Lobb suffers more punishment

Media Release: Sunday 20th January 2008

Whangarei's Caine Lobb started his weekend at Taupo on a high by putting his car on the front row of the grid in second place. In hot pursuit of pole sitter Hugh Gardiner throughout Race One on Sunday, he managed to finally get around him with two laps left to run and finished the race in fine style in first place with a sizeable lap of around six car lengths.

After setting a new lap record in that race he was to start Race Two on Saturday in pole position. Setting off he was beaten into the lead by Auckland driver Andrew Waite which left Lobb with an identical scenario as Friday albeit chasind down another driver from before. While calculating his own passing opportunities to take the lead behind Lobb Dunedin driver John Whelan was trying to capitalise on the situation ahead.

Leading into the new set of corners leading into the pit straight at the Taupo circuit Whelan came in too hot and collected Lobb damaging the front left strut on the Hydraulink Ford and leaving himself spinning off into the gravel trap from where there was no escape thus ending his race.

Unfortunately Lobb's race was ultimately over as a consequence of the contact and he limped the car home in eighth place leaving the win to Andrew Waite.

Sunday morning and after Lobb had once again reset the lap record before the accident with a one minute 34.89 seconds he was to remain on pole.

Waite moved well and again stole the lead from Lobb who remained close behind in chase. Whelan was again in tow and capitalising once more on the dog fight between Lobb and Waite managed to get around Lobb (without contact) at the new set of corners.

Whelan eventually claimed the lead and a close noes to tail battle between Whelan, Waite and Lobb, in that order, ensued. Going into the same set of corners behind Lobb an out of control driver spun his car under heavy braking leaving Lobb no option but to take evasive action to prevent what could have been a very serious collision.

Unfortunately the incident became the end of his race when immediately after his helmet became filled with dust and grass which left him temporarily blinded and he brought the car across the line near the back of the field.

Caine Lobb was gutted by the events of the weekend where he should have been looking at a round win after setting the fastest lap twice but things just weren't to go his way.

The next round is at Manfeild Autocourse 15-17th February.