Motorsport: Bay legends clash in opener

John McIntyre, left, and Mark Gibson will aim for a podium finish in Taupo this weekend. Photo / Supplied

Murphy and McIntyre chase Taupo honours

It's a Hawke's Bay petrolhead's dream ... two of the province's most famous exports, John McIntyre and Greg Murphy, going head-to-head close to home.

"It's Ford versus Holden too. It's going to be a great atmosphere," Ford driver McIntyre said as he pondered this weekend's first round in the 2014-15 season's BNT NZ SuperTourers V8 Series at Taupo.

While McIntyre, 37, lives in Nelson and owns a Taupo-based team which carries his name, he still considers himself a "Hawke's Bay boy."

Four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Murphy, 42, returned to the Bay this year after being Australia-based in recent years.

He is the defending champion in the series he has raced in with Aussie co-driver Jack Perkins for the last three years.

"Obviously Murph is the driver to beat but there is quality right through the 14-car field," McIntyre said.

"That's a good number considering the tough financial times and while you have to have a committed team to run the series the competition in the series is the toughest ever seen in New Zealand."

The Rush Security Taupo 400 involves three races, a 28-lapper on Saturday and two 46-lappers on Sunday, a total of 400km.

It's the first of three endurance rounds in the series which will be raced before Christmas, and after Christmas four sprint rounds will be staged.

Lindisfarne College product McIntyre will partner Taupo 22-year-old Mark Gibson in his Blackwoods Protector Ford Falcon this weekend. Earlier this year McIntyre sat out the four sprint race meetings to give Gibson more time behind the wheel.

"Mark finished seventh overall in his first season and I was very happy with that. By putting Mark in the car I got to see what it was doing right and what it was doing wrong," McIntyre said.

The father of two daughters, 11-year-old Ruby and 8-year-old Matilda, McIntyre pointed out he was involved with the engineering side of his campaign as well as helping Gibson.

"Now I'm a fulltime driver again it's a lot more enjoyable.

He admitted the enjoyment factor hasn't always been there for him in the series, particularly during the first two years when he was involved with its running.

"After I crashed at Ruapuna in 2012 it took me a year to recover mentally," McIntyre explained.

The inaugural winner of the sprint championship in the series and a three-time winner of the NZV8-class championship, McIntyre said he and Gibson will be chasing a podium finish this weekend.

"We know how tough it can be. The minimum of adjustment can be the difference between a first and a fifth or sixth placing," McIntyre added.

Two weeks out from Bathurst, expect Murphy to have similar ambitions which will add to the treat for Bay fans.

Shane Van Gisbergen and Simon Evans form another combination which won't lack support.