More time behind the wheel
‘‘We've only had a limited time with the TR 86, some of the guys we were up against in 2015-2016 had more experience, so it's essential to use the off season well as we get ready for the championship’’
Albany race driver Reid Harker has committed to a third season in the Toyota Racing 86 Championship and is already in preparation mode.
Harker competed in three races in the 2014-2015 championship before stepping up his involvement last season and rising through the ranks to finish seventh in the driver standings.
‘‘We’ve only had a limited time with the TR 86, some of the guys we were up against in 2015-2016 had more experience, so it’s essential to use the off season well as we get ready for the championship,’’ Harker says.
The six round championship starts at the V8 Supercar event at Pukekohe in early November but Harker has been getting some seat time by taking part in the North Island Endurance Series.
He won his class in the one hour race at Hampton Downs on June 25 in his TR 86 sports coupe.
Harker says endurance racing requires different pacing and a different race strategy, but the chance to gain valuable race experience and to settle into the car in wet conditions was invaluable.
‘‘Driving an enduro is different from the intensity of racing in the championship, but the seat time – and the chance to run extensively on the good soft wet tyres - is really important. Hampton Downs in the wet was awesome and the TR 86 has the balance and brakes to match the bigger cars in the corners and we were able to stay on the lead lap for most of the race,’’ he says.
Harker is sitting in second place in the standings for his class heading into the final race for the series is at Manfield on July 23.
Harker’s team also made an appearance at the 10th edition of the CRC Speedshow on July 16 and 17 at ASB Showgrounds.
The speedshow showcases the finest, fastest and coolest new and classic cars and motorcycles, race cars, race bikes, motor sport celebrities, wild hot rods and other custom creations from around New Zealand and the world.
It was at the speedshow that the prize purse of $100,000 for the Toyota TR 86 Championship was announced.