Pivotal Round For Lobb This Weekend

Media Release: Thursday 29th May
ENZED V8 Ute Series 2008
Round 4 Powerbuilt Tools Raceway
30th May - 1st June 2008

Caine Lobb has shown he has the speed to be a contender to win this year's ENZED V8 Ute Series.

However, at the halfway point of the season he sits in fifth place in the championship and with ground to make up is looking for a very strong result this weekend when the teams head back to the South Island for Round Four at the Powerbuilt Tools Raceway, Ruapuna Christchurch.

This will be a happy return to the Ruapuna circuit for Lobb who has earlier this year moved from there back to his hometown of Whangarei.

He has just spent a year and a half at the circuit where he worked as an assistant driving instructor at Canterbury Motor Racing School with Andy Neale and has come to know the layout like a best friend.

With this extensive track-work under his belt and the Ruapuna based Formula Ford Festival trophy tucked away in the cabinet at home Lobb looks a very strong contender for this weekend indeed.

Lobb has secured two pole positions and six podiums including two wins from the three rounds of this year's ENZED V8 Ute Series showing much potential. Unfortunately for Lobb and the Mark Cromie Holden Racing Team the Northland driver has suffered three DNFs from as many rounds leaving him in fifth position on the championship table perhaps not accurately reflecting the 18 year old's potential.

Speed does not seem to be the issue for Lobb in the team's Holden Commodore NZV8UR who has proved to be the fastest at all rounds so far.

Also - in this season's MTA Formula Ford National Championship he suffered similar unfortunate events early on and then bounced back from fourth place to second after winning six races in succession at the final two rounds.

But will Lobb be able to pull back the distance between himself and current ENZED V8 Ute leader Matt Lockwood before the last race at Pukekohe on the 29th of June? Sure - why not? There are three rounds left to run in this year's championship with a potential of 468 points in total from nine races and three qualifications where points are also scored at the same rate as a race.

The deficit between Lobb and Lockwood is a mere 118 and certainly not unsurmountable for the quick young driver. Lobb has shown in the past he can pull out all the stops and do all in his power to win a championship. This weekend will be a pivotal round for him and the championship at a track which has often been referred to as Lobb's 'home circuit'.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALENDAR 2008 ENZED V8 UTE RACING SERIES (note: Pukekohe date has changed)

Round 4 30 May -1 June 2008: Powerbuilt Tools International Raceway, Ruapuna, Christchurch
Round 5 13-15 June 2008: Manfeild Park, Feilding
Round 6 27-29 June 2008: Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland