Speedway: Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes superstock rookie prepares for war

Hawke's Bay superstock driver Randal Tarrant during his day job as a mechanic at Waipawa Auto Super Shoppe. Photo / Duncan Brown

Racing for the Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes superstock team at the most prestigious event on the Speedway New Zealand calendar has been a dream of Randal Tarrant's for more than 12 years.

"Yes I remember telling you about it during my ministock days. But I never dreamed I would be picked after less than 12 months experience in my superstock," Central Hawke's Bay's Tarrant said last night.

The 24-year-old Waipawa Auto Super Shoppe mechanic and former multiple national karting champion Maddison Wise are the newcomers in the Hawkeyes team for the February 3-4 ENZED Teams Champs in Palmerston North. They will be joined by Adam Groome, Regan O'Brien, Quintin Butcher and sixth man and manager Mike McLachlan in the Hawkeyes' quest for a three-peat.

While his father, Beatle Tarrant, was a long-time Meeanee Maulers stockcar team driver he was never interested in stepping up to the Hawkeyes ranks.

"I thought if I was going to climb a mountain I might as well get to the top," Tarrant said.

"I was pretty stoked when Mike [McLachlan] told me a couple of days before going to last weekend's World 240s in Rotorua not to do anything silly because he needed me for Palmy in two weeks. I qualified for the top six in Rotorua but after getting a puncture in my first race on night two I blocked for Thomas [Stanaway]," Tarrant recalled.

Other highlights for Tarrant since joining the superstock ranks have been winning a race at the New Zealand Championship in Auckland, finishing top on points in qualifying for the New Zealand Grand Prix where he produced some superb blocking for Stanaway after bad luck on the first corner ruined his title hopes. He also secured victory for the Hawkeyes against the Wellington Wild Cats in his first outing for the team in November.

"Judging by what you read on social media a whole lot of teams are going to underestimate us in Palmy. Our cars are fast and all our young guys have to do is grow a set of balls and be ruthless. I'm full of confidence in the boys."

Although new to the superstock ranks, Tarrant said all of his experience in teams racing with the Maulers, eight national teams appearances and close to 50 races, was his biggest asset.

"People say it's different in stockcars but it's the same thing."

He heaped kudos on his boss Mike Jane for allowing him to work four-day weeks so far this year to allow him to travel to events which have been crucial in his selection."

"This weekend I won't be racing as I want to get my car 100 per cent right for Palmy. I want to prepare for war.

"I've had my time sitting among 16,000 to 20,000 fans screaming for the Hawkeyes. Now I've got a turn to be on the other side of the fence and hopefully there will be plenty of Hawkeyes fans screaming for us. We might be a young team but we can still win the fight."

Missing from last year's winning team are captain Steve Jude, who has retired, Stanaway, who is still getting used to his new car, Jason Long, who will be racing for Gisborne, and sixth man Kairyn O'Brien. McLachlan, one of the country's best blockers, said he would race if required but doesn't expect to put the helmet on.

"The boys I've named are going to do the job. I won't be needed."

McLachlan said he had no hesitation in naming newcomers Tarrant and Wise.

"Randal has ticked all of his season goals off. He has a wealth of experience from his time with the Maulers and knows what works. Maddison has that winning Wisey's touch. He has qualified in every event he has entered this season and he knows how to pedal the car."