After months of preparation the South Canterbury Car Club and the surrounding local district look forward to welcoming the Super Trucks back to the region for round one of the NZ Super Truck Championship. The event, the Trust Aoraki Super Truck Racing is being held at Timaru International Motor Raceway over the weekend of 27th & 28th March 2010.
Nine trucks will rock into Timaru during the next week as the teams set up in readiness for their season opening event.
Wellington driver Malcolm Little, the current NZ Truck Champion and sporting the coveted race number – 1NZ, has no plans to relinquish his grip on the much sort after silverware and believes after many months of maintenance work, his Caterpillar power Freightliner is better than ever. “Bring it on, says Little, I’m ready to defend my title.”
Little however isn’t in for any easy ride as Kayne Scott is back with a vengeance, returning in the McGinty Truck Towing Kenworth that took him to his NZ Truck Champion title the season prior. Scott, fresh out of another full season in NZV8’s will be a force to be reckoned with and some excellent racing should be the result.
Australian Truck Association President, Rob Waters, is making the trip across the ditch to drive a new truck out of the Demon Contracting stable in Wellington. The little KM Bedford hasn’t been seen down this way before and some good natured trans tasman rivalry is on the cards.
Shane Gray is back in his blinged out Kenworth, Ash Hey returns with his now Orange International, seasoned truck veteran, Troy Wheeler loves coming to Timaru and has his Scania all ready to go. A crowd favourite, Darren Thomson returns in his little purple Western Star and the 2 HRS team trucks of Terry McGee (Mack) and Pete Tangney (KM Bedford)round out the truck field.
The grand finale of the 2009 – 2010 V8 Ute Series features at this event and a good field is expected. An all out battle between Chris Pither, Caine Lobb and Simon Grace for top honours will be a highlight of the meeting. Timaru driver Chris Dunn makes a welcome return to motor racing debuting his Falcon XR8 ute to local fans. The ever popular, fast and furious Sports Saloons return at this event with an impressive field of 19 cars. Add the fantastic sounding OSCA’s, a good field of Pre 65’s, German Rennsport and Mini 7, a wonderful assortment of Classic Saloons and a Sunday lunch time display by the Tornado Hot Rods and you have the recipe for a fantastic weekend of motorsport.
Discount tickets for the Trust Aoraki Super Truck event are available from the Timaru, Ashburton and Oamaru i-Sites or by phoning 0800 484 6278. Marquee and Curtain-sider sites, which are a popular and enjoyable way of viewing the racing, are also available by contacting Kevin Ryan on 0275 714 073.
