Drivers confident in Timaru lead-up

Confidence is brimming among some top-class drivers of the Toyota Racing Series in the lead-up to racing at the Timaru International Motor Raceway this weekend.

Following the opening round of the series last weekend, Wanganui's Earl Bamber, New Plymouth's Stefan Webling and Brisbane's Chris Wootton say they are confident about their performance this weekend.

The three Triple X Motorsport cars have endured an opening weekend that shook a lot of issues from the open-wheel category ahead of the three-race programme at Levels.

With each of the E85 biofuelled Toyota FT40 cars equal in performance, setup and driver ability are the two ingredients that separate the field during a race.

Bamber showed early front-running promise and re-learning the car and how it adapts to changes, allowed the former A1 Team New Zealand driver to work his way to the front after the opening race weekend at Teretonga, near Invercargill.

"We've got a much better car – the car has improved ten-fold over the weekend so the team has done a fantastic job," he said after finishing second in the final race.

Heading for Timaru, the 19-year old says final race placings at the 2.4 kilometre Timaru circuit will again be dictated by qualifying. "It's tight and twisty with no passing opportunities, so qualifying is going to be even more crucial."

For 21-year-old Webling, a series rookie, the tighter Timaru circuit is something he is looking forward to.

"I've always enjoyed Timaru when I raced it in the Formula Ford. Again there will be a bit of learning being my first time in the Toyota, but with Greg Wheeler and the team they will engineer a good car to improve my first season results even more."

With two test sessions on the Friday, the all-important qualifying on Saturday morning precedes the afternoon 12-lap race. On Sunday morning there is the 20-lap Timaru Herald trophy race.

- © Fairfax NZ News