MacNeill playing host off track at NZ GP

Palmerston North driver Sam MacNeill will be hosting hospitality at Manfeild this weekend rather than driving in the New Zealand Grand Prix.

After slamming into a concrete wall at 150kmh at Hamilton in April last year, he admits he has had to take a reality check and his absence means there will be no Manawatu drivers in the nine-car field.

The Hamilton crash was the 24-year-old's biggest of his career in the Toyota Racing Series car and he was left with having to pay back $20,000.

Now he is working as Manfeild's sales and sponsorship manager and helping organise the tier-one meeting.

For instance, the Porsches and Suzuki pits will be in the new Manfeild stadium for the first time, on the concrete slabs there.

"The plan is not to race the whole season because I'm in quite a bit of debt from last season," he said.

He felt to try would be irresponsible. "I could see myself getting to my mid-30s and having no money because I'd tipped it all into motor racing."

That's a blow for a driver who finished second in the Toyota Racing Series last summer and didn't put a scratch on the car during that time.

Physically, his body has all but recovered from the crash in which his legs and the car pedals punched through the pedal box.

His favourite exercise was distance running and he's close to reaching the distances of old.

But as for racing, he doesn't have any plans.

He will run hot laps in April-May to try to recoup money to repay Toyota.

- © Fairfax NZ News