Young racing driver Mark Gibson is accelerating his way to the top as he becomes a real contender in the BNT NZ SuperTourers championship.
Gibson, 22, and his co-driver John McIntyre go into the Fuchs 500 Pukekohe meeting fourth in the endurance series that runs within the overall 2014-15 championship – great going for a driver in his first season in this high-level category.
Originally from Taupo but now based in Auckland, Gibson says that his first experience in the seven-litre V8 was a challenging one as most of his previous car-racing experience had been in the little Suzuki Swifts, plus a few meetings in the old NZV8s.
“For me it blew me away, I’d never driven anything like it,” he says. “It was a very big step up.
“It took a bit to get used to but I’m starting to wrap my head around it now. It’s pretty difficult, but the last three rounds it’s been coming together.”
For his first four meetings, sprint events earlier this year, Gibson was on his own but for the three endurance rounds he shares the Blackwoods Protector Falcon with McIntyre, the team owner and three-times NZV8s champion. That means they can both work off all the data recorded by the car’s sensors, on such aspects as braking and accelerating.
“I’ve learnt a hell of a lot from him,” Gibson says. “Now we’re in the car at the same meeting and if he’s a tenth or two quicker here or there I’ve got something to reference off, I know where I need to make up the time.
“The last two rounds I’ve made huge gains in my own driving, just having that reference with John.”
Gibson’s goal is to get into V8 Supercars and he sees the BNT NZ SuperTourers – which run within the Hankook Super Series – as the ideal pathway to an international career.
“SuperTourers are good because they are similar to the cars in Australia, and for a lot smaller budget than the V8 Supercars Development Series.
“It’s definitely getting me my foot in the door, racing a good car. For the moment, SuperTourers is realistic for a lot of us Kiwi young guys and unfortunately the Aussie scene is a little unrealistic for a lot of us so we’ll just keep chugging and try to produce the good sponsors and get overseas.”
McIntyre is impressed by his young protégé’s performance. “He has most definitely made really good progress,” he says.
“It’s really challenging and you can see how as a pairing, in spite of Mark’s lack of experience, I think we’re doing really well in this enduro series. Just up the road from us are the guys that have done more miles, not only this year but in the last couple of years.
“It’s just a time game and luckily he’s got the backing from us and the backing from his sponsors to get that valuable milage.”
And McIntyre is convinced that the BNT NZ SuperTourers championship is the way to go for young Kiwis aiming at a career in motor racing.
“The realistic career path for people here is V8 Supercars and GTs and I firmly believe that the SuperTourers really is the best possible platform to learn your trade,” he says.
Gibsons personal sponsors are Norwood Farm Machinery Centres, Trev Terry Marine in Taupo, Jetts Fitness and Westerman Property Solutions.
