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Kiwi Honda racers counting down to US 25 hour race
Five New Zealand drivers from the country’s popular domestic Honda racing series are all set to take on the best the US Honda racing scene has to offer in the NASA 25 hour race in Sacramento in December.
Alan Stewart, Tim Pollard, Trevor Strong, Martin Dunn and Richard Gee will compete in the famous US saloon car race at the Thunderhill circuit in a field of over 70 cars racing in six classes twice ‘around the clock plus an hour’ over the three-mile,15-turntrack located 90-minutes north of Sacramento.
The five NZ drivers have plenty of experience in Honda race cars, having been regular competitors in both SS2000 and the New Zealand Honda Cup. More used to shorter sprint races at domestic tracks like Taupo, Hampton Downs and Pukekohe, the 25 hour challenge on the Californian circuit represents a new challenge.
“We are trying to ensure we leave nothing to chance,” commented Alan Stewart, the only one of the drivers with experience at the event. “The drivers have been preparing with winter series races and with as much of a physical training programme as they can fit in during the build up to the event. We have invested a considerable amount of time and effort in the project and we are determined to put on a professional show. The big challenge will be to finish the race. If we can do that, we have as good a chance as anyone in our class.”
The team will be on familiar ground with their car, however, as they will compete in an ex factory Spoon prepared Honda Civic FD2 backed by Motul New Zealand and Gear X. Stewart and Motul NZ’s Tim Pollard travelled to the States for ten days recently to oversee final preparation of the car and undertake some initial testing runs at the California Speedway.
The car itself has been prepared by one of the United States leading Honda tuners, Special Projects Motor Sports, which is headed by ex-pat Kiwi Jeff Owen and which has considerable experience at the event. He will manage the team throughout the build up and 25 hour race. “The US part of the team has put in a huge amount of time and effort since delivery of the car was taken from Spoon back in June,” added Stewart. “It’s been a huge effort by them and we know the car will be prepared to the highest possible standards for the event.”
The drivers, who come from all over the North Island, will arrive a week before the race on December 2/3 to undertake an extensive driver training and car testing programme at the track in the build up to the race.
Ends
Motul Team NZ
Tim Pollard (62)
Co Director Motul Oil
Racing for 3 years in SS2000/Honda Cup (Track days prior to this)
Drives 2 litre Honda Integra Type R
Married to Kay and a daughter Laura
Sports - Cycling,Triathlon,Multisports
Martin Dunn (50)
Company Director
Racing for 5 years in SS2000/Honda Cup
25 years motorcycle racing experience before that, multiple race winner and Honda champion
Drives 2 litre Honda Integra Type R
Married with two children
Sports - Motor racing, motorcycle racing, off road motorcycling
Richard Gee (44)
Company Director/Sponsorship and Marketing Manager
Racing for 3 years in SS2000/Honda Cup (Track days prior to this)
Former international rower, won Honda 1.6 class in SS2000, third in Honda Cup NZ
Drives 1.6 litre Honda Civic EK9
Married with two children
Sports - Rowing, Motor Racing
Trevor Strong (59)
Company Director
Racing for 6 years in SS2000 and Honda Cup – multiple race winner
Drives a 2 litre Honda Civic EK9
Married with three children and three grandchildren.
Sports - Motor racing, soccer, golf and high altitude trekking.
Alan Stewart (53)
Company Director/Mechanical Engineer
35 years plus racing experience, including 15 years rallying, long time Honda racer, founder Honda Cup New Zealand, another ex-international rower. Multiple motorsport championship, class and race winner
Drives 2 litre Integra DC2 Type R
Married with 4 children
Sports - Motor racing
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Originally Posted by K20Rtune 
