Spencer revs up for another season
"We're the good old regulars and aiming for third or fourth." Geoff Spencer
The V8 Utes series has returned to normal this season and Manawatu’s Geoff Spencer is back in the thick of it.
Last year was a shortened sprint series, with just three rounds, to get it in line with the Motorsport New Zealand calendar but now there’s a full series of six rounds again.
The series started at Pukekohe last weekend and Spencer was fifth overall after the opening round.
‘‘In race one I was 10th,’’ he said. ‘‘I had a bit of a shudder under the brakes which is not the best when you’re going 205 clicks into turn one.
‘‘I managed to find that. On the reverse grid race I led 10 of the 12 laps and I got second in that race.’’
Then in the third race he started fifth and finished fifth, producing his fastest lap of the weekend.
The next round of the series is at Taupo on December 9 to 11.
There are then two rounds in the South Island at Christchurch and Invercargill in January, before it returns to the North Island where it stops at Manfeild for the New Zealand Grand Prix on February 9 to 12, then finishes at Hampton Downs in March.
It is a strong field this year, and Spencer was already predicting who the top drivers would be.
‘‘There’s come tough competitors. Paul Manuell is the defending champion and Richard Moore has done extensive racing in a NZ Supertourer.
‘‘It will be hard to beat those boys. We’re the good old regulars and aiming for third or fourth.’’
This year Spencer has new livery on his Holden ute – a freshly painted sign written ute and a smart racing suit.