News
It was a tough introduction to the NZ Touring Car Championship at Pukekohe Park Raceway, south of Auckland, for Invercargill driver Jamie Conroy at the weekend.
In his championship debut several mechanical problems conspired to rob Conroy of any meaningful running early in the weekend. In a new car on a track he had never raced on before Conroy experienced fuel pump problems in Friday’s only practice session before a brake master cylinder issue meant he also lost the entire qualifying session.
The Allied 24/7 Fuel Falcon leads a bunch at Pukekohe: Photo:Matt Smith
The end result was that on his first ever visit to race at Pukekohe he did not complete a single lap on Friday and went into Saturday’s first race with the job of learning the circuit under race conditions. However that opportunity was also hampered by a broken gear lever early in the race, leaving Conroy struggling with the car.
The tide finally turned for Conroy in his Allied 24/7 Fuel Falcon in Sunday’s races. Starting from the back row of the grid in both races he got some good mileage and brought the car up the order on both occasions to card two good finishes with a sixth and a fourth, but more importantly finally giving him some time behind the wheel to get to grips with both car and circuit.
Conroy was realistic in his assessment of the weekend. “After not getting a single lap in on Friday it was never ideal to have to learn the circuit in a race. Then of course the gear lever broke early on. We were never going to be taking wins after Friday. After a day like that you are always two steps behind. However we did get good mileage today and made our way forward. We had understeer in the car in the second race but we made progress today. Now we will bring the car home and change a few things to be ready for Round 2.” That round will take place at Taupo over the weekend of 10/11 December.
Conroy’s campaign in the BNT NZ Touring Car Championship is supported by Allied 24/7 Fuel, Mobil 1, Horgan Farms, Southland Continuous Group, Sievwright Panel & Paint, PPG, Bluff Engineering & Welding, Choppa Tyres, E Hayes & Sons and Southern Probuilt Engines.
BNT NZ TOURING CARS – 2016/2017 SEASON
Round 1: Pukekohe Park Raceway – 4-6 November 2016 (ITM 400 V8 SUPERCAR MEETING)
Round 2: Taupo Motorsport Park – 10/11 December 2016
Round 3: Mike Pero Motorsport Park, Ruapuna, Christchurch – 13-15 January 2017
Round 4: Teretonga Park, Invercargill – 21/22 January 2017
Round 5: Manfeild Park, Feilding – 11-12 February 2017 (NEW ZEALAND GRAND PRIX MEETING)
Round 6: Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park – 11/12 March 2017