Taupo A Trip Into The Unknown For 'Burners'

MEDIA RELEASE
8 MAY 2008

Taupo A Trip Into The Unknown For 'Burners'

The Simon Beirne Limited, "Integrity in Vehicle Brokering," Race Team of father and son, Graham and Simon Beirne, head to the Taupo Motorsport Park this weekend in a strong position in the inaugural ENZED V8 Utes Championship.

After an intense opening two rounds, just one week apart shortly after the new utes arrived in the country, the Christchurch based duo are well placed with Simon, 'Jnr Burner' second in the point standings after winning the most recent round at Teretonga while Graham, 'Snr Burner' is fifth.

'Jnr Burner' has made a storming start to the new series, firmly establishing himself as the leading Ford competitor in his Team McDonalds Falcon. In six races to date Simon has been on the podium every time with two wins, one second placing and three third's - results that see him just fourteen points behind early championship leader Mathew Lockwood. The series grids are formed on a marble draw basis and Simon has on numerous occasions been forced to pick his way through the traffic to achieve his results.

Meanwhile 'Snr Burner' climbed to fifth in the point standings at Teretonga last month after a troubled debut at Timaru. At that first round a clutch problem and a non-finish hampered 'Snr Burner's' progress but at Teretonga he showed his class with a fantastic drive in the final race of the round. On that occasion after leaving the grid fifty metres behind the field due to a slipping clutch 'Snr Burner' hustled the John Jones Steel Falcon through to a fine sixth place to show just what he is capable of.

After two rounds on South Island circuits the team now head to Taupo, a circuit that neither Simon nor Graham have raced on before. Team Manager Andy Neale of the Canterbury Motor Racing School say's this round of the series will be the team's "uphill weekend." "Taupo is a technical place and it's a long circuit. The North Island boys have done a lot of laps around there and it's fair to say our strength is down south and at Manfeild. There hasn't been any opportunity for testing but while it will be an uphill battle we will do our best. On Thursday we will go to the track and take a good look. We are keen to minimise damage this weekend and we'll be trying to not let anyone get away in the point standings. We are looking for a solid weekend from Simon and for more improvement from Graham."

After the Simon Beirne Limited "Integrity In Vehicle Brokering" Race Team complete qualifying on Saturday the first race of the round will take place later that afternoon. The following day the Team McDonalds Falcon and the John Jones Steel Falcon will contest two further races around the testing 3.33 kilometre layout.

In addition to the support of major partners McDonalds and John Jones Steel in conjunction with Simon Beirne Limited, "Integrity in Vehicle Brokering," the team also has support from Bruce Raxworthy Panel & Paint, Business IT Software Management Systems, Mag & Turbo Warehouse, Jeffs Vehicle Deliveries and Lets Get Graphic, while Simon has additional support from DJ Hewitt Builders Ltd.

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