Cross Keen to Make Up Ground on Familiar Territory

Cross Keen to Make Up Ground on Familiar Territory

There is no better place for Christchurch driver Hamish 'The Hustler' Cross to resurrect his challenge in the UDC V8 Ute Series than at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna in Christchurch this weekend.

Cross operates the Mike Pero Hot Laps business at the circuit which means he does many, many laps around the technical 3.3 kilometre layout. "I have done thousands of laps around there and there would not be too many people that have done more."

A good round will be essential for 'The Hustler' in his BNT/Fuchs Falcon Ute this weekend as he seeks to come back from a troubled opening round of the series at Hampton Downs in Waikato three weeks ago. "We are working through some of the issues that affected us at the opening round. We have taken some weight out of the Falcon as we were about 70 kilos over the minimum. We have also rectified an oil pressure problem that niggled away all weekend at Hampton Downs. When the car got hot the oil pressure dropped and we lost power."

There is little doubt that if Cross can get on top of the problems he encountered in his UDC V8 Ute Series debut he will be right on the pace this weekend. A winner in almost every category he has previously contested Cross has many New Zealand titles and a huge amount of success behind him.

Cross has three simple aims this weekend. "I want to redress the damage from the first round, stay out of trouble and make the podium for the round!"

The UDC V8 Ute Series features an exciting race format. The first race of the round commences immediately after qualifying on Saturday with grid positions established by qualifying times. The second race, also on Saturday afternoon, features a marble draw grid. On Sunday a reverse of the marble draw grid applies for the third race of the round before the final race which starts from a grid based on round points.

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