Bailey Back Behind The Wheel This Weekend

Kart-turned-car driver Ryan Bailey joins the MINI Challenge field at Manfeild this weekend after putting together a deal to run a car owned and formally driven by Tony Houston.

The state of the economy has seen a number of MINI Challenge cars parked up rather than raced this season.

But that hasn't stopped ambitious young sales rep Bailey, originally from Palmerston North but now residing in Auckland, raising enough money for a one-off run at his home track.

"I was pretty motivated, put it that way," the 20-year-old who now works for driver training specialist Tracktime said this morning."Usually your first battle is getting a car but in this case one was available. All I had to do was come up with the money to run it!"

Bailey, who has won two New Zealand and two North Island championship titles in karts, first made the move to cars three years ago, coming within a hare's breath of winning the Star Car series in his debut year.

However since then, despite sustained efforts on his part, he has not been able to raise the money required to continue in his quest to be a professional driver.

It hasn't stopped him trying though, his effort to get on the grid this weekend typical of the lengths he has gone to over the last 18 months to try and keep his dream alive.

"In the past I've gone looking for one big sponsor, but this time I went the other way and went looking for several smaller ones."

It worked too, Bailey's idea of 'spreading the load' seeing him successfully solicit support from 11 different companies; European Auto Spares, Wedding Bridle, Dittmer Panel Beaters, Obertech Group, Nissan Car Parts Palmerston North, Capture NZ, Advanced Personnel Services , Colin Waite Panelbeaters, Logic Computer Solutions, G.J. Gardiner Homes and Pridex Kitchens.

Having tested a MINI Challenge car 18 months ago Bailey says he finds it hard to believe that there are so many cars sitting in sheds and to say that he is looking forward to getting back behind the wheel is an understatement.

"They're a great little car and it's a great class, all it needs right now is more cars on the track."

And how does he think he'll go?

"Top three's the aim. That and of course giving the sponsors some exposure and keeping the car nice and straight to give back to Tony."

And after that?

"If I can show people out there that I'm worthy of their support then I'd definitely like to do a full season in the MINI Challenge next year."

This weekend's round of the 2008/09 MINI Challenge is the sixth of seven with the final at Pukekohe Park Raceway in a fortnight's time.

Heading into the meeting Taupo's Craig Innes heads the points standings with 892 points, just 21 more than Wellington's Simon McLennan with Hawke's Bay's Gavin Yortt third a further 125 points back.

The MINIS have three races over the weekend with qualifying on Saturday morning and the first race of the weekend on Saturday afternoon.

There are then a further two races on Sunday, a second 10-lapper in the morning then a 15 lap top 10 reverse grid final in the afternoon.

ENDS