It has been a mixed initiation year into the NZV8s series for Dunedin's John Whelan but he is hoping to salvage the 2009/2010 rookie title during the final round at the Taupo Motorsport Park this weekend.
Knocks off the nation's circuits haven't helped the former Formula Ford champion and he is striving for a top-ten qualifying position today, attempting to avoid the mid-pack scuffles that so often ensue in tin top racing.
His Cartridge World Falcon has been fully repaired after a battering at Manfeild last month, where he hit a tyre wall at about 170kmh when the brake pedal bias bolt broke during a testing session.
Whelan was philosophical about the ups and downs of racing in the premiere motorsport class and hoped to be back next year with more experience on board.
"At the end of the day, we've learnt a lot but it was a learning year.''
Grant Aitken has his work cut out for him in the Production Racing Series and needs a faultless performance - three wins from three races - to claim victory. The Queenstown Mitsubishi Evo 9 driver lead for the first two rounds then lost ground to his rivals Napier's Scott McKelvie and Auckland's Simon Sceats and now trails in third going into this last round.
Dunedin's Allan Dippie enjoyed his two outings in the Porche GT3 championship at Teretonga Park and Levels Raceway so much that he decided to take his 996 to Taupo, thus competing in half the six-round series.
He has never raced at the central North Island circuit before and was looking forward to testing his mettle against the other drivers in the earlier model category-within-a-series and admiring the speed of the country's Porsche pace-men in the later-spec 997s.
"It's certainly sharpening up my skills in the Porsche, because of the other drivers.''
Queensland-based Kiwi Craig Baird is aiming for a record sixth consecutive title in the GT3 series, carrying a points lead of 182 more than round five winner Jonny Reid, with Daniel Gaunt third just four points behind.
2010 is Baird's year as he also leads the NZV8s championship by 136 points over early season front-runner, Nelson's John McIntyre.
Auckland's rising V8 star Tim Edgell is hot on his tail, only 16 points behind and is, in turn, pursued by defending champion Kayne Scott, who is 29 points further back.
Despite his healthy points advantage, the pressure is on Baird as throughout the weekend a maximum of 225 points are on offer - although he only needs the points equivalent of three sixth places.
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