Air intake reduction may hamper Lobb's V8 ute assault

The current points leader in the ENZED V8 Ute Challenge Caine Lobb will be up against it this weekend after new rules aimed at the Holdens created a dramatic loss of performance in the Mark Cromie Holden Racing ute.
Leading the series after a blistering opening round at Pukekohe Park Raceway earlier this month, Lobb's race car and the other Holdens in the field have been subjected to a reduction in the size of the air intake on the throttle body prior to this weekend's round two.
The restrictor added to the air intake on the Holdens has brought a fairly extreme decrease in performance according to Lobb after a track test. The Holdens have also been fitted with new controlled suspension and brake parts.
"We tested at Taupo with the new parts and we were down around eight tenths from our best time around there. I really notice the difference down the straight that's for sure," Lobb said.
"The brake pedal feels a bit harder with the new part and gives a bit more feedback but there is not much difference in the handling really. There is a huge difference in the power though with the new restrictor - the opening was 95mm and now it's 45mm."
The Powerbuilt International Raceway at Ruapuna is a very technical circuit and with the Ford being the most nimble of the two race chassis in the V8 series the weekend's outcome could be very interesting. "It's a bit of a grunt track and every bit of horsepower helps there."
At the opening round of the series at Pukekohe, Lobb stormed to lead the series with a third place followed by two race wins. In second place overall was the Ford of Simon Beirne then Chris Hanley in a Holden and Chris Pither in another Ford.
Last season Lobb (Holden) was runner-up to Palmerston North's Chris Pither in a Ford.
Lobb leads with 277 points to Christchurch's Simon Beirne in second place with 241. Auckland driver and rookie Chris Hanley is third with 227 while Chris Pither from Palmerston North is fourth with 206.
Practice took place yesterday while racing gets under way this afternoon.