all the difference in this highly competitive series.”
Despite a DNF at Pukekohe and Ruapuna’s disqualification – subject to the appeal decision – McIntyre remains upbeat about the team’s performance this season.
“Six races have been run and we’ve won three of them! While consistently strong performances are needed to win this championship outright, you also have to win races along the way. That’s the only way to secure maximum points and give yourself some kind of buffer against unforeseen situations like a DNF.”
McIntyre says that a top qualifying result is also always vital. “Qualifying is another key defining factor in this championship. If you can’t qualify well, you seldom win races, so the pressure remains high to do well during Saturday’s qualifying sessions.”
John McIntyre Racing joins the other NZV8 teams at Teretonga Park for two days of racing action. Saturday 15 January sees McIntyre and the Talley’s Falcon on track for two test sessions – 10:15am and 1:35pm – before a 20 minute qualifying stint for all NZV8s at 4:20pm. The top ten shootout follows. Sunday’s racing features a 12-lap race at 10:20am, another 12-lap race at 1:05pm, and then the reverse grid 22-lap race at 4:10pm.
McIntyre and the #47 Talley’s Falcon also make two public appearances while travelling south from the car’s Hastings home workshop.
“We’ll be at the Blackwoods Paykels store in Dunedin on Thursday 13 January at 3pm, and then Blackwoods Paykels Protector Safety hosts a barbeque at midday at their Invercargill store on Friday 14 January. We look forward to seeing local fans at both stores!”
John McIntyre Racing thanks its sponsors: Blackwoods Paykels, Protector Safety, Amcor, Talley's, Castrol Edge, BP Ultimate, NZ Ceiling and Drywall Supplies, Ideal Electrical, Websters Hydrated Lime Co, Squawking Magpie Wines, Dynamic Fluid Systems, EATON, Ford New Zealand, Irwin Tools and Showquip.
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