As a young man, handpicked to steer New Zealand’s car around the track in the early days of the now defunct A1GP series, Jonny Reid quickly shot to fame.
Already well known in motorsport circles for his success in karts and Formula Fords, Reid’s seven A1GP victories between 2006-08 firmly established him as a household name with a big future.
But just as any good race track has its twists and turns, so too has the 30-year-old’s career since stepping out of “Black Beauty” five years ago.
Since 2008, Reid has compiled a resume to be proud of with some solid results in America’s Indy Lights championship and success behind the wheel of Porsches both here and across the Ditch.
But he’s also had his share of setbacks and will probably be happy to see the back of 2013 in a few weeks.
In late February, he was unveiled as a fulltime driver for Dick Johnson Racing in the Australian V8 Supercars series – a lifelong dream. Less than two months later, after some disappointing results, he was dumped.
He packed up his life in Auckland and moved his family to Newcastle in Australia, thinking being closer to the action would pay off in the long run.
Things then began looking up when he was approached by Tony D’Alberto and offered a co-driving role with Team HIFLEX for the three V8 Supercars enduro rounds at Sandown, Bathurst and on the Gold Coast.
At Sandown and Bathurst the duo battled to 23rd and 24th places but in the first of two races on the Gold Coast managed to nail an impressive fourth spot.
Closer to home, Simon Evans also called on his services to co-drive with him in the latter stages of the New Zealand V8 Super Tourers series and this weekend, Reid is back in action at Pukekohe for the season finale.
Things are, indeed, looking up.
But as the chequered flag is waved on a chequered year in motorsport, Reid is still searching for a chance to crack the big time.
He had a taste of it earlier this year with DJR and while his axing hurt, it has done little to dampen his drive or ambition.
“I’m still working towards the V8 Supercars,” Reid said. “I sort of had a dabble, if you like, this year. It didn’t work out and everything wasn’t quite as it was meant to be.
“I struggled to get up on my feet early on because of the way the car was performing. But that’s how that opportunity unfolded and the sponsors weren’t happy at the time so they pulled the pin on the whole thing.
“Later on, they’ve become a much stronger team. It’s good for them but it obviously wasn’t ideal for me at the time.”
At the time of Reid’s release from DJR after only one top 15 finish through four rounds of the V8 Supercars championship, team boss Johnson suggested it might have been ambitious handing him a fulltime drive in a V8 after a career spent predominantly in single-seaters.
“Make no doubt about it; Jonny Reid is a very talented driver,” Johnson said at the time.
“In hindsight, it may have been better to run him through a season in the Dunlop Series, but I have no doubt he will emerge again in this championship.”
Since replacing Reid with 21-year-old Chaz Mostert, the team’s performances have improved, with the Wilson Security Racing Ford showing greater consistently.
Reid acknowledges that for someone desperately trying to find a fulltime V8 Supercars drive, it hasn’t been a great look.
But if he harbours any ill will to the team, he’s not letting on.
“What I can add now is that there were some major issues, particularly with the rear suspension of the car at the time I was driving it. It wasn’t functional.
“At the time, there were components bottoming out. But to be fair to everyone involved and all the guys who slogged away to put that car together, and for me to walk in a week before the first round without even testing it, it was always going to be a tall ask. I never expected things to pick up until much later in the year so for it to end after the fourth round, that’s just how it was.”
Reid believes the V8 Super Tourers series has been a real boost for New Zealand motorsport. “The series has a lot of potential and it’s about how they manage it at the top as to how its fate will be,” he said.
“You’ve got some great drivers, the likes of Lee Holdsworth, Nick Percat, Tim Slade – just to name a few – Tony D’Alberto, too, who I drove with in the V8 Supercars series, competing here.
“It’s a bit more relaxed than the V8 Supercars but the competition is still every bit as fierce.”
After this weekend’s racing, Reid plans to take a little time off. But with a new baby due and some best man duties coming up, there won’t be much time to put his feet up. Then again, that’s never been his style.
“I’m going to keep working on things. I’ve got a lot of drive and a lot of passion for the sport and it’s all about taking knocks and getting back up and keeping on going,” Reid said. “Next year, I don’t know what’s going to be on the cards for me . . .
“There are a number of things going on in the V8 circle and if I can’t string something together then there are the support categories, which I will able to slot into.”
