Speedway: Rotorua Rebels take on Superstock team event in Palmerston North

Rotorua Rebel 94R Dale Stewart slows down 98M Baypark Buster Mark Costello during the 2017 Superstock Teams in Palmerston North. Photo / Graham Hughes, Sportsweb Photography

The Rotorua Rebels will be on the hunt for their first New Zealand Superstock Teams title since 1986 this weekend.

The championships, being held in Palmerston North, comprise teams of four battling it out on track with the goal being to have one team member get the chequered flag. Full contact is allowed to take out opposition cars, as long as it is on the track, which makes the event a real treat for spectators.

The event was first held in 1981, Rotorua entered for the first time in 1995 and won the title the next year. In total they have raced 82 times for 41 wins and 41 losses, making the finals five times, most recently in 2002.

This year there are 14 teams entered, including a British Lions team. The Rotorua Rebels line-up, including reserves, is Bryce Steiner, Lance Ashton, Dale Stewart, David Elsworth and Lance Elsworth.

Stewart, who is in his second year with the Rebels and recently finished fourth at the New Zealand Superstock Championships in Auckland, said it was an event he looked forward to.

"This is probably the biggest [event] of the year. The tactics are up to the manager on the day, what he wants each driver to do on the track. You try to name the best team you can and after the first corner hopefully the plan works out, otherwise each driver has to do their own thing.

"You've got to be able to read the race and if things go pear-shaped try and fix it. Last year I got knocked out after two laps in the first race."

Although it was impossible to predict how things would turn out during the event, he said he was feeling good going into it.

"The car's been going really well and my head seems to be right. We've definitely got some good drivers in the team, it's all the same as last year and now Lala [Lance Ashton] has come on board. He's been doing really well this year, he's been around for years, been there done that, and he's back on board this year."

Hawke's Bay have won each of the last two years' events.

"They've gone back to back but they've named a whole new squad this year. Looking on paper, Gisborne has the strongest team going forward, they've got one of Hawke's Bay's best cars and will be a threat I think.

"You get a lot of support at this event and the atmosphere is awesome really, it gets you built up for what's to come."

The championships are at Palmerston North's Central Energy Trust Arena. Qualifying races are on Saturday from 6pm and finals are on Sunday from 6pm.