Release 8/1/2009 - John Hepburn Racing

MEDIA RELEASE
8 JANUARY 2009

HEPBURN USES HOMETOWN RACE TO THANK SUPPORTERS

Timaru driver John Hepburn will be the only local driver in the field when Round 4 of the 2008/2009 BNT V8s Championship takes place at Timaru International Motor Raceway this weekend.

Hepburn is midway through his debut season in the championship and has made an impressive start in his John Hepburn Racing Commodore. His first top ten finish came at Pukekohe recently and he made good gains at Powerbuilt Tools Raceway at Ruapuna in Christchurch just prior to Christmas. He is keen to build on the progress made at that round where a chat with former series competitor Clark Proctor plus a look at some computer data convinced Hepburn to change his driving style to adapt to the V8s. "The learning curve continues," say's Hepburn, "and we want to continue to build on the help we received at Ruapuna. We will have the benefit of computer data again to help us at this round."

Hepburn, hugely experienced in many facets of New Zealand motorsport, laughs as he describes Timaru as his home track. "Apart from Taupo they are probably all my home track as I have been around them all so often - none moreso than Manfeild," he say's.

However this round is particularly important to Hepburn as he will be competing in front of his many local sponsors. "This weekend is a big thank you to them," he say's as he acknowledges the many South Canterbury businesses who have supported his campaign. That support comes from Auto Align, Timaru Signs & Graphix, Blastcraft, Petrie Mayman Clark, Robinsons Auto Dismantlers, Drummond & Etheridge, Timaru Metal Recyclers, Ashley Electronics, Paul Smith Earthmoving and Crash Repairs.

One thing Hepburn is clear about as he approaches his hometown event is that no one should expect miracles. The move into the V8 class has always been viewed as a five year plan. As he say's, "in reality we will be trying 110% but there is still much to learn and much information about setting up the car to be absorbed."

While it initially appeared that Hepburn, the 2007 New Zealand Super Truck Champion, would be contesting both the BNT V8s Championship races as well as the New Zealand Super Truck Championship races at this event he will no longer be seen in the truck races. This is due to the fact that the Bedford he drove at the opening round of the Super Truck Championship at Manfeild recently has been sold. "That's probably a good thing," say's John. "It will allow us to concentrate on the V8!"

After testing on the 2.4 kilometre Timaru circuit on Friday official qualifying will begin at noon on Saturday. The opening race over 12 laps then takes place later that afternoon. Two further races follow on Sunday. The first is over 16 laps at 11.15am with the final race, a reverse grid event, scheduled to start at 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

Lindsay Beer
on behalf of Johnny Hepburn Racing
021 351 499

To contact John Hepburn - phone 0274 326 934

CALENDAR 2008/2009 BNT V8s CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 1 - 3-5 October 2008: Taupo Motorsport Park, Taupo
Round 2 - 7-9 November 2008: Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland
Round 3 - 28-30 November 2008: Powerbuilt Tools International Raceway, Ruapuna, Christchurch
Round 4 - 9-11 January 2009: Timaru International Motor Raceway, Timaru
Round 5 - 16-18 January 2009: Teretonga Park, Invercargill
Round 6 - 27 February - 1 March 2009: Manfeild Park, Feilding
Round 7 - 13-15 March 2009: Pukekohe Park Raceway, Auckland

Non-Championship Trophy Race - 17-19 April 2009: Hamilton 400, Hamilton