Release 23/11/08

A HARD WEEKEND OF MOTORSPORT  
 
Timaru driver John Hepburn described it as a "hard weekend of motorsport" as he set out to reclaim the New Zealand Super Truck Championship title at Manfeild Park in Feilding over the past two days.
 
While Hepburn encountered plenty of adversity throughout the four races he actually compiled a series of good results despite the problems.
 
Hepburn, the 2007 New Zealand Super Truck Champion, competed in the same R.V. Cooper Bedford that he drove to his championship title two season's ago. The weekend started well as he qualified second fastest on Saturday behind Malcolm Little of Upper Hutt. Hepburn admitted later that his truck could not match the speed of Little's machine. The weekend took a turn for the worse in Saturday afternoon's first race however when the Bedford blew a turbo while John was running second.
 
A late night for the crew saw the machine back on the grid on Sunday morning, albeit off the back of the grid. Then, on the opening lap, the windscreen exploded cutting Hepburn's face while he also got glass in his eyes. The South Canterbury driver continued on however and still managed to score a third place before heading off to seek medical attention at the circuit. Hepburn was back on track for the third race of the round, again from the back of the grid and now minus a windscreen. Again he brought the Bedford through to third place before repeating the effort from the back of the grid again in the Flying Farewell late on Sunday afternoon.
 
The trio of third placings allied to a non-finish left Hepburn fourth overall for the weekend, a result he admits he was "pretty happy with", all things considered.
 
The next round of the 2008/2009 New Zealand Super Truck Championship will take place on Hepburn's home circuit, Timaru International Motor Raceway over the weekend of 9-11 January. Hepburn will also race his John Hepburn Racing Holden Commodore in the BNT V8s Championship at that same meeting. Before then John will be in action in the Commodore at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway in Christchurch next weekend.
 
John's appearances in the 2008/2009 New Zealand Super Truck Championship are supported by Timaru Metal Recyclers.
 
Lindsay Beer
on behalf of John Hepburn Racing
021 351 499
 
To contact John Hepburn - phone 0274 326 934
 
CALENDAR 2008/2009 NEW ZEALAND SUPER TRUCK CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 1 - 21-23 November 2008: Manfeild Park, Feilding
Round 2 - 9-11 January 2009: Timaru International Motor Raceway, Levels, Timaru
Round 3 - 13-15 March 2009: Timaru International Motor Raceway, Levels, Timaru