Caine Lobb Looks Forward To Big Event

Caine Lobb will don the colour red this weekend once more as he puts the Mark Cromie Holden Racing Team Ute through it's paces at the largest event the ENZED V8 Ute Series will see this year the A1GP International.

With the series gaining in popularity and now in it's second season, appearing in front of a large local and international audience at this year's A1GP event is a feather in the cap for the Ford vs Holden competition.

"This is the biggest date on the calendar for the competitors and the opportunity to race at an international event is a real tribute to the quality of the ENZED V8 Utes Series." said media liason for the series Lindsay Beer

Currently sitting third in the championship after just two rounds, Lobb will have to call on his experiences of last season at the modern circuit of the Taupo Motorsport Park where the drivers will have but one 15 minute practice session on Friday afternoon before qualifying.

Whereas fresh tyres usually play a large part in setting that crucial hot lap Lobb feels all the drivers will still be looking for their best lines well into the qualification session after being given only a short practice session good for only a few laps.

"I think we will probably see the best times come towards the end of the qualifying session - I think tyres won't have much to do with it because we will still be using it as a practice."

"Normally you do heaps of laps in practice throw new tyres on for qualifying and they give you an edge but this weekend qualifying will be like another practice."

"I think for our series the weekend will be brilliant and it will be good to have a taste of a top level meeting again with a large crowd." said Lobb.

Last season the ENZED V8 Utes went to Taupo in May where conditions were mixed wet and dry but Lobb had a very successful weekend other than a dnf brought about by a marker cone damaging his radiator.

"Last year I qualified on pole by about 0.8 of a second which was pretty cool won a race and third in another." he said.

This year however the V8 utes are expected to put on a top show for the A1GP crowd with close and fast racing between all the competitors.

Due to the starting grid being formed by marble draw and then a reverse grid for the final race of the weekend the spectators can expect to see action in all races as the top five or six runners in the series mix it up with all drivers.

Currently Caine Lobb sits in third place behind Mack Peach in second and last year's champion Matt Lockwood in first.

Right on their tails in the championship points table are Simon Beirne in fourth then Craig Paterson.

The one and only practice session for the ENZED V8 Ute Series is on Friday afternoon at 1:10pm with qualification later in the day at 3:45pm.

The first of three races is scheduled for Saturday morning at 10:25am and race two at 3:50pm with the final of three races on Sunday at 1:25pm between the A1GP sprint and feature races where Chris van der Drift will be driving NZ's Black Beauty.