12/12/2007
NEWS STORY
New Zealand A1GP driver Jonny Reid has two goals for this weekend's fourth round as the World Cup of Motorsport debuts in Zhuhai, China.
Winning is a given, but Reid is also keen for a "smooth weekend" without the speed bumps that have hit the New Zealand team in two of this season's three rounds.
A tough season opener in the Netherlands was followed by a double win in the Czech Republic that shot Black Beauty to the top of the championship points table. Gear box troubles and a collision with the host country created frustration in Malaysia as the team slipped back to 3 rd in the overall standings.
"Malaysia was quite full on and we had to work so much harder than usual to get things going," Reid said. "I want to be more relaxed in China and ensure the focus is solely on driving well."
The usually affable Reid was not a happy camper at the Sepang International Circuit, but he is adamant he has learned from, and will be better for, the experience.
"I was pretty fired up in Malaysia because I desperately wanted to do well for my team and my country, but I calmed down when I had time to digest it all. I'm very, very pleased with the way we came back from the rear of the field to finish eighth in the Feature Race and it was a huge positive to secure valuable points and keep major rivals like South Africa and Great Britain at bay. Our own expectations are so high that we sometimes forget we're doing an awesome job to be one of the A1GP front-runners."
Reid suspects the benign nature of the 4.3km Zhuhai circuit will make it difficult to cut into the lead of the table-topping Swiss, 15 points ahead, and second placed France, seven points in front of the third placed Kiwis.
"After having a good look at the circuit yesterday I think the times are going to be really, really close," Reid said. "It is not too technical and there are not too many areas where you can stand out and establish an advantage. It'll be close from the first team to the rear of the grid."
Reid reckons drivers will be rewarded for late braking, but mistakes will prove costly. "Overshooting will be punishment in itself and it goes without saying that team work and tactics will have a big bearing on the races. Everyone will be on the pace, so everyone has to be on their game."
The 24-year-old Aucklander says qualifying well is a key, "but that will be quite a challenge. A small mistake and you'll drop down the field fast".
A1 Team.NZL spokesman Bob McMurray says maximizing track time on the unfamiliar Zhuhai circuit is crucial to the success of the team.
"The gear box problems that curtailed our practice time in Malaysia highlighted how vitally important time on the track is," McMurray said. "The driver needs to understand every nuance of the car and circuit and the team needs to optimize the set-up of the car, often making only slight alterations to try and generate that last sliver of speed."
McMurray says the inclusion of Earl Bamber as rookie driver will extend Black Beauty's on-track time, with the added bonus that the 17-year-old knows the circuit.
"It's just reward for his impressive debut in Malaysia, where he set the 5th fastest time in the rookie sessions," McMurray said. "And the team benefits because it provides another fifty minutes of time on the circuit."
New Zealand competed without a rookie in the first two rounds, but McMurray says the team has to embrace any potential advantage given A1GP's growing competitiveness.
"What a great series this has developed into," McMurray said. "It's probably the most competitive international single-seater series in the world because it's not being dominated by one or two teams or drivers. We have a dozen teams biting at the heels of a race win, rather than three or four. Money isn't buying performance in A1GP."
McMurray says the team is conscious of trying to build momentum with Round 5 at Taupo taking place five weeks after the Zhuhai event.
"We want to do well and give ourselves the chance to be leading the championship heading into our home event in Taupo next January," McMurray said. "But, as Jonny says, that's going to be a huge challenge this weekend given the thin line between success and failure."