Hobbs favoured to take sprintcar title

Press, 14 February 1986, Page 25

Hobbs favoured to take sprintcar title

The Christchurch sprintcar driver, Bruce Hobbs, should win the Wrightcars Toyota New Zealand championship, which will be raced at Handy Hire International Speedway, Ruapuna Park, on Saturday evening. Hobbs has seldom been beaten on his home track this season and easily retained the South Island championship early in the season.

After a string of recordbreaking times, including the lap record of 15.25, he now holds all the race records for the sprintcar section on the Ruapuna track. The championship, which will be contested over three 10-lap heats, has attracted a record field with 17 VB- - cars facing the starter’s flag. Hobbs’s main opposition should come from the present New Zealand champion, Noel Goodwin, of Auckland, and the winner of last Saturday’s North Island championship, lan Easton, of Palmerston North. Six other drivers have travelled from the North Island — the former national champion, Tonv Allen. Kevin

McGreal, Willie Bennett, Greg Hutchison and Lyndon Kendell, all from Auckland, and Evan Mooney, from Palmerston North. Another Christchurch driver who could finish in the top three is Mike Allan. The former sportsman driver has been a model of consistency this season and drives well when the pressure is on. The last time the national title was decided in Christchurch only one point separated the top two drivers, and Saturday’s result should be just as tight. With such a large field the draw for grid position in the first heat will prove vital. Any driver hoping to take the title must start well and finish in all three heats.