Fairhurst heads down under for Kiwi challenge

Former BRISCA F1 champion Lee Fairhurst will take part in a number of races in New Zealand over the opening months of the year.

Fairhurst has arranged to race at the Superstock 248 Global Challenge at Arena Manawatu on Saturday (January 14) – the day after a 30-hour journey – before preparing for another big individual title event, the World 240in Championships at Rotorua the week after.

“Once I land, there won’t be any time to get over any jetlag,” said Fairhurst. “For the last few years I’ve been to New Zealand just to race in the 240in Championship or combined it with racing in the Teams Championships. Now I am doing both.”

He will return for the Teams Championship at Arena Manawatu in Palmerston North in early February alongside four other Brits.

The 26-year-old from Bolton will be joined in the five-man GB team of Frankie Wainman Jr, John Dowson, Bobby Griffin and Ben Hurdman.

The Superstock Teams Championships is the main focus for Fairhurst. “Winning the Teams Championships with Team GB will mean as much as winning a gold or silver roof over here,” said Fairhurst. “I only took part for the first time in it last year, but we did exceptionally well to finish second. I hope we can go one better.”