Media release: Winger Suzuki Swift Sport Cup
For immediate release: Wednesday 27 November 2013
New Suzuki champion crowned this weekend

Five competitors in this year’s Winger Suzuki Swift Sport Cup are in with a shot of the overall title; being held at this year’s final round – starting Friday 29 November at Pukekohe.

A small car race series of identical specification 1600cc production based models see’s the top five contenders separated by 80 points with 145 on offer for the round win.

Headed by Hamilton’s Shaun Lawrence, the seasoned campaigner has been challenged at every turn by Karaka’s Andrew Vincent, trailing the leader’s haul of 504 points by 45. Tied in third is Hawke’s Bay’s Sam Barry and series rookie from Palmerston North: Josh Drysdale – 62 points behind. Fifth is Hamilton’s Glen Collinson – comfortably placed to sling-shot past his rivals should they tangle in their own battle of supremacy.

Having contested five of the six rounds (including a visit to Christchurch in March) – it is the second time the cars will tackle the recently revamped Pukekohe venue. While the season has turned on its share of fireworks, roll-overs and race ending fender benders – it was the previous visit to the south Auckland venue in late May that saw the most damage.

This time it’s all or nothing as friends become title rivals – with Lawrence mindful of the precarious bulls-eye target position he holds.

“If I’m being honest I’m nervously excited,” says Lawrence. “I’ve been wanting this my whole racing career and it’s come down to this. We‘ve done everything we can to make sure the car is good, I’ve been working harder than ever on my fitness, and we’ve had fantastic support from our sponsors and supporters. We’ve done all we can do and I just want to get going!”

Adding to the weekend’s pressure is the lure of double the 35 points for one of the three weekend races around the newly extended 2.91km track. Time limited to 25 minutes it includes a compulsory tyre-change pit stop for the crew – distributing the pressure of the race outcome amongst the team.

Winning five of the 15 races held so far this season, Lawrence is further mindful closest rival Vincent has four wins with Drysdale and Collinson on two race wins each.

Lower Hutt’s Grant Ryan and Christchurch’s Cody McMaster round out the season’s winners circle.

Series co-ordinator Paul Burborough says this season’s finish will be one of the most intense yet.

“Typically there are two or three that have a chance at winning the title – but to have five in that position is a real credit to the quality of the teams in the series. It’s been a tough season with plenty of hard luck stories that always turns in to hard racing. The Saturday double point’s race should be a real indicator of who is going to be favourite for the title although the chances of an upset are odds higher,” says Burborough, dealer principal of Winger Suzuki in Hamilton.

The weekend begins early Friday morning with one practise session ahead of the 2:25pm qualifying to decide the grid for race one. Fastest adds a further five points to their overall tally.
First up on the Saturday the 25 minute double-points race is followed by a second race in the afternoon – of eight laps and 35 points. That leaves the season finale for Sunday morning where the third and final race of 10 laps begins at 9:25am. Teams then have the rest of the day to relax ahead of the series prize giving – being held at the track in the early evening.

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Winger Suzuki Swift Sport Cup – driver title points table 2013 – top five (after five of six rounds)

Pos / Car No. / Name / Hometown / Total
1 / 14 / Shaun Lawrence / Hamilton / 494
2 / 12 / Andrew Vincent / Karaka / / 460.5
3 / 71 / Sam Barry / Takapau / 432
4 / 6 / Josh Drysdale / Palmerston North / 428
5 / 17 / Glen Collinson / Hamilton / 416