MOTORSPORT - Fit Lobb ready for opening round

Whangarei driver Caine Lobb hopes to make an early impact on the Formula Ford Summer Series at the first round of the MTA Formula Ford National Championship at Pukekohe this weekend.
Lobb won the Formula Ford Winter Series this year to add to to his 2006/7 South Island title and took pre-season kudos by winning last month's Formula Ford Festival but the young driver knows he starts this series - like his competitors - from scratch.
The Whangarei driver has been preparing for this championship for over a year, with scattered entries in last season's national rounds and a full campaign in the South Island and Winter Series where he walked away with both titles.
Lobb has made himself very comfortable in the car and that has helped him stay in or near the front of the vast majority of races he has completed.
Lobb's Formula Ford has been completely rebuilt after a major crash in January and also has a new engine, which will be needed for the fast-paced Pukekohe Circuit.
"My aim is to win this weekend and we have the gear to do it, we just need to have a good one because there are a few drivers who will be quite strong at the circuit," Lobb said.
The 18-year-old, who is employed as an assistant instructor at the Canterbury Motor Racing School at Christchurch's Ruapuna International Raceway, has not previously competed at Pukekohe in a Formula Ford before.
Lobb sees no problem with that however, after gaining plenty of experience with racing Formula First there in the past.
"It's actually the first time I've been there in this car but I don't think that will be a problem because I know the circuit well. I'm confident because we have a very good car now so we should be pretty quick," he said.
He identified his main competition in the first round as team-mate Johnathan Whelan, Andrew Waite and Hugh Gardiner. There will be one race this afternoon and two tomorrow.
With his successes over the last 12 months in the Ford, Lobb is ranked at the top of the field but knows this year's National Championship will be the stiffest challenge of his career.
His preparation has not only been on the track and in the garage for the event. Lobb has also been working on his physical fitness, which he sees as being invaluable to his chances of lifting the trophy. Running, cycling and choosing his foods wisely have been an integral part of his preparation for the championship.