Can't Get Enough of a Good Thing

The Classic Cover Insurance Skyline 350GT
Suzuki New Zealand Production Racing Series 2008-9
Round 4 - Timaru International Raceway
9-11th January 2009
and
Round 5 - Teretonga Park, Invercargill
16-18th January 2009

Wednesday 13th January

Suzuki New Zealand Production Racing Series 2008-9
Round 4 - Timaru International Raceway
9-11th January 2009
and
Round 5 - Teretonga Park, Invercargill
16-18th January 2009

Can't Get Enough of a Good Thing

A busy four weekends of racing on the trot should have Hamilton driver Mark Joblin gasping for breath but a couple of days of rest and relaxation in picturesque Queenstown was enough for this man as he looks for even more from the motorsport industry.

Just having come away from the first of those four weekends at the Timaru International Motor Raceway, this Suzuki New Zealand Production Racing Championship competitor managed to grab a couple of days off before preparations begin for a return to the race track this weekend at Invercargill's Teretonga Park.

Timaru was a tough round for Joblin with the Classic Cover Insurance Nissan Skyline 350GTspending some time in the shop for minor repairs before round five of the Suzuki New Zealand Production Racing Series at the Southern 200.

"We had a little bit of computer trouble switching the traction control on and off which was costing us around three seconds a lap in qualification and left us second to last and mixed in with the Suzuki Swifts." he said.

"I had to make my way through them all which I did and we were running faster times than in qualifying - I had just finished passing them all when I spun it off on my own at the end of the straight on the lefthander at the fastest part of the track - the car just filled up with dust and I was coughing up circuit all weekend!"

The need for repairs came about when in the reverse grid race three Joblin was turned around shortly after the start by a Suzuki Swift driver on turn two, but was able to get the car restarted and make up a couple of spots before the finish.

Although things didn't go as well as they may have done at Timaru, Joblin was optimistic about the results.

"We started the weekend in sixth place in the championship and finished in sixth place but more comfortably than before." he said.

The Classic Cover Insurance Team hosted a good number of guests at the Timaru International Motor Raceway in the corporate marquee including prominent driver Craig Baird who is running in the BNT V8s and Battery Town Porsche championships with Classic Cover Insurance signage.

With two meetings held back to back in Motorsport New Zealand's tier one classes, after the Southern 200 this weekend Joblin will return to the North Island where his next pit stop will be at Pukekohe Park Raceway at the Tasman Revival Series driving his classic 1976 Van Diemen Formula Ford.

This will then be followed by a fourth race weekend in a row for the Hamilton businessman.

"The weekend after Teretonga we're running the Formula Ford in the Historic meeting at Pukekohe, the one with the Formula 5000 cars and then the weekend after that the same deal but at Taupo - I've got a couple of busy weeks ahead." he said.

And there is obviously no stopping this motorsport fanatic who has put his hand up to assume responsibility for one of New Zealand's leading race classes.

"I'm standing for president of the Production Racing Association of New Zealand, the meeting is this weekend and I'm hoping to replace Jim Boult who is retiring."

Four weeks of motor racing could be considered a little much by some but for Mark Joblin he is doing what he loves to do and looking for more.

More is just over the horizon with round six of the Suzuki New Zealand Production Racing Series being held at Manfeild Autocourse over the weekend of 27th February to 1st of March where Mark Joblin will hop back into the Classic Cover Insurance Skyline GT350.

Mark Joblin and Classic Cover Insurance acknowledge and thank the following for their sponsorship and support;

**Arundel Finance**Colourworks**Brian Tunnicliffe Nissan**Kings Cars Ltd, Hamilton**Apex Auto Services Ltd**
**Scarlett Fog**Arai Helmets**Chicane Racewear**The Chequered Flag, Wellington**Waikato Signs Ltd**
**Ronnie's Rod Shop** and of course **The Londoner Lads**

ends

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