Hydraulink's Besnard buoyed by NZV8 test

Attention sporting editor

Hydraulink Racing Team and Tracer Motorsport Press Release:

For immediate release: 31st October 2006

Hydraulink's Besnard buoyed by NZV8 test

Debuting the brand new Hydraulink Racing Team challenger to the 2006 NZV8s championship season, Queensland based David Besnard was buoyed by the Monday test in his brand new #48 Ford BA Falcon.

In a long queue waiting for the necessary control parts to be able to test his new car package, Besnard said the half-day at Taupo was a forward facing step.

"Yes, it's going to be right up there - and for a new car it feels great," he said.
"Now we've run we can look at the data to assess changes knowing there is a lot to be had for Pukekohe. And knowing that there is improvement we still went pretty quick, so it's going to be good."

The Taupo test was also the first time running the new Dunlop D14 specification of tyre.

"I think it's what the category needed," he added. "I think the cars were over gripped before and with the harder tyres the car will certainly slide around more and will take more car control. That reinforces my belief we have the potential to win this season.

"It's good to finally get to the start and I've got every confidence in the team."

The team also ran Taupo's Pete Roberts and Auckland's Haydn Mackenzie in their respective Tracer Motorsport run race cars.

Roberts in the #33 Ford BA Falcon said he's looking forward to putting some of his recently learned knowledge in to practise.

"Mr Besnard showed his talent and I'm really thrilled to be learning alongside him. I've already picked up a few tricks."
"The tyres weren't as bad as I thought they'd be - it'll take a little bit to learn the car setup but we're on the right direction." "Especially using the Moose Rolfe factor," he quipped while referring to the teams head engineer.

For 22-year old Mackenzie, his time at the wheel of his brand new #20 Ford BA Falcon was also deemed a success.

"Basically I thought the car felt great; even though we were testing on the older engine I think the car has a huge amount of potential."

"A lot of it is to be back out there again, after having not done anything in a V8 during the off season. I've got a much higher bench mark this year and will be interesting to see if I can achieve it."

Due to the delays in supplying teams with control parts the Pukekohe race circuit will be used for team testing on Thursday before the official season practise begins on Friday.

Qualifying takes place on Saturday morning (split in to two groups according to previous practise session time) with the first 12-lap race expected to start at 3:30pm in the afternoon.

There is a 16-lap race on the Sunday morning with the full-reverse grid race set down for 2:40pm over 20-laps of the 2.841km circuit.

The Pukekohe weekend is the first race weekend in a seven round series that travels the country. The Mike Pero Motorsport Series also includes the A1GP round at Taupo (21st January 2007) and V8 Supercar event to conclude the season (22 April 2007).

Ends.

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