Impressive young Palmerston North driver Ryan Bailey will be back behind the wheel of a MINI Challenge car this weekend, contesting the inaugural Altherm 1000 endurance race at the new Hampton Downs circuit with Auckland driver James Kirkpatrick.
Bailey, 21, who with Team Kiwi teammate Matthew Hamilton dominated the 2009/10 New Zealand MINI Challenge championship, is one of a number of top level national class competitors who have entered the four-hour Altherm endurance event.
He's bullish about where he and experienced MINI campaigner Kirkpatrick can finish to.
"Top 10 would be nice, and I think it's definitely possible, particularly if it rains. I know there are a lot of other bigger, quicker cars entered but we've got a good little car and one of the best teams in the country running us."
That team is Auckland-based International Motorsport who Bailey is now working for.
The team has run Kirkpatrick in the MINI Challenge for the past three seasons and enlisted Bailey on the strength of his impressive run in the 2009/10 MINI Challenge championship.
Bailey won three of the six rounds of the 2009/10 championship and led the points standings until the final round when teammate Matthew Hamilton literally pipped him at the post.
Though obviously disappointed he didn't win the title, finishing runner-up to Hamilton - who has gone on to race V8 Supercars in Australia this year - was no mean achievement in its own right, a point not lost on International Motorsport's Lyall and Nick Williamson who offered Bailey a job on the team at the end of the 2009/10 summer season.
"For that reason, " says Bailey, "I'd like to thank Lyall and Nick for putting their faith in me. I'd also like to acknowledge the part James and his sponsor the James Trust, have played in me getting a drive this weekend."
As in all his previous kart and motorsport endeavours Bailey is also being supported this weekend by Palmerston North-based businesses Wedding Suit and Bridle Hire and 0800 12 NISSAN.
The Altherm 1000 is a four hour endurance race which starts at 12.20pm and finishes and 4.45pm on Saturday.
