V8 SuperTourers12:11am 25 April 2014
In many people’s minds Mark Gibson has been ‘handed the keys’ so to speak of the race car with one of the largest fan followings in NZ Motorsport. Now he is gearing up to throw it around Pukekohe at the country’s largest yearly event. V8ST snatched some thoughts from him before the weekend kicks off.
How would you describe the step that you’ve undertaken by moving into a V8 SuperTourer from previous machinery you raced?
The step into the V8 Supertourers was a quick one for me, I started in the Suzuki Swifts so moving into the v8’s from them was a large exciting step. The Swifts are roughly 100hp, FWD and have ABS so going to the 580hp, RWD v8 was pretty much the opposite. I learn’t a lot about racing from my previous categories however, I have taken in so much more information working with the JMR team.
When the helmet is on do you ever have the thought’s in your mind of who used to pedal the car before you, or do you block that? And further on that, if it is a yes, do you use that for positive or could it in fact stifle you?
In my situation the guy who was in the car before me is now on the headphones telling me what to do. I am also lucky to have his (John McIntyre) data from previous years which I can always refer back to. But I can’t say that I let it stifle me, I try to use it as a tool instead.
In 2012 you won the NZ Elite Motorsport Academy, did it prepare you for what you are now doing?
The Elite Motorsport Academy was such an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it for any young drivers trying to make the move up the ranks. The academy was great as it taught me how much commitment was required to become a professional athlete. I have taken a lot of it on board and now have a large emphasis on things like fitness. Luckily I am sponsored by Jetts Fitness so it makes going to the gym a fair bit easier.
Pukekohe. The word itself sends shivers up the spine of drivers and fans alike. The old girl can reward and punish, so it’s a joy and a fear. It’s said there is no perfect car setup for her. What does your driving style need from a car to win her over?
Pukekohe is definitely one of my favourite tracks on the calendar purely because of its character. The track requires so much commitment and I often find myself gripping the wheel pretty hard. I had a bad crash last year which thankfully hasn’t affected my enjoyment of Pukekohe. In terms of set up I need to have total faith in the car, if I don’t feel confident turning her in at 200kph before the mountain then I can’t put a good lap together. I think we have a good set up for the track and I hope to show that this weekend.
Big audience….big pressure – or no?
Honestly, the crowd doesn’t affect me during the race or at any time when I am in the car. I raced at the ITM 400 last year and didn’t notice it once when I was racing because I have to focus so hard all of the time. The crowd creates such a cool experience when you are out of the car. I really enjoy the atmosphere at Puke on any given day but with 100,000 fans there it certainly produces a buzz.
So what do you expect from yourself and your team?
After dropping back to 8th in the championship after a shocking last round I have a simple aim to get back up to 6th in the points. I know qualifying is important, and with four races even more so. If we can qualify up around the pointy end then we will be in a good position to achieve our goal.
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