More of the same close action – that’s the prediction from SMEG Racing Number One driver Simon Evans as the ENEOS North Island Endurance championship heads for its second 2017 round at Hampton Downs International Motorsport Park this Saturday.
In the first round at the Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park last month, reigning New Zealand Endurance champions Simon Evans and Gene Rollinson had their hands full competing with the Trass Family Motorsport Ferrari of Sam Fillmore and Daniel Gaunt, with the result of the race in the balance until a late safety car guaranteed the win to the SMEG Racing squad. That battle, says Evans, will recommence again this weekend.
“It’s a very exciting car to drive and I have to say both Gene and I are looking forward hugely to getting back behind the wheel of the SMEG Racing Audi R8 LMS Ultra again this weekend,” explained Evans. “It was a great battle with the Ferrari and we are expecting more of the same this weekend. Taupo was super close with only five seconds separating us after three hours of racing. The weather was a massive factor for strategy there and it won’t surprise me if it plays a part this weekend. We’re pretty sure it’s all going to be super close and competitive though, whatever the conditions.”
Weather could indeed be a factor again this weekend, with the forecast predicting a rain effected event for the second round in succession of the three round ENEOS North Island Endurance Racing series.
“The weather definitely played a significant role in the race for us and everyone else, with pit stop strategy absolutely vital and everyone at some stage having to save tyres in changeable conditions,” Gene Rollinson, “It could be more of the same this weekend but we have a great team behind us we can rely on when it’s close and there are some big calls to make on strategy.”
The SMEG Racing R8 Audi is run in conjunction with Racer Products and Lighting Direct with the team led by former Formula One world championship winning mechanic and engineer Stephen Giles.
There’s plenty of on-track action for fans to look forward to, with qualifying and racing for the one hour and three hour races all taking place on Saturday at the North Waikato circuit.
