On the final lap of the final race of Season 3, Richard Moore provided the racing fans with a passing move at a spot that is so extremely rare at Pukekohe it was recently voted as the highlight of the season by the fans on a V8ST FB page poll.
The Turn 1 manoeuvre was praised by all that viewed it from the outside looking in, so it would be remiss of us to not get the thoughts from the inside.
ST: Richard, drivers just don’t pass there – well not often – so what were you thinking??
RM: That’s got a long story to it. It starts back when I was 12 and I was working at IMS, a young gopher sweeping floors and cleaning up after people. I was watching the Supercars at Pukekohe when Murphy won 3 from 3, but at that meet I saw Craig Baird pass people about three times at that same spot, and I remember thinking how awesome that was and I never forgot it.
ST: So you took a calculated gamble then.
RM: Yeah if you have a good car under you then its easy because you know how hard you can push the car. I knew I had to pass Murph and I thought I should try somewhere different instead of the normal spots that people watch out for. It’s not a very comfortable place to pass someone, but I knew if Greg saw the flash of my bumper coming down the inside he would give me room.
ST: Did you have any emotions at all going into that pass other than race thoughts?
RM: I was beating myself up from some previous moves – if I wasn’t wearing a helmet I probably would’ve slapped myself in the face. But at that stage I just really wanted to win and I thought if I don’t try now I’ll be beating myself up for the rest of the season!
ST: So after the pass, is that when the emotions came?
RM: All the way up the back straight I was thinking race – even though I was side by side with Greg Murphy! I knew since I was on the inside I could brake a little bit earlier going into Turn 5 and take a little bit of pressure off myself, but from there it was the hairpin and that was worrying me because it was the one place I was struggling to get the car stopped. When we got there I think I actually locked it up a little and then got it crossed up on the way out but once I started to accelerate and saw Murph behind me I was thankful – because that meant he wasn’t coming down the inside!
ST: So then you were thinking more than just racing….
RM: Yeah! I knew I was faster than him going over the hill but as soon as we got out of that hairpin I said to myself “yeah it’s done now!” and all I had to do is drive it over the hill and that’s it…
ST: But you still had the hill
RM: I was smiling a little when I went over – usually you’re coming up and over at that spot and just about closing your eyes!
ST: So feeling good about the new season then….
RM: Yup! Just like everyone else we are working on our backers and partners and just finalising the plans with the co-drivers, but I’m certainly looking forward to getting back out there.
ST: How is the co-driver plan going – got anything you want to share?
RM: It’s going good yeah, and always something to share…. But you’ll have to wait a little bit longer….
