NZV8s Rookie title for Hydraulink Racing Team

Attention sporting editor

Hydraulink Racing Team Press Release:

For immediate release: 23rd April 2007.

NZV8s Rookie title for Hydraulink Racing Team

Concluding the final round in the 2006/2007 NZV8s season Hydraulink Racing Team driver David Besnard bounced his way through the final race of the season to win the Rookie title.

In front of a record crowd at the V8 Supercar weekend, three days of summer weather provided idyllic conditions for the Gold Coast based driver to push the #48 Hydraulink Ford to the title win.

Following on from the fifth placing in Saturday’s opening race, the Sunday first race saw Besnard monstered from his front-row position – giving him opportunity to ply his race craft. Up to third position and moving in for another placing the engine in the yellow and black car blew as he came up the hill toward the front straight.

Later inspected, it was found a cheap low-tensile, control part bolt, had broken – sending the piston in to the head and causing massive damage, including breaking the crankshaft.

Fitting a spare engine, Besnard was relegated to start from the back of the reverse-grid final race – a position he often does well from.

True to form, he had already scalped six places in the first third of the opening lap – including passing a number of the faster front-runners.

Ousted at the hairpin as a group tried a three-wide manoeuvre, Besnard had to pit for a fresh tyre. Again from the back, he romped through the field before he was once more held out at the hairpin. With the field now spread, Besnard moved from 32nd to 22nd at the end of the 20-laps.

Totalling the points tally for the weekend, the DNF (Did Not Finish) in the morning race bumped the Ford team down to fourth in the overall standings – confirmed when Besnard took the final chequered flag.

While ruing the loss in championship position, the Hydraulink team were pleased to post their best result for the championship to date – including winning the Rookie title.

We had nothing to lose,” Besnard said of the final race. “I ended up a lap down, so I was just out to go hard and have a bit of fun – extra fun actually – just to see how many people I could pass. But hey, I’ve got something to show for it – the Rookie title wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but it’s good to have something to reward the efforts of the team.”

Competing in front of a large corporate contingent, both the Hydraulink grandstand, TimberWorld and Nylex supporters congratulated Besnard and the team with hearty cheers as he passed for the final time.

With the car free of major panel scars, Besnard signalled his intention to return to the series for the 2007/2008 season.

“There is a lot of water to pass under the bridge. My intention is to get top V8Supercar drive first, so I won’t be making any decisions until that is sorted out and I’m sure there is no conflict date wise.”
“I’d like to come back. I said I came over to win and at some stage I’d like to right that wrong.”

Taupo’s Pete Roberts (#33 Ray White Real Estate Ford) finished 16th in the reverse-grid race to place 14th for the season. Auckland’s Haydn Mackenzie (#20 Hells Pizza Castrol Ford) was sidelined with an electrical engine fault – placing 16th overall in the championship.

Ends.

Parker ENZED NZV8s Championship Points after Round 7
Position, Driver, Hometown, Car, Provisional points
1, John McIntyre, Nelson, Ford Falcon, 1104
2, Kayne Scott, Hamilton, Holden Commodore, 1095
3, Angus Fogg, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 1006
4, David Besnard, Gold Coast AUS, Hydraulink Ford Falcon, 917
5, Clark Proctor, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 715
6, Andy Booth, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 692
7, Paul Manuell, Pukekohe, Holden Commodore, 658
8, Dean Perkins, Pukekohe, Ford Falcon, 640
9, Luke Youlden, Melbourne AUS, Ford Falcon, 620
10, Paul Pedersen, Rotorua, Ford Falcon, 557
11, Cameron McLean, Brisbane AUS, Ford Falcon, 508
12, Darryn Henderson, Wellington, Holden Commodore, 493
13, Mark Pedersen, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 479
14, Pete Roberts, Taupo, Ford Falcon, 472
15, Andrew Fawcet, Wellington, Ford Falcon, 459
16, Haydn Mackenzie, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 459
17, Nick Ross, Cambridge, Holden Commodore, 451
18, Simon Richards, Hamilton, Ford Falcon, 428
19, Michael Wallace, Dunedin, Holden Commodore, 428
20, Tim Edgell, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 372
21, Andrew Anderson, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 363
22, Kevin Williams, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 299
23, Ian Tulloch, Mataura, Ford Falcon, 245
24, Cam Hardy, Hamilton, Holden Commodore, 239
25, Adam Brook, Christchurch, Ford Falcon, 219
26, John Penny, Taupo, Ford Falcon, 199
27, Gene Rollinson, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 175
28, Ian Spurle, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 174
29, Colin Corkery, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 156
30, Dale Lambert, Auckland, Ford Falcon, 131
31, Julia Huzziff, New Plymouth, Holden Commodore, 42
32, Chris Adams, Mosgiel, Holden Commodore, 33
33, Rod Pratt, Auckland, Holden Commodore, 10
34, Shaun Richardson, Te Kauwhata, Holden Commodore, -36

2006/2007 NZV8s Championship Calendar

Round 1: 3 – 5 November 2006, Pukekohe Park, Auckland
Round 2: 24 - 26 November 2006, Powerbuilt Tools International Raceway, Christchurch
Round 3: 19 – 21 January 2007, Taupo Motorsport Centre, Taupo
Round 4: 16 – 18 February 2007, Manfeild Autocourse, Feilding
Round 5: 2 – 4 March 2007, Timaru International Motor Raceway, Timaru
Round 6: 9 – 11 March 2007, Teretonga Park, Invercargill
Round 7: 20 – 22 April 2007, Pukekohe Park, Auckland

ENDS

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