Huijs' victory remains sole local triumph

The international sprintcar series last year failed to produce a New Zealand winner in any of the rounds, but local drivers only need to look back two years for inspiration.

A full field of more than 20 drivers will line up for the third round, to be run at Arena Manawatu tomorrow night, and the fourth round at Te Marua on Saturday night.

Two years ago Whanganui's Peter Huijs took out the Palmerston North round with a brilliant performance and that win is still the only significant one for a driver contracted to the Robertson Holden Speedway.

The ups and downs of speedway caught Huijs out last season when he spectacularly rolled at the pit corner, going up and over the fence.

United States icon Sammy Swindells, driving a Ron Salter car, is joined by Jonathan Allard, who raced in the series last season and is spending the season in New Zealand.

Allard beat Swindells in the first round at Western Springs on Boxing Day.

Regular Ricky Logan always provides plenty of action in the series, either with his passing or his crashes. And national champion Dean Brindell (Auckland), No3 Greg Pickerill (Hamilton) and Stratford's Skinny Colson will all be threats to the Americans.

Rising star Ryan O'Connor (Auckland) has spent a season with Joey Saldana learning the ropes of sprintcar racing and if his third place in the opening round is any indication, he'll be a driver of the future.

Apart from Huijs there are locals with a chance of a podium finish with Rob Garratt and Nelson Hartley the most likely.

But Brent Harris, veteran Ian Easton and Martin Halcrow all have plenty of pace, especially when out front.More than 30 starters, mainly from Wellington and Palmerston North are expected for the "Steel of Thunder" title.

The drivers will count their best two points scoring races out of three at each of the Palmerston North and Wellington international meetings.Palmerston North-contracted drivers should be at the front of the field when the North Island Superstock title is handed out at Meanee, Napier, on Sunday night.

Qualifying will be run on Saturday with Shane Penn.A massive field of more than 120 drivers have entered the New Zealand Stockcar Grand Prix in the first major championship to be run at Arena Manawatu on January 8 and 9.

The drivers will race for just 36 final places.

The following weekend the New Zealand Minisprint and the North Island Sidecar championships will be run at Arena Manawatu on the Friday and Saturday nights.

- © Fairfax NZ News