Triple NZV8s champion John McIntyre is going back to his roots for the V8 Supercar meeting at Pukekohe next month.
Johnny Mac, as he is known to his fans, will be reunited with the Ford Falcon in which he won his final NZV8s crown in 2011, to take on nearly 30 other cars for the final round of this year’s NZV8s championship.
“It’s just too good an opportunity, it’s the biggest sporting event of the year and it’s nice to be in a position where we can actually be part of it,” McIntyre said.
“That car was built for the 2008-09 championship so it did three championships. It finished second twice and then won the final one. I’ve certainly got fond memories of that car and I’m very much looking forward to driving it again.”
McIntyre, based in Nelson, won 60 races during his long career in NZV8s, and set up and managed his own team. Last year he won the V8 SuperTourer sprint series and he has also had 16 starts in V8 Supercars, with a best finish of second on the Gold Coast.
At Pukekohe over the April 12-14 weekend he will compete in the TL category for the original-specification NZV8s cars, alongside the new-generation TLX category with cars raced by drivers like Jason Bargwanna, Martin Short and Nick Ross.
“We’d definitely love to win the TL section if we could,” McIntyre said.
It will probably be his final appearance in the Falcon, as after his one-off appearance at Pukekohe he is aiming to lease it to another driver.
McIntyre is impressed by the $6.6 million improvement package for the circuit, and especially thankful for the improved kerbs on some of the corners.
“One of the really good things is that they’ve changed the kerbing at turn two, which is where a lot of us have cut tyres,” he said.
“In my last NZV8s race there at Pukekohe I ended up in the wall myself. My car’s been into the wall twice, all because of cutting tyres on turn two.”
Teams will need to be on the ball to perform well because they will have just 20 minutes to test their cars on the revised track – which includes two new corners – before qualifying starts.
“It’s very much about having the car well prepared and having the right mind-set to attack the new corners,” McIntyre said.
“Turn five off the back straight looks very fast. It will be one of those corners where you go in very very fast and come out slow, or go in a little slower and come out fast.
“I think it’s going to have the opportunity to bunch the cars up a bit more, which is a good thing for the fans.
“I’m just looking forward to being out in front of the crowd. I know there’s a lot of JMR [John McIntyre Racing] fans out there and they would have been disappointed if we hadn’t been there at all. I’m looking forward to getting back behind the wheel of the championship winner.”
I see this as a step in the right direction re the V8 scuffle going on. thanks John this is really great news for all V8 supporters. again thanks and I wish you and all the others all the best for the weekend.
Col
Great news, we can’t wait to come down to see you all racing. Excited about the new Pukekohe lay out of track. Rev those motors!!!.
Great to have you back John keep up the good driving and go hard !!.
Aww come on REALLY…. JMR is only competing because its the only chance any supertourer driver will get a chance to get laps on the new pukekohe track, Supertourers have a round there in approx a months time as JMR is a shareholder in Supertourers you all must be mad to think theres any other reason hed even show up to support NZV8…. You guys must be so gullable to think any different. As for the new generation v8 Murph blitzed Tullocks one in Cromwell by 7seconds a lap!!!
Oh sorry to add to my previous comment.
Murph was driving his SUPERTOURER when he smoked Tullochs New generation V8 by 7 Seconds a lap.