Long added to Giants’ arsenal for nationals

WELCOME TO THE TEAM: Hawke’s Bay driver Jason Long (2NZ) will race for the Gisborne Giants in the ENZED Superstocks Teams Champs in Palmerston North on February 3 and 4. Long was second in the New Zealand championships in the 2015-2016 season and won the New Zealand Grand Prix the following season. He is also a prop in the Hawke’s Bay Magpies rugby squad. Hawke’s Bay Today pictures

FORMER 2NZ Jason Long, of Hawke’s Bay, has joined the Gisborne Giants superstock team for the New Zealand team championships in Palmerston North next month.

Long was a member of the Hawke’s Bay Hawkeyes team who won the title in 2016 and 2017.

“I wasn’t happy with the way a few things were handled so I decided I wasn’t going to race for Hawke’s Bay,” the 25-year-old told the Hawke’s Bay Today newspaper.

“Gisborne only had four cars so their crew welcomed me with open arms,” said Long, who is also a Hawke’s Bay Magpies rugby representative.

“Dad owns the car and was part of the decision. It was one of the hardest decisions for him in more than 35 years involved in the sport,” Long said, referring to his father Murray, who raced for the Hawkeyes for 20 years and in 52 races at the Palmerston North event before announcing his retirement in 2015.

The Giants team members are Peter and Ethan Rees (10G and 127G), Gary Davis (31G), Nick Vallance (45G) and Long.

Each team must compete with five cars, with four on the track at any one time.

“It strengthens our team up nicely and we welcome Jason on board, for sure,” Peter Rees said.

“Depending on how the draw goes for us, I anticipate he will start some of the races in Palmie.

“Jason’s feared by other drivers because he’s a hard man, so he fits right into our team.”

Long said there was no way he wanted to miss the New Zealand teams event.

“Ideally I would love to be racing for Hawke’s Bay but I am not able to.”

He has not ruled out a return to the Hawkeyes in the future “if we can work things out”.

It would be “awesome” to race against them if they drew Gisborne in the preliminary heats.

“If I cannot race with my mates, it would be good to race against them.”