Driver chases title
Rookie superstock driver David Lowe may have stunned his more experienced competitors last year when he won the Global Challenge at the Robertson Holden Speedway, but he won’t fly under the radar this year.
More than 40 superstocks from around the country and overseas will chase the coveted Palmerston North Partsworld event on Saturday, where the winner will get a place in the F1 World Final in England next year.
The title also has the Lynette Denton Memorial Trophy up for grabs. And as well as the top three drivers being awarded sashes and prizemoney, two drivers who make the final are randomly drawn out for prizemoney. One driver who finished well down in the final said it was the biggest prize he had won at speedway.
There’s no doubt Lowe, who also drives a stockcar, is one of the new crop of stars quickly coming up the ranks at Palmerston North, where full fields of 26 superstocks line up weekly.
Overseas interest this year will come from regular visitor to both the Global Challenge and the ENZED Teams’ Champs, Chris Brocksopp. He has shown both for the Great Britain Lions and with his individual driving he’s capable of sticking with the best New Zealand drivers, although if he was in the hunt come the third heat his chances of winning would diminish.
Dutch driver Marten Bijlsma is one of the more promising European drivers, while Australian Allan Woods, who struggled last year, will be keen to show he can foot it with the best locals.
Previous winners Graeme Barr, in his impressive looking new car, and Jordan Dare and Peter Bengston, who have both looked in top form this year, will be among the favourites to win their titles for a second time.
The driver they will all have to beat though is national champion William Humphries, who has been the standout superstock driver this season, either running away with the race when on pole or through his ability to work his way through the field when starting down in the pack.
After his top effort when debuting for the Palmerston North Panthers in their strong win over the Hawke’s Bay Hawkeyes last week, Ron Tye could surprise, especially with the extra pace he seems to have this season.
The Joblin brothers Scott, Adam and Simon, as well as Shane Mellsop, Jake Baker, Andy Mccabe, Rebecca Barr and Mike Willemsen all have the credentials to win.
Nelson’s Brett Nicholls has been a regular at Palmerston North this season and has been very quick, while Rotorua visitor Bryce Steiner and Wellington’s Dale Robertson always go well in the city. Other visitors include Kerry Podjursky, from Whanganui, Shane Davis and Richard Gaskin, Wellington, and Mount Maunganui’s Bruce Williams.
It’s been a few years since the Palmerston North Pumas and the Wellington Young Guns were at the top of stockcar teams’ racing, but both will have strong lineups when they front in an added piece of entertainment.
The Pumas have Luke Miers, Daniel Burmeiter, David Lowe, Kyle Lampp and two newcomers, Brandon Jurgeleit and Brendon Learmonth. Learmonth has been the previous Manawatu¯ Standard speedway photographer, but decided to get on the other side of the lens last season and has quickly moved up the ranks.
Wellington also has a strong team led by Paul Gaskin, Taylor Lampp, Brendon Tye, Josh Kahui and Bryce Jensen.
Racing begins at 6.30pm as it will all season.
The driver they will all have to beat though is national champion William Hump hries.