Media battle spins onto the race track

Company pride is at stake this weekend at the Historic GP when Taupo Times editor Daniel Hutchinson takes on obscure More FM DJ and self-proclaimed big shot, Andrew Leiataua in a threelap race.

The Taupo Historic GP takes place on Saturday and Sunday and commemorates the 50th anniversary of Denny Hulme’s world title with the first ever visit to New Zealand of Formula One cars from the 1960s and 1970s.

The novelty race between Hutchinson and Leiataua is a race within a race as a group of Fun Drive cars take to the track to launch a new business at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park.

The trash talking between Hutchinson and Leiataua reached fever point this week with both claiming they could tear up the track in style.

Both will drive the racing Fun Drive’s Mazda MX-5s, but Leiataua will be driving an automatic due to his licence restrictions and general lack of driving skill.

Hutchinson, who donated a bundle of Taupo Times for Leiataua to sit on so he could see over the steering wheel, said the race should be entertaining and challenging.

‘‘But only as challenging as mowing the lawn,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve let him win some of the practise laps as a bit of psychological gamesmanship. I do think there has been some tampering with my machine because sometimes the back half of the car goes faster than the front, which suggests corruption or bribery.

‘‘That is the only thing to worry about though, especially considering how slow he was when fielding in the shameful Mayoral XI’s loss to the schoolboys last year. I didn’t even know you could get seven runs before getting a ball back to the wicket keeper.

‘‘Even a blow out will just make the race interesting as I imagine I’ll still have time to change the tyre and retake the lead, given how slow he drives.’’

Leiataua said it only looked like Hutchinson was in the lead during practice because he had lapped him several times and started to feel bad.

‘‘I just wanted him to think he was doing well,’’ he said.

‘‘We were told we were supposed to only drive about 90 per cent in practice. I toned mine back to about 40 but it still didn’t help him. Let me put it this way, if Dan’s in front, it’s because I let him be there.’’