Cross Comeback Makes Him A Contender

Cross Comeback Makes Him A Contender

After a prolonged break from motorsport Rangiora driver Hamish Cross will make a comeback at the opening round of the 2013 UDC V8 Ute Series at Hampton Downs this weekend.

Cross has a long list of success in motorsport in a wide variety of machinery and despite his rookie status in V8 Ute racing he will be an immediate contender. A multiple New Zealand kart champion, he has also experienced success in Pro 7's where he has been a three-time New Zealand Champion, Super 6 Saloons, Formula Ford and the Toyota Racing Series. A second place in the 2005 New Zealand Grand Prix underlines his ability but an undoubted highlight was his effort at the World Rotax Max DD2 Masters Karting Championships in Italy in 2010. Cross qualified second in the world championship field and recorded a first, second and third across the heats. He was second on the grid for the final which ultimately determines the World Championship only for the kart to expire on the warm-up lap.

Cross was convinced his motorsport days were over and was putting his energy into his son Caleb and his burgeoning karting career - or so he thought. "I'm very competitive and it is hard to say goodbye to it all. I had a couple of runs in karts at the Nationals and South Island Champs and I was running the V8 Hot Laps business at Powerbuilt Raceway in Christchurch with Mike Pero's Holden V8 Ute. I was dealing with Paul Isaac, the Managing Director of NZV8 Utes, for parts and asked if I could do a couple of South Island rounds in the Pero Ute. Paul said the older model Holden wasn't eligible. About that time a mate of mine from Super 6 racing, Barry Lee of Rangiora, who won his class at Bathurst in 1979, came on board and we put a deal together to run a Falcon."

The comeback took a further twist when Hamish went to Auckland to speak at his good mate Jason Richards' Memorial Service early last year. There he got talking to Greg Horne of BNT who had supported Cross earlier in his career. "That rekindled the contact - it was like JR was looking out for us." Next Cross rang another of Richards' old sponsors across the Tasman - Dayco. They quickly joined the fray and so too did Fuchs Oil which BNT supply. The BNT/Fuchs Falcon was a goer and Cross was on track for a comeback. As is traditional in the UDC V8 Utes a nickname was called for and after much deliberation Hamish has been christened 'The Hustler'.

Being of a competitive nature Cross is looking to win the series first up. "I see Chris Hanley as the main opposition. He has Jake Stoneman in his corner and has done the series before. I like V8 Utes as it comes down to driver ability - in one make series it really does come down to the driver."

Cross can't disguise his enthusiasm for his comeback. "I'm really excited, fizzed!"

The biggest obstacle in his way this weekend could be the venue. While he was on his hiatus from the sport the Hampton Downs circuit opened in the Waikato. "I have never driven there. I get one practice and one qualifying session before racing begins so it is hit and miss. However the uinique and exciting format of the UDC V8 Utes should be a great leveller. The first race commences straight after qualifying and then a marble draw grid is used for the second. The third race is a reverse marble draw grid and the fourth and final race starts from a grid established by points to that part of the weekend.
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