Saloon champs on enemy turf

Three Matamata drivers will defend their titles at the New Zealand Circle Track Racing Association ( CTRA) Championships in Whangarei next month.

Rangeview Speedway holds the top three places in production saloons, with president Marcus Bullen number one and members Kayne Sutherland and Damien Laird two and three respectively.

‘‘I don’t think any other track has had one, two and three,’’ Bullen said.

‘‘Unless you go way, way back when there was only two tracks contesting it.’’

Seven tracks across the country now compete, and this year the nationals will be held on March 2.

The drivers, who won the titles at their home track, said it would be more difficult this time round.

‘‘The majority of the association is up north so we are going into enemy territory,’’ Sutherland said.

Racing on a new track was tough but Laird said coming from Rangeview had its advantages.

‘‘Rangeview is a hard track to race – it’s fast and it’s busy,’’ he said.

‘‘So if you can race fast here, you can race fast anywhere.’’

Though they would also be competing against each other, Bullen said there was plenty of camaraderie.

‘‘We will definitely be looking out for one another,’’ he said.

‘‘I don’t care who gets one, two or there, as long as it comes back to Rangeview.’’

The championships are the pinnacle of the season for CTRA tracks and the drivers are pleased they will all have family and friends there to support them.

‘‘We need to thank our families and our sponsors,’’ Bullen said.

‘‘ Without their support wouldn’t be able to do it.’’

Sutherland will be racing for his new-born son Coby, who will be just two weeks old on race day.

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