Two local drivers, Chris Small and Neville Stowell will provide the major interest as they fight it out during Round 5 of the 2009/2010 Kumho Sport Saloon Series at the Timaru International Motor Raceway this weekend.
Small has led the series for much of the season but Stowell, who missed the opening round, is on the charge and last weekend at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch he closed to within 2 points of Small. With just two rounds left, both at Timaru, the penultimate round this weekend will be a pivotal one.
Another very healthy grid has been attracted to this round with all the regular runners with several newcomers in the mix.
While Small and Stowell will have the championship very much on their minds several other drivers will be eager to record some good results at the 2.4 kilometre Levels circuit.
Gary Ridden from Christchurch has had a fine debut season in his Mitsubishi EVO. Mechanical issues have hampered him from time to time but when the car has been co-operating he has been a threat. Last weekends round at Powerbuilt Raceway saw the series debut of Michael Gallaghers new car, a Batmobile Mazda RX7 and the early signs were impressive.
As usual South Canterbury drivers dominate the fields with several from the region on the grid. Mitsubishi drivers, Gary Duncan, Grant McKissock, Stan Moore, Ivan McAuley, and Grant Waters all hail from the area as do Raymond Hart (Nissan Skyline) and Murray Beeby (Nissan Sentra).
Nick Smart of Christchurch in his Nissan Skyline has the potential to run at the front while his fellow Christchurch drivers Garreth MacKenzie (Toyota Corolla) and Mark Elliott (Mazda RX7) are also very quick.
Prominent Dunedin rally driver Jason West is an exciting new addition in a Suzuki Swift while Hamish Collins debuts in a Mazda RX7 Batman. Noel Parish in a Nissan 300ZX from Motueka and Shane Crosbie of Invercargill (turbocharged Toyota Starlet) make the trek from opposite ends of the South Island to complete the field.
The Kumho Sport Saloon competitors have just 10 minutes for qualifying at 10.05am on Saturday morning with their first race from a rolling start over 8 laps at 1.55pm that afternoon. On Sunday a reverse top 50% grid race over 8 laps takes place at 9.50am while a handicap race over 6 laps is scheduled for 1.55pm.
