ALASTAIR WOOTTEN UPDATE

THE NZ MIDGET TITLE

RUAPUNA SPEEDWAY, CHRISTCHURCH
The day had nally come... we were ready to take on the Southern dirt!! The car was prepped, the team was ring on all cylinders and I was feeling great after the International Series at Western Springs. We had some new challenges to face as we headed to Ruapuna Speedway, Christchurch. My rst time competing outside the North Island on a previously unseen track. This was going to make things interesting from the outset. But anything worth having wasnt going to come easy. It was game on!! In the lead up to the New Zealand title it was great to see that both the speedway community and the media had recognized the results that the HLR Racing team drivers had achieved over the Summer. A real credit to Geoff Harper, Team Principal, along with both Haydens and my crew. None of our results could be delivered without our team!! After a road trip spanning across several days we were welcomed into the South Island by some incredible weather. Something we havent had in the North this Summer. Once we arrived in Christchurch with the car in tow I managed to get out and visit the three BNT branches in the city. It was great meeting with all the managers and their sales teams and allowing them to get up close to the car and chat about what we all have in common... motorsport!! That night we headed out to dinner with some family friends who we havent seen since the devastating earthquakes. They offered to take us for a drive through the city centre, past the cathedral, CTV building site and the rest of the red zone. I could not put into words what I saw. Using the term like a ghost town just didnt not even come close to what you could feel. There was a real sense of emptiness, pain, heartache and sorrow. Two years on from the actual event and everything felt so empty. The following day was the day was it, qualifying for the New Zealand title. Make or break. Do or die. Now or never. It was game time.
Sunday News - NZ Nationwide In the semi main we came from the back row up to second place along with setting quick time. Photo Credit: Ned Dawson

The Christchurch Cathedral, 21/3/13

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Before we got to the track, we knew the eleven drivers who we would face in our three heat races on the night. The grids for race one were determined by marble draw. Pulling grid eleven was thought to be an advantage. On a fast track we thought we could make good progress. As the night went on, the track would loose grip, our grids would move us forward as the passing opportunities were getting less. After managing to pass three cars in heat one we came home 8th. Still coming to grips with the track... We were ok. As we moved into the second heat with a little more knowledge of the track as the surface dried out we were ready to start moving forward. Dave, Dad, Scot and Kent had made some changes to the car to tighten it up a little more and give it some more grip for the fast drying track. We took the green ag and held our own for a handful of laps before being freight trained and being forced wide by 3 cars. After this it was either win it or bin in. I moved up track and started running the cushion around the high line of the track. The car has never felt better. We December until the 5th ofaJanuary From the 26th of were hooked up and had fast car however not able to gain those spots back. the POWRI was too little Midget Once An event Unfortunately it International too late.Series.again the worlds best midget racers head to head!! another 8th.

back row. After six laps we came from the back row to 2nd. Unfortunately, the race was red agged on lap 10 when we were challenging for the lead. For sure if the race went the full distance it was all ours! All in all, a huge learning weekend for me as a driver and one which I wont forget. Getting more comfortable running up against the cushion is sure to be a huge help as we head home to Western Springs for the North Island Champs for this coming weekend. Also, a huge thanks you to all my South Island fans, family and supports who managed to get to the track and those of you who followed via:

THE INTERNA TIONAL AND GONE SO WHERE 2013 SEASON...?

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SERIES HAS COME TO NOW FOR THE

Western Springs Speedway was the host of

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After having an eventful team owner wants to hear of For the nal heat we started off the front row with local Christmas day, indulging in plenty of resulting in a DNF! And a huge congratulations to now 5 x NZ Midget Car South Island Champ and South Island Grand Prix good Dave Kerr. After the rst half A couple of nights later on the winnerfood and drink I had my whits of the race we were Champion Michael Pickens!! So until next time, holding our ownbefore the storm. Once29th we headed back down to the again running about the calm in second place. the high line was working for us but just not managing The POWRI International Midget Springs with our ngers crossed to get gripped up off the turn. 4 x NZ Champion Series would kick off the following that we had sorted our problems. Michael Pickens and another competitor sneaking by resulting in a 4th place for us. my day at Springs Speedway. After After leading our rst heat until the rookie season last year I knew I last lap we were certain we were on What this meant was that we were up for a long night would have night or a super short night. We things. on Saturday the car and a little more top ofwere Coming home behind knowledge and understanding or Brad Mosen and having to take part in the B-Main event. A race where Nathan Smee the topwas getting myself in for. A-Main event for the 5 drivers transfer into the what I (#1AUS) was nothing to be ashamed title crown. Once again, the race was a fast one. After The opening night of the of. Qualifying for the feature once running 12 laps of total commitment I am proud to say I international series proved in be a again meant we had a car to place have never driven that hard to all my life!! With maintaining our starting engine in 6th us in the top 15 for the feature. We we set the little challenging as the position second fastest lap of the race. A true testament that my problems we though we had got on nished and the car was on song. team gave me a fast car and that we prove that we had top of package. have come back Tick! a greatseemed toUnfortunately things just didnt work outhaunt us. After qualifying a strong the non to for me, nishing in 6th and rst of qualiers. in the feature we were 16th place unable to re up the motor more We did manage to have onedue to race on Saturday no oil pressure... Not feature. After Adiam the the night. A non-qualierssomething anyreversing condimentum nishing order of the B-Main meant we were off the Purus in consectetuer Proin in
sapien. Fusce urna magna,neque eget lacus. Maecenas felis nunc aliquam ac consequat vitae. Congue porta scelerisque praesent at, lacus vestibulum et at dignissim cras urna, ante convallis turpis duis lectus sed aliquet, at tempus et.

Adiam condimentum Purus in consectetuer Proin in sapien. Fusce urna magna,neque eget lacus. Maecenas felis nunc aliquam ac consequat vitae. Congue porta scelerisque praesent at, Photo Credit: lacus vestibulum et at dignissim cras urna, ante Ned Dawson convallis turpis duis lectus sed aliquet, at tempus et.

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